Heavy promotion of calorie-laden junk foods in advertisements near secondary schools may be contributing to New Zealand’s growing obesity epidemic, a new study shows.
Advertisements for unhealthy foods high in fat, salt or sugar made up more than two-thirds of all outdoor food advertising in areas within half-a mile of the schools, the preliminary study found.
Ads for chocolate bars, muesli bars, crisps, fries, doughnuts, pies, sweets, soft drinks, fast food and iced sweets were the main offenders. Nearly one in three New Zealand children are classified as overweight or obese.