The advertising ban of the junk food on public transport in London has improved the eating habits of citizens. After the restrictions introduced in February 2019, household food consumption has taken on a better nutritional profile. Thus concludes the research led by London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and published on PLOS Medicines. (1)
Prohibition of advertising of junk food
Researchers compared over 5 million acquired HFSS foods (High in Fat, Sugar, Salt) of 1.970 families divided into two groups. The first group is made up of London residents (977 families), monitored in pre- and post-ban consumption (for 10 months). The second, used for the post-intervention comparison, resides in the North of England.
Between food and drink purchased during the study, 38,4% (1.952.083 packs) were classified as junk food or HFSS.
The result of the research
The comparison of purchases showed that in comparison with consumption prior to the ban marketing in London public transport nutrients from HFSS foods decreased:
-6,5% (57,9g) fats,
-7,3% (26,4g) saturated fats,
-10,9% (80,7g) sugars. A result higher than that achieved with the sugar tax, the researchers specify.
The calories decreased by 19,4% (-317,9 kcal).
UK policies against obesity and overweight
The prohibition to advertise HFSS foods on the London public transport network is just one of the political interventions implemented to combat the epidemic of obesity and overweight, including children, with the involvement of 4,2% among children between the ages of 10 and 11 years, with a clear prevalence in disadvantaged areas. (2)
Not by chance, the World Health Organization (WHO) has chosen the UK model to combat the obesity epidemic in the Old Continent. (3) An emergency condition to which Italy is no stranger, with one in four minors at risk. (4)
Marta Strinati
Footnotes
(1) Yau A, Berger N, Law C, Cornelsen L, Greener R, Adams J, et al. Changes in household food and drink purchases following restrictions on the advertisement of high fat, salt, and sugar products across the Transport for London network: A controlled interrupted time series analysis. PLOS Medicines. 17.2.22. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1003915
(2) Dario Dongo, Giulia Baldelli. Childhood obesity. The English example for Italy. GIFTS (Great Italian Food Trade) 1.11.18 https://www.greatitalianfoodtrade.it/idee/obesit%C3%A0-infantile-l-esempio-inglese-per-l-italia
(3) Marta Strinati. WHO chooses the UK model to reduce calories and sugar in the Old Continent. GIFTS (Great Italian Food Trade) One
(4) Dario Dongo, Sabrina Bergamini. Childhood obesity, 1 minor out of 4 at risk in Italy. Istat report. GIFT (Great Italian Food Trade).
A professional journalist since January 1995, she has worked for newspapers (Il Messaggero, Paese Sera, La Stampa) and periodicals (NumeroUno, Il Salvagente). She is the author of journalistic studies on food and has published the book "Reading labels to know what we eat".
