Canberra 'abandoning' child fat fight

A $100 million gA $100 million government plan to tackle childhood obesity may have been dumped because of a "blame the parents" mentality, a leading children's health expert says.

Federal Health Minister Tony Abbott's office would not confirm reports the government's budget razor gang had cut a scheme that would have allowed parents to seek advice on their pre-school children from practice nursesovernment plan to tackle childhood obesity may have been dumped because of a "blame the parents" mentality, a leading children's health expert says.

Federal Health Minister Tony Abbott's office would not confirm reports the government's budget razor gang had cut a scheme that would have allowed parents to seek advice on their pre-school children from practice nurses.

Mr Abbott had reportedly included the plan in his pre-budget "wish list".

Labor accused the government of abandoning parents in their fight against childhood obesity.

The Australian newspaper on Monday reported claims the budget Expenditure Review Committee, which is chaired by Treasurer Peter Costello, had adopted a "get tough approach" with Mr Abbott because they thought parents should take greater responsibility for their children's health.

But Professor Louise Baur, a leading pediatrician at Westmead Children's Hospital and University of Sydney obesity lecturer, said the plan was attractive and the reasons for its dumping were very worrying.

"I'm concerned it's getting ditched for reasons that probably aren't based on good, sound health promotion policy," she said.

"That (comment) suggests the decision is based on ignorance and a very moralistic view of obesity treatment, rather than on practicalities and helping parents.

"It's blaming the victim, blaming the family rather than actually supporting them to make changes."

About one quarter of children and adolescents are overweight or obese.

Prof Baur said parents of obese children needed help, not disapproval.

Practice nurses would have been able to give them practical advice, such as cutting soft drinks, turning off the television and a whole-family approach to healthy eating and exercising, she said.

She said some school children were involved in obesity prevention programs such as healthy canteens and after school sport, but Australia had no government-funded programs directly targeting pre-school aged children.

"It's getting in before some habits are so established you can't undo them," she said.

There were also no government-funded treatment programs specifically for overweight or obese children, Prof Baur said.

Labor said that by blaming parents for childhood obesity, the government was showing it was out of touch with working families.

"The Howard government has abandoned parents in their fight against childhood obesity," Labor's health spokeswoman Nicola Roxon said.

"Parents are trying to help their kids develop healthy eating and exercise habits and are clearly going to get no help from the government."

Ms Roxon said an Access Economics report had shown obesity costs Australia $21 billion a year.

The government, through its inaction, was failing to secure Australia's long-term economic future, she said.

Ms Roxon said Labor would assist parents to help their children through its Primary Health in Primary Schools checklist, which would set up good habits such as exercise and healthy eating early in life.

A spokeswoman for Mr Abbott said she would not discuss reports of the dumped plan.

"We don't comment on things in a budget context," she said.