[The right to food and freedom from obesity]

The rising prevalence of obesity among children and youth worldwide has been associated with marketing of unhealthy food products and drinks directed towards these age groups. Consumer organizations and several states want to regulate such marketing by law, but commercial actors prefer self-regulation. International human rights, including the rights to food and health, provide arguments for legal regulation of commercial conduct in matters where health and nutritional status may be affected negatively. There is an increasing awareness of the fact that human rights require states to take effective measures to counteract obesity and related diseases. This may give rise to a more systematic use of human rights for protection and promotion of public health in general.