Over three-quarters of adults would like their local council to be able to restrict unhealthy food and drink advertising near schools and playgrounds, a new poll has found.

The Obesity Health Alliance has called on MPs to commit to addressing high levels of excess weight in the UK, warning that obesity contributes to inequality and will ‘pile on the pressure on the NHS’.

A poll commissioned from YouGov by the alliance found that 58% of adults would like their local council to be able to use planning laws to reduce the number of unhealthy food outlets in the local area.

Drawing on responses from over 2,000 adults, the survey also found that 64% of adults would like their local authority to be able to restrict unhealthy food and drink advertising in outdoor areas.

Around 76% of adults would also like their council to be able to restrict unhealthy food and drink advertising near places where children congregate, such as schools and playgrounds.

The alliance’s director Katharine Jenner said: ‘Today we have written to the potential next prime minister of the country with a simple request to put children’s health first, address Britain’s obesity crisis and redesign a broken food system that puts profit before health.

‘Luckily there are already policies such as the soft drinks industry levy that has proven to be effective so all that is required now is to build on this success.

‘As individuals we deserve to have more control over the food and drink that’s available and marketed to us and the next Government should lead on child health.’

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