Initiatives to address childhood obesity

A recent investigation published in the BMJ revealed widespread influence of food and drink brands in schools and nurseries through breakfast clubs, nutrition guidance and healthy eating campaigns (Wilkinson, 2024). The report demonstrates, as practitioners in public health know well, that there is a clear need to tackle the problem of the promotion of unhealthy food to children and young people.

On 3 December the government announced new advertising restrictions ensuring that children will no longer be exposed to TV adverts for junk food products. It said that, from October 2025, adverts will only be allowed after the 9 pm watershed. The restrictions also include a ban on paid online junk food adverts, it says ‘with the aim of reducing children's excessive exposure to many foods high in fat, sugar or salt and helping to address rising rates of obesity-related diseases such as diabetes and heart disease’. The government has also produced new guidance explaining which food and drink categories will be covered by the regulations (Department of Health and Social Care, 2024).