Junk food advertising restrictions confirmed

Television advertisements will only be allowed past the 9pm watershed from October 2025 as part of plans to curb childhood obesity.

The advertising restrictions will also include a ban on paid online junk food adverts to reduce children’s excessive exposure to foods high in fat, sugar and salt. The restrictions aim to address rising rates of obesity-related diseases such as diabetes and heart disease.

Stephen Powis, NHS national medical director, said, “NHS figures show that one in eight toddlers and primary school children are obese, and this is clearly a problem not only because we know that it could lead to young people having health issues later in life, but it’s also storing up problems for a future NHS which already spends billions dealing with the issue.