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“The case for action on obesity has never been stronger” - @PHE_uk reiterated yesterday. Here’s our guide on why everyone should embrace #9pmWatershed for junk food ads on TV & online, if announced tmrw as part of Govt’s #BetterHealth plan 1/8 [THREAD]
Junk food ads still targeting children. Almost 6-in-10 of all food ads shown at peak times on some of main TV channels watched by kids were for less healthy food/drink https://bit.ly/32Mrlhl . Pringles caught advertising b4 PE with Joe online https://bit.ly/3eZ1W6f #adenough 2/8
£300m+ spent a year on junk food ads [stat via @UKAMREnvoy]. Brands advertise because it works. Unsustainable to pretend otherwise. Our research adds to evidence #JunkFoodAds have significant impact on what young people consume https://bit.ly/3034bBz #adenough 3/8
Overweight & #Obesity often caused by consuming as little as 47-71 excess calories daily https://bit.ly/2D5r8eb . Marketing (online & offline) could lead to 50 extra calories daily https://bit.ly/3eY3UEd . Limiting #JunkFoodAds exposure can reduce risk of weight gain. 4/8
Listen to young people. They say junk food marketing is pervasive & specifically targets them. Over 40% feel “under pressure” by such marketing - @CRUK_Policy research finds https://bit.ly/3034bBz . And @BiteBack2030 shows how engaged young people are on this. #adenough 5/8
A #9pmwatershed could help address #HealthInequalities and level-up the country. Young people from poorer backgrounds in UK are more likely to be obese, consume a range of less healthy products and be exposed to junk food adverts https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31256025/ 6/8
Companies can promote healthier options instead, also reducing any revenue impact of ad restrictions. Our research found 79% of TV #JunkFoodAds expenditure could be replaced by companies advertising their healthier products instead. https://bit.ly/32Mrlhl #9pmWatershed 7/8
In summary: #9pmWatershed cld lead to 160,000 healthier children in UK & £7.4bn benefit to society – according to @Cambridge_Uni study https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/307169. That's huge long-term health benefits & cost savings for a more resilient, healthier generation. What’s not to like? 8/8
