Push against junk food marketing to curb childhood obesity

Increasing consumption of ultra-processed foods among young people continues to contribute to a rise in childhood obesity in Barbados and across the Caribbean, Youth Advocacy Officer with the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Barbados, Kabira Foster, has warned.

Foster was speaking to Barbados TODAY on the sidelines of the third Hope for the Future event held in National Heroes Square, Bridgetown, on Saturday, which again raised awareness about unhealthy food and beverage marketing aimed at children and advocated for healthier school environments.

The event formed part of the Foundation’s Make It Make Sense 2.0 campaign and follows previous efforts to encourage healthier eating habits among children.

Foster explained that the movement seeks to ensure that schools remain places where children can “learn, grow and thrive” but warned that aggressive marketing of unhealthy products is undermining those goals.

“What’s harbouring that is the infiltration of marketing of these unhealthy foods and beverages,” she said. “We’re seeing an increased consumption of those ultra-processed products, which is leading to the increase in childhood obesity here in Barbados and across the region.”

She noted that the first Hope for the Future event brought together students, policymakers, canteen concessionaires and health advocates shortly after the introduction of Barbados’ School Nutrition Policy in 2023. Those discussions centred on creating healthier food environments for children.

This year’s event, however, focused on restricting the marketing of unhealthy foods and beverages within schools.

“Hope for the Future 3.0 is now focusing on unhealthy food and beverage marketing within our schools and the need for restriction of this marketing to protect our children from the harms of unhealthy food and beverages,” Foster said.

Throughout the day, organisers conducted interviews and public engagement activities to gauge attitudes toward food advertising and children’s eating habits.

“We’ve had some really great interviews and engagement with members of the public who were able to identify the marketing tactics being used within the schools to lure the children and influence them into consuming more of the unhealthy products,” she said.

Foster added that organisers were also gathering views on measures that could be implemented to curb such marketing and promote healthier choices among young people.