1300 Class
Pam Poovey's Stunt Double
MP's junk food offer
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,20858475-5007190,00.html
A FEDERAL MP who described childhood obesity as an epidemic and a "social war" is distributing fast-food vouchers to teenagers.
Ross Vasta, the Liberal MP for Bonner in Brisbane's southeast, has been handing out vouchers for free cheeseburgers, doughnuts, milkshakes and hotdogs to 2006 school-leavers.
The Vasta Vouchers feature photographs of a smiling Mr Vasta, a member of a parliamentary health committee who in 2004 called on schools to encourage "healthy food choices".
In October 2005, he said: "Childhood obesity is one of the new epidemics of the 21st century . . . this is a social war we must fight and win."
Medical experts and parents accused Mr Vasta of ignoring his own advice.
"The whole idea of a politician doing something like this is absurd," Australian Medical Association spokeswoman on childhood obesity Dr Kirsten Price said.
"At a time when we are trying to encourage people to eat less junk food, he is encouraging them to eat more.
"For a politician who is supposed to be a role model, this is completely inappropriate."
Queensland University of Technology nutrition expert Professor Lynne Daniels said some of the foods were dangerously high in fat.
"This problem isn't being exaggerated. Childhood and adult obesity is a huge problem in Queensland," she said.
"People need role models encouraging them to be healthy eaters, not community leaders encouraging them to eat junk food.
"Foods like hot dogs and cheeseburgers are high in fat, low in fibre and high in salt. All the studies show that young people who get into the habit of eating these foods have a much higher chance of being obese adults."
Queensland Council of Parents and Citizens Associations president Brett Devenish was shocked an MP who campaigned on obesity was distributing the vouchers.
"We were flabbergasted . . . it sends the worst of messages to students when one of the major concerns of community, state and federal governments is childhood obesity."
Mr Vasta's fast-food vouchers were printed as part of a School Leavers Guide 2006, circulated to all the schools in his constituency.
Each of the vouchers for Cold Rock, Donut King, Brumby's and Subway offer a two-for-one deal. He also gave out McDonald's vouchers for free cheeseburgers at a recent spring parade.
Mr Vasta said the vouchers, paid for by a local supporter, had been intended only for 17 and 18-year-olds and it was "drawing a long bow" to say he was promoting junk food.
"Subway is definitely healthy living, healthy food and I think Donut King do have some other healthy choices, like McDonald's do," he said.
"You have got to have a balance in life. By having a voucher you are not promoting an unhealthy lifestyle.
"I think that is pretty ludicrous."
He said the idea came from students at a yearly forum he had with school-leavers in the area.
"If they are out on a Saturday they can have a treat. If they feel like a milkshake and a hotdog, is that a problem?"
A social war eh? Does this mean that a call to arms should be issued?
But seriously, should it really be considered a disease, war or epidemic? Why is such a thing as being "overweight" (to use a term debated itself) such a social ill?
