UK implements strict measures to curb obesity with ad ban

The United Kingdom government is taking the issue of combating obesity very seriously. The new law, pushed through by the Labour Party, will come into force this year.

The World Health Organization (WHO) states that approximately 20 percent of people worldwide suffer from obesity. The main causes of the disease's spread are poor nutrition and lack of physical activity. However, it is worth noting that other factors, such as coexisting diseases and stress, can also significantly influence one's weight.

It is estimated that in the United Kingdom, obesity affects as much as 63.7 percent of the population. According to research by the Our World in Data Report, this is the highest rate in Europe and 30th in the world, conducted on a sample of 128.9 million people from 195 countries between 1975 and 2016.

The Labour Party, which achieved a landslide victory in the July parliamentary elections in the United Kingdom, intends to end childhood obesity and has announced implementing programmes to prevent the trend of gaining weight. The first changes will take effect in October.

The Labour Party has indeed taken action. The new law banning unhealthy food advertisements on television will take effect in the United Kingdom on 25 October. From that date, fast food advertisements will only be allowed to air after 9 PM—similar to alcohol advertisements. However, that's not all: politicians also propose a complete ban on advertising fast food online. Will the restrictions on the visibility of "junk" food help in the fight against obesity?

Internet users have doubts and point out that 9 PM is an ideal time to succumb to temptation and order food provoked by a displayed advertisement. They also suggest that instead of imposing restrictions on large corporations, the government should support local food producers so that vegetables and fruits are cheaper than processed foods.