NSW Healthy Eating and Active Living Strategy 2022-32 released

After a much-anticipated wait, the NSW Government has released the Healthy Eating and Active Living (HEAL) Strategy 2022-32.

Food marketing policy fail

At first glance, the strategy seems comprehensive, including prevention programs, advice as part of clinical care, social marketing campaigns and addressing the food and built environment. However, the actions to address the food environment are not bold enough to effectively address the alarming obesity rates. For example, the strategy fails to include policy on unhealthy food marketing. This is despite the National Obesity Strategy 2022-23 recommending restrictions on food marketing, and the previous HEAL Strategy including an action to reduce children’s exposure to unhealthy food and drink marketing.

Why is this a concern?

The omission of food marketing policy means that many of the initiatives in the new HEAL Strategy aimed to help vulnerable communities, including children, will continue to be undermined by the unhealthy messages that are marketed to them.

NSW Government profits from food marketing

The NSW Government is accepting money from food companies to advertise unhealthy products on state owned or controlled property. This directly contradicts the government’s own healthy eating advice and undermines their commitment to improve the health of the community and tackle childhood obesity.