G-CAN, a network to shape the future of Thai children, was launched, bringing together partners to support measures protecting children from food marketing that impacts health adversely. "tags": ["child health", "food marketing", "public health", "Thailand"]
On 23 Sep 2023 GMT+7, reporters reported that the Thai Non-Communicable Diseases Network Associationjoined forces withhealth, education, civil society networks, media, parents, teachers, and youth to launch G-CAN (Gen-Health for Children Action Network), a collaborative platform to create environments that support child and youth health. The network also backs efforts to advance a draft law regulating the marketing of foods and beverages that harm children's health.
The formation of G-CAN comes amid rising concerns over childhood overweight and obesity, a major health issue. One key factor is the food environment and marketing communications promoting foods and drinks high in sugar, fat, and sodium, or with poor nutritional value. These reach children through various channels—digital media, online platforms, advertising, promotions, and marketing designed to attract children and youth. G-CAN aims to unite all sectors to protect Thai children by fostering media and food marketing literacy alongside promoting healthier food environments that increase access to nutritious choices.
A primary goal of the network is to support the advancement of the draft law regulating the marketing of foods and drinks impacting children's health. This seeks to establish protective measures against marketing communications that may influence children's consumption behaviors and health negatively. The network views prevention of childhood obesity and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) not as a sole responsibility of families or schools, but as requiring cooperation from all sectors to create health-supportive environments.
G-CAN also emphasizes engaging children and youth as health communicators by encouraging creative media production, media literacy, nutrition education, and school activities. This helps children understand and question daily food marketing and information, and participate in proposing ways to build healthier communities for themselves and peers. The network connects work from children, families, schools, communities, health agencies, academia, civil society, and media to generate knowledge, public communication, and support measures reducing health risk factors among children and youth.
Reporters added that the network’s key goal is to enable Thai children to grow up in environments conducive to good health, with appropriate consumption choices, media and marketing literacy skills, and protection from environmental factors harmful to health. This aims to reduce risks of overweight, obesity, and chronic diseases (NCDs) long-term. G-CAN serves as a collaborative platform inviting all sectors to participate in protecting and shaping the future of Thai children, united by the goal of creating supportive environments for their healthy development.