The World Health Organization says that new restrictions on advertising junk food to children need to be introduced to fight rising rates of obesity. The group warned that by 2010, 150 million adults
and 15 million children across Europe are likely to be obese. Britain has the fastest-growing rate of childhood obesity in the region--an estimated 1 million children will fall into that category
within the next four years.
In an attempt to reverse the trend, WHO announced a new European charter to counteracting obesity. It includes restrictions on promoting unhealthy foods to
kids. Francesco Branca, a nutritional advisor at the WHO regional office for Europe, says this could involve a new global marketing code, similar to the ones that bar touting formula over breast milk.
"We should stop this commercialization of children," says Professor Philip James, chairman of the International Obesity Task Force. "It is the first time in the world that has ever
happened, except for chimney sweeps and child labor. It is in the same category--condemning a child for immediate profit."
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