New law to combat childhood obesity: Junk food ads to be banned from next year

No Junk food ads on television will be allowed before the 9 pm watershed from October 2025 under a new law.

The UK government confirmed the final details of advertising restrictions, including a ban on paid online junk food adverts, on Tuesday (3 December).

The proposed legislation is part of a broader strategy to curb childhood obesity and address rising rates of obesity-related diseases such as diabetes and heart
disease.

Detailed guidance on which food and drink categories will be covered by the regulations has also been published.

These measures are expected to remove 7.2 billion calories per year from UK children’s diets, potentially preventing around 20,000 cases of childhood obesity.

Health secretary Wes Streeting emphasised the need for such preventative action, stating: “Obesity robs our kids of the best possible start in life, sets them up
for a lifetime of health problems, and costs the NHS billions.

“This government is taking action now to end the targeting of junk food ads at kids, across both TV and online.