The recent study "Ultra-Processed Foods and Human Health" published in The Lancet recommends banning the sale of snacks, sweets, and sugary drinks in schools due to their strong association with serious health issues, including obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, depression, cognitive decline, and premature death. This research emphasizes the urgency of implementing public policies against the promotion of unhealthy food options and highlights the obstacles posed by industry efforts to block such health measures.

In alignment with this, UNICEF released a statement in September 2025 warning that obesity among children has now surpassed malnutrition, affecting 1 in every 10 children and adolescents. Such statistics underline the critical need to support legislative measures aimed at protecting children’s health, particularly the approval of bill 4501/2020 which seeks to restrict the commercialization and advertising of ultra-processed foods within school environments.

The ongoing discussions in Brazil's Senate regarding bill 4501/2020, which has already received favorable evaluations from the Transparency and Governance Commission, signify a growing recognition of the need to address child health risks associated with diet. Advocating for children’s health involves not only regulatory changes but also ethical responsibility from the food industry to prioritize healthier food options in schools and ensure that the future generations are not at risk of diet-related diseases.