Online junk food ads ‘fuelling child obesity’

Advertising industry chiefs have been accused of presiding over a “shocking sham” that fails to protect children from online ads.

Health campaigners claim record obesity levels are being fuelled by junk food ads on Google, Youtube and social networks, saying they were not properly regulated and should be treated like porn – with access barred to all under-18s. But, in an inquiry on childhood obesity, MPS took evidence from executives, including Stephen Woodford, the head of the Advertising Association, who denied the industry was responsible for the health crisis. “Advertising has a small impact on food preferences but it has even less impact on obesity,” he said.