Polling commissioned by ACT Health found the community would strongly support government intervention in schools and workplaces to slash the number of overweight and obese Canberrans.
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Two Newspoll omnibus surveys, commissioned last year and released under freedom of information laws, advised the government on likely reactions to changes to canteen menus and vending machine restrictions.
The telephone surveys found 98 per cent of Canberrans would support an overhaul of food offerings in schools while 95 per cent would support a greater focus on physical activity.
"The community strongly supports the ACT Government taking active steps to reduce levels of overweight and obesity in the ACT population," the report said.
"There is 93 per cent support doing this for children and 91 percent support for doing this for adults."
The surveys also found close to 90 percent of Canberrans would support restrictions on junk food advertisements near schools and at supermarket checkouts.
"There was strong support from the community for the ACT Government to take steps to reduce the marketing of unhealthy food and drinks to children, including for the introduction of restrictions or regulations," the report said.
The surveys also found men and women held different views about advertising bans.
"Females with children in their household showed more concern across several potentially concerning types of marketing than their male counterparts of people with no children in their household," the report said.
Earlier this year, the government said it would consider an advertising ban after an ACT Heart Foundation report found nearly four of five food and drink adverts aimed at children promoted unhealthy products.
ACT Health Minister Simon Corbell said the strong community support was pleasing and surveys were just one of many methods to gauge opinion.
"The view of the community, whether obtained through surveys, consultations or other methods, is an important consideration in government policy making," he said.
The Newspoll surveys also canvassed support for an overhaul of vending machines in government buildings, which was announced in March this year and has been progressively implemented.
Close to 30 per cent of Canberrans thought it was "extremely" or "very important" that vending machines stock healthy items, while another 48 per cent considered it "somewhat important".
Unhealthy items are now limited to only 20 per cent of vending machine stock in department buildings, despite strong opposition from operators who have criticised the reform.
"Not only does the community support taking active steps in general, there is also quite strong support for going beyond just promoting a healthy lifestyle and using active regulations and controls to reduce overweight and obesity," the report said.
"Support for using regulations and controls is highest when targeted at younger children, but even for adults more than half of the community support this approach."
The report found 90 per cent of respondents supported the government taking action on child consumption of sugary drinks and promoting physical activity in workplaces.
The surveys also foreshadowed an ACT Heart Foundation report that found nearly half of Canberrans consider themselves only slightly overweight with many in denial or complacent about their health.
"A significant proportion of the Canberra population likely have a BMI that classifies them as overweight or obese, but do not believe that being overweight or obese is a significant problem for them."
