Do you assist banning junk meals advertisements on TV? Take our ballot and have your say
There’ll be no more junk food adverts on our TV before 9pm – but do you think this will really help the child obesity crisis?
Starting October next year, TV commercials for unhealthy foods will be limited to after the watershed, and there will be also be a complete ban on paid online ads for such products.
Health Minister Andrew Gwynne said: “These restrictions will help protect children from being exposed to advertising of less healthy food and drinks, which evidence shows influences their dietary preferences from a young age.” The move was included in Labour ’s manifesto after the Tories delayed a similar proposal.
On Thursday, Keir Starmer hinted at additional health measures, including potential bans on smoking in pub gardens and other outdoor areas. The Prime Minister expressed readiness to take ‘bold’ and ‘controversial’ steps to improve the nation’s health.
Asked if he would take steps to tackle other causes of bad health, such as poor diet or social media, the PM said: “We have to go through a preventative model. I’m absolutely convinced about that and that will be part of the 10-year plan.”
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Starmer also confirmed plans to extend smoking bans to sports stadiums, pub gardens, nightclubs, and restaurant terraces. The PM acknowledged that some of these preventive measures might face some backlash, but stressed the importance of making tough decisions for the benefit of the NHS, the economy, and future generations.
The PM’s remarks followed a critical report revealing that the NHS is under severe strain. A swift review by former health minister Lord Darzi highlighted the challenges of rising care demand, low hospital productivity, and poor staff morale. The Prime Minister outlined his decade-long plan to address these issues, focusing on preventive measures and long-term investments in new technologies.
In his speech to the health and social care charity The King’s Fund, Starmer hammered home the need for a shift from treating illness to preventing them. He noted initiatives like NHS health checks in workplaces and blood pressure screenings at dental and optical practices as steps toward this goal.
“Planning for ten years means we can make long-term investments in new technologies that will help catch and prevent problems earlier. And there are some areas in particular where we’ve just got to be more ambitious, like children’s mental health, or children’s dentistry,” he said.
