Children are exposed to sexualized content and the professional body for Australia's psychiatrists says the self-regulation of advertising and other media industries has failed to protect children from this.

Professor Newman, the president of The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, said, "Today's generation of kids faced the widespread use of sexual images to sell anything from margarine to fashion",

While pointing out at billboards, she said that such images were a major part of a child's life now.

She added that there should be a set of restrictions that ensures children are protected from both targeted and inadvertent exposure to sexualised media content.

"I've seen four-year-olds and pre-schoolers who want to diet going on intermittent food refusal," she said.

According to her, it was normal for children to be Prof Newman said it was natural for children to be curious about human bodies but discussing things at appropriate time was needed.