A ‘watershed’ moment: why it’s prime time to protect children from junk food adverts

While the causes of childhood obesity are multi-factorial, there is a wealth of evidence showing the detrimental impact that advertising of food and drink products high in fat, sugar and salt (HFSS) has on driving unhealthy food choices and, as a result, rules are in place that aim to prevent children from seeing these adverts.

However these rules do not reflect children’s viewing patterns and therefore fail to adequately protect children from exposure to HFSS advertising. The report makes recommendations.

The report makes recommendations on how children should be protected from exposure to adverts for HFSS foods and drinks.