Schools giving kids confusing messages
Some schools are doing an excellent job of ensuring children are getting good health messages at school but many turn a
blind eye to the conflicts that come with fundraising using high- sugar and/or high- fat foods and sponsorships from
companies selling unhealthy foods according to Obesity Action Coalition executive director Celia Murphy.
The “Sponsorship and Fundraising in New Zealand Schools” project carried out by researchers from the Social and
Behavioural Research in Cancer Group at the University of Otago and published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal
of Public Health found 58% of all products sold by primary and intermediate schools and 62% by secondary schools were
foods high in sugar and or fat.
“Teaching children in class that soft drinks contain too much sugar, and pies too much fat then selling them in the
tuck-shop just doesn’t make sense. Sending chocolate bars home for families to sell or accepting advertising in the form
of sponsorship from a fast food company doesn’t add up with good nutrition education either,” says Ms Murphy. “It is a
real ‘do as I say not as I do’ message and that just doesn’t work with kids. It is sending such mixed messages and it is
confusing. Parents who are doing their best to teach their kids to eat well are undermined when unhealthy foods are sold
and promoted at school.”
The Health and Physical Education Curriculum is compulsory in all schools to year 10. It repeatedly notes the need for
the whole school to reinforce classroom lessons in all school practices and policies and to provide a healthy
environment for the children.
“Schools that sell and promote unhealthy foods are not meeting the requirements of the curriculum,” says Ms Murphy.
“But schools are struggling to make ends meet and are forced to get additional funds from somewhere. It is hard to
refuse easy money offered by companies desperate to advertise to children but still appear socially responsible,” says
Ms Murphy. “Some companies can see the community is beginning resist the heavy duty advertising of unhealthy foods and
are desperate to get into secure positions in the community. Once they become an essential part of the funding in
schools they will be difficult to squeeze- out again later.”
OAC believes this fundraising and sponsorship issue needs a high level solution.
“This is an issue for government. Schools need better funding and policies that guide them on suitable commercial
partners.”
ENDS
The Obesity Action Coalition represents more than 70 organisations focused on health, nutrition and physical activity as
well as Maori and Pacific health groups all interested in addressing the growing problem of obesity and its related
health issues.
Its role is to advocate for a wide range of initiatives including government policy, regulations and legislation that
will positively influence obesity rates.
OAC is funded by the Ministry of Health and its not-for–profit member organisations and does not receive funds from the
food industry.