Most New Zealanders would back government actions to restrict the marketing of unhealthy food to children, a survey found.

The independent poll, released on Monday, showed that 73 percent of adults support controls in New Zealand, which has no government regulation on the marketing of sugary and junk food to children. It also has the third-highest rate of childhood obesity among wealthy countries.

The poll of 1,620 New Zealanders, commissioned by the University of Auckland's School of Population Health, asked if they would be in favor of stronger restrictions on advertising and promotion to children.