Eight out of 10 adults support ban on advertising junk food to children

Eight out of 10 adults support a ban on advertising unhealthy food to children on TV and online, new research has found.

A YouGov survey of more than 2,000 people for the Obesity Health Alliance (OHA) revealed that 79% support a TV ban of unhealthy food adverts aimed at children, while 81% said the same about online ads.

Around 68% would support food firms being taxed for unhealthy foods if the money was spent on children’s health programmes.

The poll also revealed that 79% think the government should be doing more to make sure healthy foods are affordable during the cost of living crisis.

While 77% think the cash raised by the current sugar tax on soft drinks should be used directly to fund programmes aimed at improving children’s health.

‘Deeply concerned’

The OHA said there is “serious risk of illnesses” linked to obesity and said it is “deeply concerned” unless bold action is taken.

The organisation will present manifesto letters for the next general election saying there is a “massive opportunity” to protect children’s health.

It will be presented to MPs from the Conservatives, Labour and the Liberal Democrats.

Last year, the government announced it was delaying a ban on junk food advertising before 9pm.

Now a collection of charities and health organisations are trying to change that. They are calling on the government to increase its commitment to tacking obesity.

What else did the survey reveal?

The findings also showed that 60% of adults think advertising unhealthy food impacts on how much people buy.

While 58% would support their local council using planning laws to reduce the number of unhealthy food outlets in their local area.

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Meanwhile, 64% would like their local council to be able to restrict unhealthy food and drink advertising in outdoor areas, with around 76% wanting advertising near schools and playgrounds to be restricted too.

Katharine Jenner, director of the OHA, said the organisation is calling for children’s health to be put first.

Ms Jenner said: “Today we have written to the potential next prime minister of the country with a simple request to put children’s health first, address Britain’s obesity crisis and redesign a broken food system that puts profit before health.

“Luckily, there are already policies such as the Soft Drinks Industry Levy that has proven to be effective so all that is required now is to build on this success.

“As individuals we deserve to have more control over the food and drink that’s available and marketed to us and the next government should lead on child health.”

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According to statistics published by NHS Digital, of every 1,000 10 and 11-year-olds in England, 234 were obese in the year 2021/22.

In the same year, findings also revealed that of every 1,000 four and five-year-olds in England, 101 were obese.

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