The Seventh-day Adventist Church in the South Pacific has welcomed the State Governments call for junk food and drink advertisers to agree to an Australia-wide voluntary withdrawal of their advertisements in children’s television viewing times.

South Australian Health Minister John Hill said the Government will implement a voluntary ban first, but if that does not curb the number of advertisements, then it will legislate.

Mr Hill says banning the advertising of soft drinks and foods high in fat, sugar or salt during peak children's viewing times, is only one piece in the puzzle in the Government's battle against obesity.

“Adventists are strong advocates for healthy living and we are extremely pleased that the Australian government is taking a step in the right direction towards the well-being of children,” says Dr Barry Oliver, president of the Adventist Church in the South Pacific.

Although Adventists are generally healthy people who encourage abstinence from meat and alcohol, obesity and alcohol consumption is still a reality within the Adventist Church.

“Our lifestyle practices can sometimes be no different from the average Australian,” says Dr Oliver. “We certainly appreciate the fact that the government has recognized that advertising can have an effect on childhood obesity, but we as a community need to play a part in educating families about healthy living as well.”

There are more than 500 Adventist churches in Australia with over 53,000 members. The Seventh-day Adventist Church regularly runs community health programs like walking clubs, vegetarian-cooking demonstrations and stop smoking programs to help people achieve a better sense of wellbeing.