Lame to blame early evening advertising

This week’s latest ‘let’s blame the food industry for fat kids’ update is that junk food adverts on TV and online could be banned before 9pm as part of government plans to fight childhood obesity.

Ideas for the new watershed have been put out for public consultation in a bid to combat the growing crisis, according to the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).

Apparently, one in three children leaves primary school overweight or obese, and the number of children classed as seriously obese is at a record high.

Perhaps not surprisingly, campaigners, doctors and politicians welcomed the announcement, and TV chef Jamie Oliver reportedly declared: “If we don’t find effective ways to improve our kids’ health, UK children will live shorter lives than their parents.

“It’s a fact that kids are hugely influenced by junk food ads – so the media and the food industry has a real opportunity here to do something about it.”

But surely therein lies the rub.

If UK children end up stuffing themselves with junk food, who’s fault is that? Erm… those who are in charge of bringing them up, presumably?

After all, how are primary school children going to get their podgy paws on unhealthy food if their parents don’t buy it for them?

As always, it’s easier to blame the industry, advertising and fast food outlets, than dare suggest that mums and dads take ultimate responsibility for the health and wellbeing of their kids.

Pah!

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