Matthew is backing a hard-hitting new campaign from Cancer Research UK to remove junk food advertising from TV before the 9pm watershed.
He joined campaigners in Westminster this week to find out more about the ‘Junk Free TV’ campaign, which aims to help tackle children’s obesity.
In London more than one in five (22.2%) children are overweight or obese*, and people who are obese as children are more likely to be obese as adults which increases their risk of developing cancer.
Research shows children who see junk food advertised on TV eat more unhealthy food.
While such ads have already been removed during children’s TV shows, young viewers are regularly exposed to alluring marketing during other programming, such as family entertainment.
The launch of the campaign is accompanied by a report** featuring interviews with eight to twelve year olds. It illustrates the persuasive impact of TV junk food advertising on youngsters.
Of one particular advert, a child said: “It makes you feel as if you’re happy and excited, and it feels like you want to try it because the guy’s dancing in it because he’s eaten it and it tastes good.”
Another child said they wanted to “lick the screen”, while others said they had “begged” and “pestered” their parents to buy junk food they’d enjoyed watching the adverts for.
Matthew said: “With stark levels of childhood obesity in Barnet and across the UK, it’s clear we need to act now to help give children the best chance of a healthy future.
“Obese children are more likely to be obese as adults, so it’s vital that young people are encouraged to eat healthily and keep active and that healthy choices are easy to make. We owe it to future generations to reduce the devastating impact caused by the obesity epidemic.
“I wholeheartedly support Cancer Research UK’s efforts to reduce the insidious influence of TV junk food advertising on children’s lives.”
Obesity is the biggest preventable cause of cancer after smoking and is linked to ten different types including two of the most common cancers, breast and bowel and two of the hardest to treat, oesophageal and pancreatic.
Cancer Research UK is campaigning for a comprehensive childhood obesity strategy from Government to help protect children and save more lives in the future.
To support the campaign, visit cruk.org/junkfreetv
* Source: Health and Social Care Information Centre. National Child Measurement Programme - England, 2014-15. Accessed June 2016.
**Ad Brake: Children’s perceptions of unhealthy food advertising on television
Matthew is pictured with local Cancer Campaigns Ambassador Julie Tucker