Celebrities should be banned from promoting junk food, a leading medical journal has said. In an editorial, The Lancet suggested celebrity endorsement of junk food is contributing to high rates of obesity, particularly among children.
The Department of Health said it has no plans for new legislation but said there was a case for industry to act more responsibly.
The call comes just one day after the Commons health committee said stars who promote junk food should reconsider their deals.
Do you think celebrities should be banned from advertising junk food? Do celebrity endorsements influence you?
This debate is now closed. Read your comments below.
The following comments reflect the balance of opinion we have received so far:
Your reaction:
Children and teenagers have a tendency to purchase whatever product their idols or favourite celebrities advertise. The idea is beneficial for the companies who use celebrities to represent their products but it is not their children who are buying the junk food and growing overweight and apathetic.
Morgan, England
 |  What about doing something more positive, like reducing the prices of fresh food and vegetables?  |
It is very easy for politicians to criticise celebrities who take part in junk food ads, but what about doing something more positive, like reducing the prices of fresh food and vegetables? As long as a bag of salad leaves and two lb of apples still costs four times more then a tin of baked beans and a bag of chips, people - especially on low income - will remain on unhealthy diets.
Margaretha Koper, UK I am a father of two little girls who I love nearly as much as their mum. Because I love them I have learnt that the phrase "No" when used with the right motives is perfectly acceptable. The way I look at it is my children will always know I love them because I tell them every chance I get but I am not aware that love and popularity are the same. Maybe I'm just old fashioned?
Pete, Kingswinford
Of course they should be allowed...it is not illegal is it?
Martin, UK
Advertising has been allowed to get out of hand. If a product is that good why does it need to be rammed down our throats? At the end of the day it is all about money, and no corporation is ever going to give a second thought to the damage that they are causing adults and children alike. And there is no point in any of them saying it is personal choice to buy and eat/drink their rubbish. They use aggressive advertising because they know it works. Alas, the cork is out of the bottle and I see little chance of us putting it back.
Paul, UK
I am 14 years old and I think it is unbelievable that celebrities promote junk food because they are supposed to be an example to us.
Alexandra O'Sullivan, England
No, they shouldn't. What a lot of people who have commented on this question don't seem to realize is that the corporations and their advertising agencies have spent literally billions of dollars on psychological research. They know how to push people's buttons, and they do it so well that most people would vehemently deny that they are influenced by ads. Children are especially vulnerable. Before anyone objects to this view, think about this. The billions of dollars spent on advertising would not be continued unless it works!
Sherry Bendall, California, USA
| It's not the food, it's the parents and schools |
It's not the food, it's the parents and schools. Parents don't have the time to cook nutritious meals anymore as the majority of mothers work unlike the 1950s and 60s. And schools don't give pupils the choice of healthy options that they should. The cut downs in time devoted to PE lessons don't help either - my little brothers secondary school has just one 50 minute lesson a week! And that includes changing times! All they are bothered with is exam results rather than the welfare of children.
AW, England AW, England claims that working mothers don't have time to cook a nutritious meal. I disagree, until two years ago I was a full time working mother and still cooked a evening meal for my children. Sometimes I would cook a large quantity and freeze half, so we had a home made ready meal, overall I found it quicker, easier and taster to cook rather than buy a prepared meals. I think part of the problem is that many of the younger generation were not taught, either by their parents or school, how to cook simple every day meals.
Caron, England
It is wrong that a child's favourite pop star is promoting Pepsi, Britney spears for example, because it will attract the kids to tell their parents to buy this rubbish.
Scott, UK
People insist on going on all sorts of diets, but it is very rare they decide to exercise. It doesn't matter whether celebrities advertise junk food or not, people will continue to take the easy option and will only diet out of guilt of indulging themselves. However, this guilt won't encourage them to exercise at all, and exercise is what celebrities should promote more. People should focus more on HOW MUCH they eat and how they use the energy they gain from the food.
Katie, GB
I don't think more health education is the answer. Why should schools have to spend the time and resources counter-acting the propaganda churned out by huge corporations? It would be much cheaper to stop the advertising in the first place.
Tracey A, UK
Surely the real cause of obesity among children is lack of exercise?
Paul Sumner, England
| We live in times where nobody seems to want to take responsibility for their own actions |
We live in times where nobody seems to want to take responsibility for their own actions - did Elvis Presley's family try to blame his demise on celebrities promoting burgers and junk food. I know that over indulgence of fatty foods is a major health risk, I am by far nowhere near the most intelligent person in the world but I have enough brain power to realise that there are enough warnings about unhealthy eating drinking and smoking habits to make my own decisions on what to consume and in what quantities.
Andrew, UK I think it is a measure of their declining popularity when celebs endorse anything. It doesn't make the slightest difference to me.
Jim Mennie, Scotland
Why don't we go the whole hog and ban any form of food that tastes good? We could force everyone to live on boiled cabbage and nothing else. If cabbage is the only available food think of the savings in the marketing budget.
Dave, England
If parents are so concerned about junk food they ought not buy it for their children. They should also boycott the company that uses advertising tactic that they do not like. In America we generally believe that voting with one's wallet is the best way to make private companies change as opposed to using government mandates. Such a philosophy sounds shocking to many Europeans but I'll take my country's "capitalists" and "cowboy" way of doing things over a nanny state every time.
Colin Keesee, USA
Some people do not realise or rather won't accept that they are being manipulated by the advertising industry. They don't just sell the product, they sell a lifestyle and increase the feeling of inadequacy within ourselves with this false perception that people will like us more, we'll be sexier, others will be envious of us if we buy the product. Stricter regulations need to be placed on ALL advertising. I think we should follow the footsteps of Holland, Greece and other countries and have a complete ban on all advertising aimed towards children. This society is in the midst of an epidemic of over consumption.
Chantelle, UK
| I wouldn't choose junk food for me or my children but I value the choice |
Why is this country obsessed with banning anything that isn't mandatory? Celebrities are not allowed to advertise ecstasy, cocaine etc. - to what effect? I wouldn't choose junk food for me or my children but I value the choice.
Mike Grimes, UK Why ban something when you can tax it instead ?
Ian, England, UK
The argument to ban junk food advertising pre-supposes that it has an influence. If sprouts were marketed as aggressively, do we seriously believe that kids would start eating them?
Jeremy, England
The only thing celebrities are promoting are the companies, not the food, kids will eat rubbish regardless. If a celeb gets paid to put their face to a company then let them do it.. it's really nobody's business but theirs. I actually think celebrities promote quite a healthy lifestyle, they're all slim, exercise and they look great. The bottom line is kids are lazy, they do little exercise and parents are to blame for buying computer games videos and DVDs!
Jessica, UK
What are the Gov going to do, arrest Beckham, and Linker and charge them with conspiracy to make children fat? What a joke. What children eat is the responsibility of the parents, no-one else's. Parents have a choice in what they feed their children. This Gov continually promotes people avoiding responsibly for their own actions.
Richard, London
Celebrities endorsing junk food should be forced to eat it as well.
Sung, UK
| I don't think it is right for celebrities, especially sports stars to advertise junk food |
I don't think it is right for celebrities, especially sports stars to advertise junk food. It may give the impression to children that eating that particular type of junk food/drink will make them better at sport. Junk food is here to stay though, it probably doesn't matter if they use celebrities or not. I only hope the people in charge of designing the planes and trains of the future build much larger seats to accommodate all the grotesquely obese people who will be using them.
David Blair, UK No. Celebrities should not advertise junk food. Children copy. We already have problems not only with obesity but the opposite anorexia. It is a way of media ignoring the parents. It's called pester power but should be called abuse of the media kind. More awareness of what not to teach by celebrities would be welcome.
Rita Scriven, England
This Gov is a joke. They are talking about banning celebrities from advertising junk food, and yet they are quite happy for the continued selling (and reaping the duty) of cigarettes, which are know to kill people.
Richard, London
From the quality of the opinions expressed on this page, I would think that most readers are intelligent and educated and therefore, have the ability to separate truth from fiction and can objectively criticise the media to which we are all subjected. Some people have not had the same advantages as others and might need a little more protection. A ban should be considered.
Toby, Spain
| The nanny state is alive and well and living in the UK |
The nanny state is alive and well and living in the UK. To read some of the rubbish offered you would think that GB is full of mindless idiots following sheepishly those so called 'celebrities' who would probably endorse cannibalism if it paid well. More fool the companies paying these people - but as for banning them, what have we come to and more to the point what is next, banning cars that do more than 70 mph?, Hi-fi's that play too loud? Hot coffee? Get a grip!
Mike Hall, UK I think the majority of celebrities and junk food are perfectly matched.
Peter, Hong Kong
Has anybody seen the film 'Demolition Man'? When will governments realise that the more legislation you introduce, the more people rebel against it! If you want an effective society, education is the only way forward.
Paddy, UK
Education might be the only way forward, Paddy, but lets look at the state of play as it is. Fast food - billions on 'educational/persuasional' campaigns. Healthy eating - a pittance in comparison. Without some sort of restriction how can we expect educated decisions to be made.
Andrew Bartlett, UK
I have enough of a mind of my own to eat what I want. I don't need a celebrity to endorse anything, the decision is ultimately mine. I think too much emphasis is placed on celebrities, they are not as significant as people make them out to be.
Victoria, USA
Can the advocates of the nanny state give us a break please? If I think hamburger is bad for me, I won't eat it, or let my children eat it. Otherwise I will. I can make my own mind and take care of my children. If you can't, that's your problem and you need to sort that out, not everybody else.
PB, India/UK
No, to ban "celebrities" from advertising "junk food" would be ridiculous. Anyone should be free to advertise a legal product. If people want to eat that rubbish it's up to them and if celebrities want to be associated with it, again it's their choice.
Kulu, UK
Yes I do because celebrities are endorsing obesity and health problems. I feel celebrities should start thinking about what they are endorsing, instead of the amount of money they will make.
Joanne Edwards, Brighton, UK If the government think there is a problem with junk food, why not stop the companies from making it? Banning celebrities from advertising junk food is a bit like 'locking the barn door after the horse has bolted.'
Graeme, Norway
You ask "Should celebrities advertise junk food?"
I ask "should anybody?"
Bob Harvey, Lincs, UK
We all know that children learn by example. They watch and then do, it isn't relevant who they see doing it but they will take more notice of a familiar figure. Why not establish a branch of advertising which uses children's 'heroes', people like David Beckham, Beyonc� or Kylie Minogue, which actively encourages the opposite of junk food consumption. Perhaps the Department of Health, or one of the other government food representatives, should look into promoting their more natural foods in a more 'advertising industry'-like way
Elaine, UK
I think that supposed 'celebrities' are the perfect salesmen for junk food. They are both processed and offer a short term boost, but both are ultimately unsatisfying and empty of any goodness, with over indulgence in either usually making you feel sick.
Chris Hollett, UK
| Eating a packet of crisps or drinking a fizzy drink is perfectly ok as part of a balanced diet |
There is no such thing as junk food. No food is bad for you in moderation, we seems to forget that. Eating a packet of crisps or drinking a fizzy drink is perfectly ok as part of a balanced diet. Nothing that these celebrities are selling us is fundamentally bad for us and they should be allowed to carry on.
Jimmy, UK Are you telling me that if David Beckham started advertising broccoli, children would eat it? I know mine wouldn't. My kids like junk food, but it is up to me (and no one else) to ensure that they get a balanced diet. If they want more of something than is good for them, I just say 'no'. It is possible and it does work.
Laura, UK
It's quite obvious that having some attractive and slim celebrity promoting your product will increase sales. Do people honestly imagine that if a really fat and overweight person was to advertise a certain brand of crisps that the product would continue to sell in massive amounts? Of course, it wouldn't. Yet we are asked to believe that eating the amount of crisps that Gary Lineker is often spotted guzzling won't have any detrimental affect on us at all, when all around us is the evidence of childhood obesity and a growth of heart disease in young adults.
John McVey, Scotland
Yes, but not just for bad food - all celebrity sell outs are disgusting. They should know better. Steve Coogan was once asked to do an ad for McDonalds. He told his agent "Get them up to �1 million and then say no." They went up to �3 million, but he still wouldn't do it. That rocks! (source: NY Times interview 2002)
Sian, UK
| Banning the use of celebrities will make little difference, banning the advertising of junk food might work |
As I remember it was an anonymous 'Ronnie Macdonald' together with the double M symbol that brought McDonalds to my notice. No so called celebrities, just millions of pounds worth of inane advertising. Banning the use of celebrities will make little difference, banning the advertising of junk food might work, as is still hasn't with cigarettes. McDs wasted their money in my case, and that of my son, we tried McD once, decided that it was junk and continued to eat decent food.
Barry P, England I eat some junk food because i like it not because a celebrity promotes it. By linking junk food with sport, it may encourage people to take more exercise.
Caroline, England
It does not matter who endorses products; if people want to eat something bad for them they will buy it, regardless of if it is shown on the tele or not. If people want their children eating better, then the education about a proper diet and the provision of one needs to start pretty much from birth. One cannot expect children to not want unhealthy foods when that is what the parents have been feeding them their entire lives and what the parents themselves are eating.
Fiorenza Barone, Italy
If my genetic makeup determined that my IQ was around 43 then maybe I wouldn't be able to understand the meaning of manipulation. But, otherwise, no.
Jamieson, Glasgow, Scotland
| Kids are particularly susceptible to its influence because they are less likely to question what they see on TV |
It is nonsense to suggest that people are somehow weak for being influenced by advertising. Corporations spend billions each year on marketing because quite simply, it works (if only they spent as much on informing us of any risks). Kids are particularly susceptible to its influence because they are less likely to question what they see on TV. The advertising codes exist to balance this situation more in favour of the consumer and to guard against any perceived risks such as public health. Therefore I think restricting or banning such adverts would be a great idea.
Pete, UK Surely those who eat junk food regularly should advertise it? The simple fact is that 'celebrities' endorse products for money... Instead of money they should be paid with the companies' product like, say, a year's supply of 'Big Tasties'! A sudden move towards social responsibility by celebrities would be all but assured!
Jolzon, UK
I believe that celebrities should in deed stop promoting junk food. Physical, social and mental side-effects of obesity are not to be taken lightly. Various cancers and type two diabetes are on the rise. Students should be taught that junk food is a treat, which means that having a chocolate bar or chips once or twice a month is alright. We tell our children to be honest with ourselves and with others. Hence, what are we doing?
Janic Drapeau, Canada
| Advertising needs to be regulated, but not to the extent of banning certain people |
Obesity is caused by incorrect food and lack of exercise. The educational establishment through prejudice against competition and lack of money (forcing them to sell off playing fields) are mainly to blame for the lack of adequate exercise. Advertising needs to be regulated, but not to the extent of banning certain people from taking part in it. Who defines who a celebrity is anyway?
Howard, UK It doesn't matter who advertises junk food. At the end of the day, it is the parents who purchase it.
Tony, UK
Why cannot people take responsibility for what they eat instead of blaming everyone but themselves? A bag of crisps has about 135 calories and a Mars Bar about 250 calories. In a reasonable diet that is not a problem. The problem is that some parents are giving their kids too much of these type of foods instead of cooking proper meals. The celebrities are not to blame - it's lazy parents!
Ailsa, UK
Yet again parents in this country are putting the responsibility of bringing up their children onto someone else's shoulders. Are they not capable of simply saying 'No' when their children demand to eat junk food? My partner's nine year old would like to drink Coke all day but we have told him that it is only for special occasions and he accepts this.
Kiltie, UK
Junk food only really becomes a problem if it is not part of a well balanced diet. This is nearly as bad as the planned warning messages on chocolate bars. We all know that if you eat too much junk food and don't exercise you get fat.
Caron, England
| A packet of crisp, whether promoted by Gary Lineker or not, cannot be to blame for the rising levels of obesity |
I'm sorry but a packet of crisp, whether promoted by Gary Lineker or not, cannot be to blame for the rising levels of obesity in this country. What is needed is further promotion of a healthy lifestyle and strong encouragement for exercise to become a part of day to day life. With regular exercise and a balanced diet, there is no reason why the occasional packet of crisp or a bar of chocolate cannot be enjoyed without a risk to health. The concept of everything in moderation comes to mind.
Louise, England I can cope with the junk food ads, my problem is with the adverts for toys/games which the children now want for Christmas. As for the Walkers ads, I always thought they were aimed at the young-at-heart adults.
Carol, England
Whether Celebs are used to advertise or not, it won't stop people following the herd. Most people prefer to be told what to do, what to eat, what to wear etc. It saves them the pain of having to think for themselves. Besides, when you look at how many ads are around, how many actually use celebs? 1 in 10? 1 in 20? What I buy is MY choice. If I am led by advertising it's STILL my choice. People should grow up and stop blaming others for their own actions.
Adrian, UK
The Lancet views parents as being irresponsible and stupid. We are, in their patronising view, unable to resist either pressure from our kids, or the charms of Gary Lineker. Parents, and only parents, decide what our kids eat - not the government, not Gary Lineker, and certainly the Lancet.
David , England
| I don't think kids these days eat any more junk than I did 30 years ago |
I don't think kids these days eat any more junk than I did 30 years ago. I believe, the levels of obesity are down to the fact that they sit in front of PCs and TVs instead of playing outside like we did at that age. It also makes you sick when you hear schools are selling off playing fields for the money and cancelling PE lessons. Surely that's just as scandalous?
Caroline Surely this could never happen. These days people become can celebrities from being in adverts (for example Johnny Vegas, the 118 runners etc). Does this mean that when the 'star' of an advert becomes too well known because of this the advert should be pulled to make way for a new 'unknown' ????
Stuart, UK
Advertising on TV should be banned before the watershed, and preferably banned full stop. The whole 'glossy marketing' approach is abhorrent and ultimately self-defeating, so let's stop it now. Would I be prepared to pay a much larger license fee to remove adverts? You bet.
Dale Rumbold, England
I have always thought it quite appalling that sports stars like Gary Lineker lend their image to promote unhealthy lifestyles. But banning them from doing so would be wrong, we are in a free society. We just have to keep highlighting the issue to make them feel rightly ashamed and then they will stop. Hopefully some would even start lending their image to worthy causes such as trying to get children to do more exercise!
Ricardo Molina, London, UK
Celebrities should be banned from junk food endorsement. Equally junk food and drinks should not be permitted to be sold in schools - nor sponsored in school based activities - nor advertised in schools. Schools cannot preach healthy eating and at the same time sell junk food. Fizzy pop has no place in schools - parents want to see plain free of charge water - pure fruit juice and milk back on the school menu. The peddlers of junk drinks only filled the vacuum which occurred when free milk was snatched from our children by politicians who had no idea of the health consequences of what they were doing.
Stephanie Spiers, England There are no 'junk' foods. There are only 'junk' diets.
Mike Bell, UK
Surely it would be better for the Department of health to educate parents that a balanced diet is far better for their children rather than an endless stream of microwave ready meals, crisps, chocolate and hours in front of the TV and games console.
Laurence, Hampshire, UK
I think it is about time the Department of Health took responsibility for my bad eating habits. I visit fast food restaurants at least once a day, which clearly cannot be good for me, so why is it taking the government so long to introduce measures to stop me doing this. Banning celebrity promotions should be the first step of many.
Shilen Morjaria, London, UK
| What is worrying is the current celebrity worship culture exercised by both children and adults |
I think that banning companies from using celebrities in their adverts is very close to a serious breach of freedom of expression. What is worrying is the current celebrity worship culture exercised by both children and adults, not to mention the fact that we as a society are expected to be brainwashed by TV commercials. Let companies advertise as they like, and let children and especially parents make choices and take some responsibility for their actions.
MJ, UK We should just ban junk food altogether. Food should be strictly controlled for a while so that we can settle back into a natural diet. Good wholesome grub, and nothing processed in packets. People should learn how to cook again.
Russ, UK
This is only a symptom of an ever increasing problem with capitalism as a whole. The ever-increasing emphasis on marketing. I get ever more frustrated by the products themselves being less important than the way they are sold, and the vast quantities of money that are wasted in this way.
Jonathan Kelk, Scotland
| When are we going to return to taking care of our own lives? |
I can't believe that we're so dull in this country that we can't work out nutritional issues for ourselves. I even heard a news article that chocolate manufacturers are going to tell us on their packaging that we should eat fruit and vegetables, as well - man cannot live by chocolate alone! I presume that the main driver for this is fear of future litigation. When are we going to return to taking care of our own lives? How can anybody stuff themselves full of burgers, crisps and the like and then expect to sue the supplier because they are now overweight. It's pathetic.
Paul B, Oxfordshire, UK Banning celebrities from advertising junk-food gets you into all sorts of grey areas like having to define who is a celebrity and who is not. And it will not help one bit, because it will not stop junk-food producers from advertising. If you want to tackle the problem you should ban all advertising for junk-food. But ultimately it is much more important that parents and children learn what is good for them.
John, UK
Rob, UK Utter nonsense. So-called celebrities might influence fat kids to eat one brand of crisps rather than another but that's as far as it goes. Stuffing too much food down your throat is what makes you fat. The cure is so simple and obvious that no-one wants to believe it: eat less and exercise more.
Bryan, UK
How about making people take responsibility for the consequences of their actions instead of trying to make us live in a false sanitised world. What next ban celebrities from advertising cars since cars knock people down?
John, UK
As an unemployed non-celebrity, I am looking forward to a phone call from a leading crisp firm to promote their products for �100k.
Paul, Woking, England
| These huge fast food chains are damaging the health of our nation |
Our children should not be subjected to the constant promotion of junk food. These huge fast food chains are damaging the health of our nation. Children are very impressionable. Even if their favourite celebrity promoted 'lard', I'm sure they'd want some! This is a really ugly state of affairs.
Chloe, UK We live in a capitalist society. It's based upon people buying things they don't really need. Part of that is junk food. However, why should rules be applied as to what can and can't be advertised? If something is deemed as being bad for us, and shouldn't be advertised, then it should be banned. Smoking is a prime example. How can the government ban advertising, stating it's bad for us, yet still allow tobacco to be sold?
James Hill, England
How practical would it be to ban celebrity endorsements? How do you define a celebrity anyway - haven't some commercials effectively created their own celebrities? Like the stars of the Boddingtons's commercials. Presumably it would be simpler to just ban all advertising targeted at children. They already have such a law in Sweden.
Louisa Radice, Exeter, UK
| If I wanted a bit of unhealthy food today, I would not be influenced by who is advertising it |
I personally do not care if the junk food advertised by a pop star or anyone else. If I wanted a bit of unhealthy food today, I would not be influenced by who is advertising it. I would go by my own taste buds anyway. I could not believe that someone is so shallow and drink a particular drink only because it is advertised but someone they adore. It sounds terribly shallow and stupid.
Inga, England We live in a society where companies are trying to make as much money as possible, and you can't blame them for that. I think the really issues are advertising foods in a way that make them seem healthy when they are not which leads to a lot of misunderstanding (by normally intelligent people) about what is and isn't healthy.
Rob, UK
Banning cigarette advertising hasn't stopped people smoking. What makes them think that the situation would be any different with junk food?
Tim, UK
Obesity cannot be solely blamed on junk food there are a lot of lifestyle issues that go hand in hand to cause obesity. Should we ban advertising for all of them too - cars, computer games, sweets, non sporting toys, etc. Why must this Labour Government insist in turning the UK into a nanny state? We can think for ourselves you know!
Carolyne, UK
| Nobody forces someone to buy a packet of crisps or a chocolate bar |
I am getting increasingly tired of the calls to ban everything in sight. Nobody forces someone to buy a packet of crisps or a chocolate bar. If someone is sufficiently easily swayed that they will buy something unhealthy just because a celebrity appears on their screen eating it the problem is with them, not with the system. I'm surprised we haven't heard calls to ban junk food completely, let's move to a Soviet style government where the "powers-that-be" can dictate our every move to make sure we never have any fun, never take any risks and are always in the peak of health.
John B, UK Maybe it's also time for some parents to educate their children about advertising and what might happen if they don't eat healthily. Perhaps parents could do with some education in that too - perhaps information on how to create healthy meals in the time and for the cost of the junk?
David, UK
I agree but why stop at Junk Food? It bothers me to see "celebrities" pushing loans and "debt consolidation" in TV commercials. They are using their status to influence the most vulnerable members of the community.
W Humpage, UK
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