Reducing the impact of marketing of foods and non-alcoholic beverages on children
Advertising and other forms of food and beverage marketing to children are widespread across the world and are influencing children’s food preferences, purchase requests and consumption patterns. A significant amount of this marketing is for products with a high content of fat, sugars or salt, consumption of which may increase the risk of overweight, obesity or certain noncommunicable diseases.
Overweight and obese children are at higher risk of developing serious health problems including type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, asthma and other respiratory problems, sleep disorders and liver disease. They may also suffer from psychological effects, such as low self-esteem, depression and social isolation. Childhood obesity also increases the risk of obesity, noncommunicable diseases, premature death and disability in adulthood.
WHO recommendations
WHO has developed a set of 12 recommendations, endorsed by the World Health Assembly, aimed at reducing the impact of marketing foods high in saturated fats, trans-fatty acids, free sugars or salt.
The recommendations can be found in the guidance document, Set of recommendations on the marketing of foods and non-alcoholic beverages to children, under ‘WHO documents’ below and are summarized in the guidance summary.
WHO documents
GRC-approved guidelines
Status: not currently available
Other guidance documents
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Set of recommendations on the marketing of foods and non-alcoholic beverages to children
Publication date: 2010 -
World Health Assembly resolution WHA63.14: Marketing of food and non-alcoholic beverages to children
pages 24–26 [pdf 470kb]
Endorsed: 2010 -
A framework for implementing the set of recommendations on the marketing of foods and non-alcoholic beverages to children
Publication date: 2012
Evidence
Related systematic reviews
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The extent, nature and effects of food promotion to children: a review of the evidence to December 2008
Cairns G, Angus K, Hastings G.
Geneva: World Health Organization; 2009. -
The influence of the food environment on overweight and obesity in young children: a systematic review
Osei-Assibey G, Dick S, Macdiarmid J, Semple S, Reilly JJ, Ellaway A et al.
BMJ Open. 2012;2:e001538. -
Food marketing to children and youth: threat or opportunity?
McGinnis JM, Gootman JA, Kraak VI.
Institute of Medicine, Washington, 2005.