Youth advocates urge ad ban in childhood obesity fight

Youth advocates on Monday marked World Health Day by calling for a ban on the marketing of unhealthy foods to children, urging policymakers to build on recent health initiatives aimed at tackling the nation’s childhood obesity crisis.  

In a letter to Suleiman Bulbulia, chair of the National NCD Commission, the youth representatives from the Heart and Stroke Foundation and the Barbados Childhood Obesity Prevention Coalition praised government policies designed to encourage Barbadians to adopt healthier eating habits and resist the marketing of unhealthy foods in schools.  

“We wanted to say ‘thank you’ to our policymakers for the strides already made—like the 20 per cent tax on sugary drinks, the school nutrition policy implemented in February 2023, and the recent removal of VAT and import duties on certain fruits and vegetables,” said Michron Robinson, youth health advocacy officer. 

“But we also wanted to raise the alarm on the need to ban direct marketing of unhealthy foods to children. Our schools should be safe, health-promoting spaces—not playgrounds for junk food advertising.”  

Robinson noted that the school nutrition policy marks a significant shift in national health priorities, but implementation remains incomplete. One in three Barbadian children is overweight or obese, and the ripple effects are already being felt in families, workplaces, and the national economy.  

“We have a crisis on our hands. Childhood obesity is not just a health issue—it’s a societal issue,” Robinson said. “Healthy beginnings are essential for hopeful futures, and that starts with what we allow into our schools, from food options to advertising.”  

Bulbulia praised the youth advocates for their leadership and vowed to ensure their concerns reach key government ministries.  

“Our youth are speaking clearly, and we’re listening,” said Bulbulia. “If we want a hopeful future for Barbados, we need to take care of our health now—not when we’re 40 or 50, but from early childhood. The school nutrition policy is a critical part of this.”  

He stressed the contradiction in banning alcohol and tobacco advertising to minors while allowing the promotion of high-sugar, high-fat foods that lead to serious health problems.  

The NCD Commission has pledged to expand public education and policy support for healthy eating, with Bulbulia noting that the broader cultural shift must also involve families, communities, and the private sector.  

“This World Health Day, we encourage every Barbadian to reflect not just on their personal habits but on the systems that influence those habits,” he said. “We have made progress, but we must now move with greater urgency to protect the next generation.” 

(SZB)