Regional health authority tackles obesity with soft drink ban

The Murrumbidgee Local Health District (MLHD) has announced plans to ban the sale of soft drinks from vending machines at all of its health facilities.

MLHD — headquartered in Wagga Wagga, NSW — has an above-average rate of overweight and obese residents. Seven in 10 adults are either overweight or obese and one in 10 has diabetes.

It will be the first health district in NSW to take such measures.

“As a health district, we must set an example for our communities,” said Chief Executive Jill Ludford, citing the “very strong” evidence for the benefits gained from reducing consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks.

Ludford said MLHD’s decision supports the work of early childhood educators and primary school teachers in the district who promote water as the number one drink of choice for children.

“Moreover, research by PANORG (Physical Activity Nutrition Obesity Research Group, University of Sydney) shows 69% of grocery buyers support actions to reduce their consumption,” Ludford said.