London Mayor Sadiq Khan said Friday that junk food advertising will be banned on the city's entire public transportation network from February, as part of a plan to tackle childhood obesity.

Axar.az reports citing CNN.

Restrictions will come into force February 25 and will cover all advertising for foods and non-alcoholic drinks high in fat, salt and sugar. This will include products such as chocolate bars, sugary drinks and burgers.

Khan proposed the ban in May and the mayor's online discussion platform, Talk London, received 1,500 responses to the consultation, with an 82% approval rating for the proposal.

Khan described the crisis of childhood obesity as a "ticking timebomb."

"It's clear that advertising plays a huge part in the choices we make, whether we realize it or not, and Londoners have shown overwhelming support for a ban on adverts for junk food and drink on our transport network," he said in a statement.

Khan also noted that obesity is putting the lives of young Londoners at risk and placing "huge pressure on our already strained health service."

Research by City Hall revealed that London has some of the highest child overweight and obesity rates in Europe, with close to 40% of children aged 10 and 11 overweight or obese.

The announcement comes a day after figures were released showing a sharp rise in the number of children and young people across Britain being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. Nearly 7,000 young Britons now suffer from the disease, which is directly linked to obesity.