With one quarter of Australia’s school aged children (5 – 17 years) considered to be overweight or obese, Cancer Council SA is calling for all schools to embrace the Government’s Right Bite program (a healthy eating strategy for government schools).

Cancer Council SA has asked the government to extend Right Bite from public schools to include all non-government schools in South Australia and hopes non-government schools will welcome the program to the benefit of their students’ health.

The program’s guidelines have been mandatory in all South Australian government schools since January 2008, however catholic and independent schools are only encouraged to use the Right Bite guidelines.

While many non-government schools believe they offer healthy foods, or at least healthy options, student health can be undermined by the availability of high-calorie foods on a far too frequent basis. Parents of children attending some non-government schools have reported to Cancer Council SA that their kids are regularly eating pizza and chips for lunch and having ‘party food’,  such as soft drinks and sweet biscuits, far more than one or twice a term as recommended by Right Bite.

“These calories add up to overweight and obese kids,” says Cancer Council SA Chief Executive Professor Brenda Wilson “and the State Government needs to take a strong stand on healthy eating in all schools for the future health of South Australia.”

“We are also calling for restrictions on fundraising and sponsorship in schools that promote unhealthy foods.” Professor Wilson said. “Research released last month by the Department of Education shows that progress has been made, but that enforcing the program is still a relevant goal. Data indicating that 69% of responding schools had participated in Right Bite training and development is good, but we hope the other 30% can make this a priority. 

“Cancer Council SA was particularly pleased to see that only 3% of responding schools had vending machines, the concern over the sale of flavoured and sports waters, which are high in sugar, remains.”

“Also of concern is the need for more staff and equipment to ensure that fresh, healthy food is able to be prepared by staff.”
“While Cancer Council SA is heartened to see that 95% of schools are making ‘positive changes’ to the food and drinks available, we hope that the government will continue to take a strong stand by providing schools the support they need to fully implement Right Bite.”

The obesity epidemic is one of the greatest public health challenges confronting us all, with 60 per cent of Australian adults and one quarter of our children overweight or obese.

This can increase the risk of developing diabetes several cancers including colon, kidney, breast and oesophagus.
“Healthy eating and a good attitude towards exercise must start at a young age to avoid developing bad habits that last a lifetime,” says Professor Wilson.

“To help children along this path, it is imperative that all schools provide a healthy environment, actively supporting healthy eating.

“It’s critical for school communities to support initiatives that enable healthy eating. Schools can influence nutrition and physical activity and educate children, their families and the broader community about healthy lifestyles.”

Professor Wilson says that while we have made great progress in the fight to beat cancer in the past few decades, policy change is crucial to reducing the mortality rate further.