The Australian Medical Association (AMA) is calling on the Australian Government to implement stricter laws on the advertising of unhealthy food and drinks. The AMA President, Professor Steve Robson, is advocating for an online marketing ban to promote healthier food consumption habits from a young age.

The AMA has submitted a proposal to the Department of Health and Aged Care, highlighting the preventive health benefits of a digital blackout on junk food advertisements. The proposal also includes heavy restrictions on television advertising, sponsorship, and new promotion and placement rules in the retail sector.

"Limiting junk food advertisements and marketing is about nurturing health in our children, providing them with the opportunity to make healthy choices well into adulthood," says Professor Robson. He further adds, "Eating habits start young, when kids are highly susceptible to marketing ploys."

The AMA is pushing for restrictions on all junk food marketing across media platforms and outlets between 5.30am and 11pm. The association also wants the government to implement tight restrictions on unhealthy food sponsorship of sports, arts, and cultural events.

"Junk food marketing at the sports field, in the shops, on tv or online gives the wrong message by making unhealthy food feel completely normal," Robson argues. He continues, "Children should be able to play sport, watch their favourite sports stars play and go to art and cultural events without being bombarded with marketing for unhealthy food."

The AMA opposes the current self-regulation of the processed food and advertising industries. "Allowing the processed food and advertising industries to set their own rules does not effectively protect children from exposure to unhealthy food marketing," Robson states.

The AMA's submission also addresses the affordability of healthy foods, urging the government to introduce policies to increase their affordability and accessibility across Australia. "It is critically important that the Australian Government also introduces policies to increase the affordability and accessibility of healthy foods across Australia," Robson concludes.