Does the UK promotion of food and drink to children contribute to their obesity?

In this paper, Professor Tim Ambler of London Business School reviews the findings of the Food Standard Agency’s Hastings Study into the link between childhood obesity and advertising.

Does the UK Promotion of Food and Drink to Children Contribute to their Obesity?

Tim AmblerLondon Business School

In 2003, the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA) sought reliable academic advice and commissioned the Hastings Study 'to examine the current research evidence on: the extent and nature of food promotion to children and the effect, if any, that this promotion has on their food knowledge, preferences and behaviour'. Contemporaneously, the UK Advertising Association, through its Food Advertising Unit, commissioned other studies that reached different conclusions.

This paper reviews these contributions to ascertain the common ground and the reliability of the...

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