London borough to completely ban junk food adverts amid obesity crisis
A London borough is set to ban adverts with promote "unhealthy" food in a bid to reduce levels of obesity and diabetes.
Officers at Kingston Council in south-west London have drafted a report detailing the policy which will clamp down on notices of "harmful products" on all council-owned estates, assets and any advertising contracts
If the scheme is approved, the council will be responsible for ensuring proposed adverts comply with the policy for all new contracts, as well as existing ones upon renewal.
A joint strategic needs assessment carried out in the borough in 2023 found that instances of diabetes are on the rise, with 2,000 cases linked to obesity, the BBC reports.
It further found that the top five risk factors for poor health and early deaths are tobacco, alcohol, high body mass index, poor diet and high systolic blood pressure.
The report noted that the policy would "support strategic and operational plans to address the rising rates of obesity and chronic disease in the borough".
Similar healthy advertising policies have been introduced by 24 local authorities across the UK, including nine London boroughs.
Kingston Council's people committee will vote on whether to approve the policy on June 17.
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