London transport junk food advert ban has prevented 95,000 obesity cases, study suggests

Researchers estimated that ban may also have led to 3,000 fewer cases of diabetes and 2,000 fewer cases of cardiovascular disease, reports Aisha Rimi

The advertising restrictions could save the NHS more than £200m (PA)

A ban on junk food advertising on Transport for London (TfL) networks is estimated to have prevented almost 100,000 obesity cases, a new study says.

The rule restricts the advertisement of foods high in calories from sugar and fat or high in salt.

The study, published in the International Journal of Behavioural Nutrition and Physical Activity, estimates the policy which has been in effect since 2019 has directly led to 94,867 fewer cases of obesity than expected – a 4.8 per cent decrease. It also estimates that the policy will have led to 2,857 fewer cases of diabetes and 1,915 fewer cases of cardiovascular disease.