Junk food advertising bans do help reduce obesity, say researchers

Restrictions on the adverting of high fat, salt, and sugar products across the Transport for London network in 2019 resulted in 94 867 fewer cases of obesity than expected (a 4.8% decrease), researchers have estimated.

There were 2857 fewer cases of diabetes and 1915 fewer cases of cardiovascular disease within three years of the advertising restriction than would be expected, according to a study published in the International Journal of Behavioural Nutrition and Physical Activity.1

The research, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research, included 1970 households from London …