You’ll rethink that next sugary drink after the launch of this graphic ad (below) showing just one soft drink a day could lead to an extra 5kg weight gain each year.
The national ad was launched by Cancer Council Australia, Diabetes Australia and the National Heart Foundation (Victoria) today at the Rethink Sugary Drink forum in Melbourne.
Licensed from the New York City Department of Health and tailored for an Australian audience, the ad features a man drinking a can of fat, representing the consumption if extra kilojoules from sugar-sweetened beverages are not burnt off.
The ad was designed to highlight the association between consuming sugary drinks and weight gain.
Often people don’t make the link between consuming sugar-sweetened beverages and how that impacts on their weight gain.
One can of soft drink alone can contain up to 10 teaspoons of sugar – and many people think it’s acceptable to have one can a day – it isn’t.
We’re talking about soft drinks, energy drinks, fruit drinks, cordial and sports drinks.
The consumption of these sugar-sweetened beverages is associated with serious health issues such as weight gain and obesity – which can lead to some cancers, type 2 diabetes and heart problems.
While obesity is caused by a range of complex factors, we know that eating a healthy diet and limiting sugary, fatty and salty food and drinks is an important aspect of maintaining a healthy weight.
Around 14 per cent of Queenslanders admit to consuming non-diet soft drink at least daily, and 16 per cent of children aged 5-17 years consume non-diet soft drink and non-diet flavoured drinks at least daily*.
Obesity rates for Queensland adults have doubled in the last 16 years. Currently, around 57 per cent of Queensland adults and about 26 per cent of the state’s children are overweight or obese.
I recommend you limit your consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, and instead drink water or unflavoured low-fat milk.
Join the QUEST toward a healthier lifestyle, to reduce their risk of cancer, via www.quest.org.au.