I WAS unsurprised by recent reports of 80 per cent of food and drink advertisements aimed at Canberra children in shopping centres, supermarkets and near schools that promote unhealthy products.

The Heart Foundation’s research only confirmed my long-held view that health authorities are fighting a losing battle against the constant bombardment of “unhealthy advertising” aimed at young Canberrans.

Indeed, the irony isn’t lost when visiting our major sporting venues and watching world-class athletes amid adverts highlighting “junk” food and sugar-laden drinks.

The figures conclude that 85 per cent of adverts at our stadiums promote unhealthy choices, while 80 per cent and 77 per cent of similar ads appear in our shopping centres and supermarkets respectively.

Furthermore, it’s clear the battle’s almost lost with around 95 per cent of advertising in the capital’s two major hospitals having also been deemed as promoting unhealthy food and drinks, according to the Heart Foundation.

Not to mention nearly three-quarters of adverts within 200 metres of ACT schools featured products not recommended for sale in school canteens.

Already, around a quarter of ACT children are at risk of chronic disease, deemed overweight or obese.

So what is the answer? The ACT Government is considering a number of options including a “traffic light” system for school canteens and a new community based nutrition service.

However, much more is needed. It’s clear parents need to now step up.

Example: my two boys are 12 and 14. Last weekend I walked into the lounge room to find them sitting over their electronic tablets, chowing down on chips with the TV blaring in the background.

At their age I would be out smacking a golf ball, playing backyard cricket, climbing trees or riding a skateboard or bike.

So, it’s our fault as parents… us and the the electronic company giants who seem to control our kids’ lives these days. Their technology, while no doubt making the world a much brighter place, is almost certainly killing our kids.

This is where I believe parents need to intervene with some tough love – pushing children into the yard or park to play; taking away the iPad for a few hours a day; turning off the flat screen and telling them to try an apple over chips or chocolate biscuits.

Hard? Yes, but not impossible. After all, our kids’ futures depend on it.

Marcus Paul is the drive announcer at 2CC.