Report Overview

UK HFSS advertising ban consultation

The UK government is now consulting on a wider TV advertising ban until 9pm for food and drink high in fat, salt and sugar (HFSS), to combat childhood obesity

TV and TV advertising are not the cause of children being overweight or obese (O+O). Policy change in this area should inform and educate parents and young children, as they have in Leeds and Amsterdam

With 64% of the UK population being O+O, obesity is a complex societal issue requiring a multifaceted approach. The evidence from existing rules, and plummeting TV viewing amongst children, says that further restrictions on TV advertising will be ineffective in curbing the rise of obesity in the UK

Contents

A multi-factorial approach to obesity

• What is obesity?
• Intergenerational factors
• Food prices and supply
• Deprivation
• Convenience food
• Physical activity levels

Conclusions

List of charts/tables

Figure 1. Children aged 2-15, overweight and obesity as a % of total surveyed

Figure 2. Varying perspectives regarding the proliferation of obesity in the UK

Figure 3. Parental perception about child weight against actual weight

Figure 4. Indexed household expenditure and price, for food and nonalcoholic beverages (2015=100)

Figure 5. Change in expenditure on food categories by households, 2014-2017 (%)

Figure 6. Environmental obesity risk factors by income quintiles for 11-year-olds, 2016 (%)

Figure 7. Average weekly household expenditure, (£)

Figure 8. Spending on takeaway meals eaten at home (£) and as a percentage of total catering services expenditure by income decile, 2018

Figure 9. Relationship between density of fast food outlets and deprivation by local authority, 2015

Figure 10. Activity by level of deprivation in England, 2016 (%)