ADAVB applauds childhood obesity campaign

ADAVB today wrote to Health Minister David Davis congratulating him and his Government on the new initiative to fight child obesity.
Noting that oral health is closely linked to general health, and oral diseases share many common risk factors with obesity, ADAVB – in the letter - encouraged the Government to embed oral health promotion in the Victorian Healthy Eating Advisory Service’s messages.
These messages could include encouraging parents to modify their child’s diet to fight obesity and help prevent tooth decay and erosion by:
• Providing a wide variety of nutritious, healthy meals and snacks, especially those rich in calcium and low in acids and sugars; and,
• Drinking plenty of tap water – especially if fluoridated. (It is essential to remain adequately hydrated, especially during summer and the best way is to drink water.)
ADAVB offered the Minister some simple but effective tips that could be included in the campaign’s messages, offering to work with his Department to further develop these messages to fit the new service so that parents and children recognise that good oral health practices will help this excellent initiative to triumph over child obesity.
The Branch also offered to promote the service via its health promotional Facebook page ‘Caring for your kid’s teeth'.