{"id":4786,"date":"2025-08-18T18:57:14","date_gmt":"2025-08-19T01:57:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/?p=4786"},"modified":"2025-08-18T18:57:14","modified_gmt":"2025-08-19T01:57:14","slug":"children-being-bombarded-with-harmful-fast-food-ads-charity-warns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/?p=4786","title":{"rendered":"Children being \u2018bombarded\u2019 with \u2018harmful\u2019 fast food ads, charity warns"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div id=\"main\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"hydrate-root sc-10wlkbs-0\" data-component=\"SupportNSCNative\" data-loading=\"lazy\" data-theme-name=\"base\">\n<aside class=\"sc-hez36s-0 dFpFuY\">\n<div class=\"sc-hez36s-1 dmMyEN\">\n<h3 data-testid=\"support-nsc-title\" class=\"sc-hez36s-2 fXvmgM\">Your support helps us to tell the story<\/h3>\n<div class=\"sc-hez36s-8 juUDRT\">\n<div class=\"sc-hez36s-13 cqPbFA\">\n<div class=\"sc-aja53j-0 rAFIl sc-hez36s-16 jZSKtc\">\n<div class=\"sc-aja53j-6 PdmgT\">\n<div data-testid=\"dropdown-with-gradient-collapsed-content-container\" class=\"sc-aja53j-5 hJPJVF\">\n<div>\n<div data-testid=\"dropdown-with-gradient-collapsed-content\" class=\"sc-aja53j-4 lcJUSj\">\n<div>\n<div data-testid=\"support-nsc-collapsed-content-tablet\" class=\"sc-hez36s-7 laZbyn\">\n<p class=\"sc-1uza6dc-0 cKWiEj\">From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it&#8217;s investigating the financials of Elon Musk&#8217;s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, &#8216;The A Word&#8217;, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-1uza6dc-0 cKWiEj\">At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.<\/p>\n<p class=\"sc-1uza6dc-0 cKWiEj\">The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.<\/p>\n<p><strong class=\"sc-1uza6dc-1 huxBsk\">Your support makes all the difference.<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><button class=\"sc-aja53j-1 dLkuvY sc-aja53j-7 eMEmGu\"><span data-testid=\"dropdown-with-gradient-dropdown-tablet\" class=\"sc-aja53j-3 dHXFkr\"><span data-action-type=\"Read more\" class=\"sc-aja53j-2 jrwZqm\">Read more<\/span><svg class=\"sc-eaj12q-0 hUgQwJ sc-culv3z-0 eifaJK sc-a5wy94-0 hyKPon\"><use href=\"#ee6613da15642019\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Children and teenagers are being bombarded with videos and pictures of unhealthy food online, polling suggests. <\/p>\n<p>The poll added that youngsters more likely to engage with content about junk food if it is shared by influencers.<\/p>\n<p>Cancer Research UK said that ministers must do more to protect young people from \u201charmful marketing that could increase their risk of obesity and cancer in the future\u201d.<\/p>\n<p>New laws, which come into force next year, will end paid-for advertising, including online, of specific foods which are high in fat, sugar and salt.<\/p>\n<p>The charity said that it is important for the implementation of the legislation to go ahead as planned after repeated delays.<\/p>\n<p>And it warned that not all exposure to junk food will end when the new laws come into place as there will still be online advertising loopholes.<\/p>\n<p>The charity surveyed 4,000 children and young people aged 11 to 21 across the UK and found:<\/p>\n<div class=\"sc-kk992l-0 sc-w27hnf-1 dDVXDN jHvNZk\">\n<ul>\n<li>Half (52 per cent) saw unhealthy food and drink products from either businesses or influencers on social media in the last month.<\/li>\n<li>Almost four in 10 (39 per cent) said they engaged with these posts by commenting, liking or sharing.<\/li>\n<li>They were more likely to interact with a post from an influencer compared to a business.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p>Some reported that seeing content about food high in fat, salt and sugar made them feel tempted or hungry.<\/p>\n<div class=\"sc-awdjp1-2 cbpRGD sc-awdjp1-3 image align-center\">\n<figure class=\"sc-1cbdeug-0 cXcwgU\">\n<div class=\"sc-awdjp1-0 bLmeVz\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.the-independent.com\/2025\/08\/18\/15\/48\/01K2Y50TWEBHPDT94Y4CRYWHPQ.jpeg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/static.the-independent.com\/2025\/08\/18\/15\/48\/01K2Y50TWEBHPDT94Y4CRYWHPQ.jpeg?quality=75&amp;width=320&amp;auto=webp 320w, https:\/\/static.the-independent.com\/2025\/08\/18\/15\/48\/01K2Y50TWEBHPDT94Y4CRYWHPQ.jpeg?quality=75&amp;width=640&amp;auto=webp 640w\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"More must be done to protect young people from \u2018harmful marketing\u2019, Cancer Research UK says\" class=\"sc-1mc30lb-0 ggpMaE\"\/><\/div><figcaption class=\"sc-1cbdeug-1 sc-1cbdeug-3 bpFomM hgzWpY\">More must be done to protect young people from \u2018harmful marketing\u2019, Cancer Research UK says<span class=\"sc-1cbdeug-7 CXMrn\"> <!-- -->(<!-- -->PA<!-- -->)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u201cA giant cookie bowl keeps showing up, when I see it, I feel like ordering a dessert and I feel really hungry,\u201d an 11 year-old told the charity.<\/p>\n<p>A 15-year-old said: \u201cI\u2019d say at least every two minutes that I\u2019m on Instagram I\u2019d see at least one food-related post.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Liv Cheek, prevention policy manager at Cancer Research UK, said: \u201cBeing overweight or obese is the second biggest cause of cancer in the UK after smoking, and rates among young people are rising.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOur survey shows more than half of young people regularly see unhealthy food and drink content online, often promoted by influencers.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAdvertising can shape what children eat, so the UK government must help create an online environment that empowers, rather than undermines, healthy changes.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPlanned restrictions on junk food advertising online are a vital step to protect young people\u2019s health.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHowever, these measures must be properly enforced and strengthened by closing any remaining gaps in the online marketing rules.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe urge the UK government and regulators to take bold action to shield young people from harmful marketing that could increase their risk of obesity and cancer in the future.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Next month, experts will meet at the The International Food Addiction and Comorbidities Conference in London to discuss growing health concerns about food addiction.<\/p>\n<p>The Daily Express reported organisers believe that some 10 million people in the UK are hooked on junk food including pizza, chocolate, crisps, biscuits and ice cream.<\/p>\n<p>The Department of Health and Social Care has been approached for comment.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Your support helps us to tell the story From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it&#8217;s investigating the financials of Elon Musk&#8217;s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, &#8216;The A Word&#8217;, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story. The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it. Your support makes all the difference. Read more Children and teenagers are being bombarded with videos and pictures of unhealthy food online, polling suggests. The poll added that youngsters more likely to engage with content about junk food if it is shared by influencers. Cancer Research UK said that ministers must do more to protect young people from \u201charmful marketing that could increase their risk of obesity and cancer in the future\u201d. New laws, which come into force next year, will end paid-for advertising, including online, of specific foods which are high in fat, sugar and salt. The charity said that it is important for the implementation of the legislation to go ahead as planned after repeated delays. And it warned that not all exposure to junk food will end when the new laws come into place as there will still be online advertising loopholes. The charity surveyed 4,000 children and young people aged 11 to 21 across the UK and found: Half (52 per cent) saw unhealthy food and drink products from either businesses or influencers on social media in the last mo&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4787,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[2],"tags":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4786"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4786"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4786\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/4787"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4786"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4786"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4786"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}