Jemma advocates for healthy food environments

BHlthSc Nutr&Diet AdvAPD GAICD

 
 
 

THE PROBLEM

 

Have you ever stopped to think about how much unhealthy food surrounds us?

Gone are the days of popping by the local milk bar and grocer to stock up on what we need, our world has evolved to a place where junk food is everywhere.

Our food supply is dominated by unhealthy foods and beverages that are:

  • Cheap

  • Readily available

  • Heavily marketed 

 
Supermarket Jemma O'Hanlon Dietitian Advocacy
 

In Australia:

  • 1 in 15 adults and 1 in 20 children meet their vegetable intake.

  • One-third of the diet is junk food, and 42% is ultra-processed.

  • 53% of packaged foods in supermarkets are unhealthy.

  • Obesity has tripled since 1980.

  • 2 in 3 adults and 1 in 4 kids are living with overweight or obesity.

  • Every 12 minutes, a person dies from cardiovascular disease. Poor diet is the leading contributor.

  • 27,500 people die a preventable death from an unhealthy diet every year.

We must act now. It’s time to clean up our food environment.

 
 

THE SOLUTION

 

My vision is a place where healthy food is abundant.

Where the healthy choice is the easy choice.

Where healthy food powers a healthy planet.

 
Advocacy Jemma O'Hanlon Dietitian
 

advocacy priorities

 

What do we need to do to bring about change?

 

PREVENTION

  • National Nutrition Policy

  • Prevention 5% of the health budget

EDUCATION

  • High impact, sustained public education campaigns & programs

ADVERTISING

  • Restrictions on junk food advertising and sport sponsorships

  • Limit price promotions on unhealthy products

AFFORDABILITY

  • Improved affordability of healthy foods

  • Disincentivise unhealthy foods

HEALTH STAR RATING

  • Mandatory Health Star Rating

  • Food processing included in the Health Star Rating algorithm

NUTRITION INFORMATION PANEL

  • Mandatory added sugar labelling

  • Mandatory energy labelling on alcohol

REFORMULATION

  • Strengthened reformulation of the food supply

  • Healthier checkouts

 
 

government relations

 

I advocated strongly for nutrition policy reforms at Parliament House in Canberra and Victoria during my five years as a Director of Dietitians Australia.

 

media

 

VEGETABLE INTAKE DECLINE

 
 

HEALTH STAR RATING

 
 
 
 

AGED CARE

 
 

SCHOOL CANTEENS

 
 

SPORT

 

SUPERMARKETS

 
 

ULTRA-PROCESSED FOODS

 
 
 

credentials

 
 
 
 
 
  • Bachelor of Health Science (Nutrition and Dietetics), QUT

  • Advanced Accredited Practising Dietitian (AdvAPD)

  • Accredited Nutritionist (AN)

  • Graduate Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD)

  • Media Spokesperson, Heart Foundation

  • Former Vice President, Dietitians Australia

  • Board Director, Dietitians Australia 2018 - 2023

  • Chair, Communications Committee, Dietitians Australia 2021 - 2023

  • Personal Trainer, Certificate III and IV in Fitness

 
 
 
 

need support with a project?

 
 
 
 
 
Veggie Box Media Dietitian Nutritionist Jemma O'Hanlon

Craving some healthy inspiration?

Sign up for exclusive recipes, tips and all the latest news in nutrition.