Calls to Ban Unhealthy Food Adverts Targeted at Children

Fri, 21 May 2010
There have been new calls to ban advertising of unhealthy food aimed at children as Type 2 diabetes cases increase.

More than 100 diabetes experts from throughout Scotland and the UK have urged legislative action to ban any kind of advertising of unhealthy foods to children with an aim of reducing the ever growing levels of obesity levels. This in turn reduces their risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

The experts state that in the last few years obesity levels have risen significantly, with around two thirds of the UK adult population presently being classified as overweight and a quarter obese .

Obesity presents a huge health challenge, as it is associated with a high likelihood of developing Type 2 diabetes, certain cancers and cardiovascular diseases .

This group of experts has urged for tighter legislative regulation of the drink, food and catering industry.

The experts would also like to see an extension of present restrictions on advertising unhealthy foods to children, especially during children’s TV programmes.

Just as legislation has been effective for smoking, similar legislation can be introduced to deal with healthier diets .

This could involve stricter regulation of the food and drink industry, as well as an extension of restrictions on 'less healthy' food and drink advertising in children’s television programmes. This could then extend to all forms of advertising aimed at children.

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