Obesity Task Force condemns junk food advertising to children
There must be tighter controls governing the marketing of junk food to children, according to the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF).Dr Tim Lobstein, policy director of the IOTF, said that the organisation is concerned with the number of different ways companies are finding to advertise to young people.
He said: "We've got an epidemic of childhood obesity - it's never been higher, and in a sense we're sacrificing our kids' health for the freedom of the market."
Promoting products online, advertising on tv, and using product placements in films are just of the ways that junk food is being pitched to young people, Dr Lobstein said.
Children are rarely targeted with messages about eating a healthy diet, he warned.
His comments come in light of news that Dr Sarah Wollaston, MP for Totnes, is proposing legislation to put tighter controls on advertising alcoholic drinks to children.
