Following reports that the Government may be preparing to review their anti-obesity strategy, which includes the planned HFSS advertising restrictions, the Advertising Association has issued the following statement.
Sue Eustace, Director of Public Affairs, Advertising Association said:
“We all agree that addressing obesity requires a holistic, evidence-based approach. By the Government’s own estimates, the planned TV watershed and full online ban for HFSS advertising would barely scratch the surface – only reducing calorie intake by 2-3 calories a day. Advertising bans are not the silver bullet to the nation’s obesity challenge because obesity levels vary considerably across the country and are worst in disadvantaged areas. Childhood obesity would be more effectively tackled with holistic programmes targeted at these areas.
In the meantime, the industry is currently facing great uncertainty around the timing and implementation of the advertising restrictions – making it difficult to plan future campaigns. Given the lack of strong evidence for the bans, we would ask the Government whether it is appropriate to go ahead with the new restrictions at all.”
