Written question asked by Vikki Slade (Liberal Democrat) on Tuesday, 16 December 2025, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 18 December 2025. It was answered by Ashley Dalton (Labour) on Wednesday, 14 January 2026 on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.

Obesity: Children

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of junk food advertising on childhood obesity.

Answer

As set out in our 10-Year Health Plan for England, we are taking decisive action on the obesity crisis, easing the strain on our National Health Service and creating the healthiest generation of children ever. We have implemented United Kingdom-wide restrictions on advertising of less healthy food and drink on television and online which we estimate will remove up to 7.2 billion calories from UK children’s diets each year and deliver health benefits of approximately £2 billion. We have also committed to updating the standards that underpin the advertising and promotions restrictions on ‘less healthy’ food and drink to reflect the latest dietary advice and strengthen the restrictions by more effectively targeting the products of most concern to childhood obesity.

An impact assessment on the advertising restrictions of less healthy food and drink on television and online is published on the GOV.UK website.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 100509
Session: 2024-26
Related items: Deposited Paper DEP2025-0460
Monday, 7 July 2025
Deposited papers
House of Lords
Subjects: Children Advertising Food Nutrition Obesity
Link: View this Written question on www.parliament.uk

Obesity: Children

Secondary information

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