By S.Browne. Updated 12:16 p.m., Friday, June 12, 2026, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).
With an estimated 42 per cent of Barbadian children classified as overweight or obese, the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Barbados (HSFB) has launched a new public awareness campaign aimed at limiting the marketing of unhealthy foods and beverages to children in and around schools.
The four-week campaign, titled “Enough. If it harms our children’s health, it must be regulated,” was launched on June 10 and seeks to draw attention to what organisers describe as a significant gap in the protection of children from unhealthy food marketing.
According to the Foundation, while the 2023 Barbados School Nutrition Policy removed unhealthy food and beverage products from schools, companies that produce ultra-processed foods and drinks continue to reach children through marketing and branding activities within and around educational environments.
The campaign comes amid growing concern over childhood obesity in Barbados. Data from the World Health Organization’s Global Observatory (2022) estimates that 42 per cent of Barbadian children are overweight or obese. Health experts warn that childhood obesity increases the likelihood of developing non-communicable diseases later in life, including Type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure. Research also shows that dietary habits formed during childhood often continue into adulthood.
The issue is not unique to Barbados. UNICEF’s Child Nutrition Report indicates that obesity has surpassed underweight as the leading form of malnutrition among school-aged children worldwide. The report notes that without effective interventions, countries could face significant health and economic consequences.
Greta Yearwood, Chief Executive Officer of the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Barbados, said children are growing up in environments where ultra-processed foods are heavily promoted and readily accessible.
“Our children are growing up in an obesogenic environment surrounded by energy-dense, nutrient-poor ultra-processed foods that are cheap and heavily promoted,” Yearwood said. “Junk food marketing targets children because it works.”
She added that despite restrictions outlined in the School Nutrition Policy, corporate branding continues to surround children in spaces intended for learning and development.
Research highlighted by the Foundation suggests that children are particularly susceptible to advertising and promotional tactics. Younger children often cannot distinguish advertising from other forms of content, while older children may not yet have developed the skills necessary to critically assess persuasive marketing messages.
The Foundation argues that repeated exposure to strategies such as branded school equipment, giveaways and corporate sponsorships can influence children’s food preferences, purchasing requests and consumption habits from an early age.
The Enough campaign builds on the Foundation’s previous Protect Us, Give Us Warning Labels and Out Of Our Schools initiatives, which advocated for stronger implementation of the School Nutrition Policy, increased awareness of the health risks associated with excess sugar, sodium and unhealthy fats, and the removal of unhealthy food and beverage products from schools.
As part of the latest campaign, the Foundation is sharing evidence-based video testimonials from professionals in the fields of medicine, law and nutrition, as well as youth advocates calling for healthier and more supportive environments for children.
The initiative is being carried out in partnership with the Healthy Caribbean Coalition, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the Caribbean Institute for Health Research (CAIHR), and the Barbados Childhood Obesity Prevention Coalition.
The campaign will run from June 10 to July 7 across radio, television and digital platforms.
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