Visualize this: youngsters around the world are sitting in front of the TV viewing food commercials to the tune of more than five an hour. Most of those commercials are for sugary foods, fast food, and other high-calorie items, each of which can contribute to childhood obesity.
Childhood obesity and excessive weight is a national problem. The National Center for Health Statistics show that 17 percent of children are overweight. Further, overweight children quite often turn into overweight adults. They have an elevated risk for diabetes, heart disease, stroke, arthritis, and certain cancers, along with other ailments and diseases. As reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), part of the problem may be that American society has become "obesogenic,". This is defined by situations and environments that promote increased consumption of food, unhealthful foods, and a sedentary lifestyle.
As reported by researchers at the University of California-Davis, that evaluated the types of food commercials observed by kids who watch English- and Spanish-language TV programs. During high viewing times for kids (Saturday mornings and weekday afternoons). Recordings were made of broadcasts on twelve networks, which included children's cable channels, networks that attract older youths, mainstream English-language channels, and the two highest rated Spanish language channels.
An aggregate of 5,724 commercials were recorded. Of these, 1,162 were food-related. Kids were shown an average of 5.2 food related commercials per hour. Of these commercials, more than 70 percent were for unhealthful foods (foods with increased sugar and/or elevated fat content), which add to childhood obesity. Thirty-four percent of the advertisements were for fast-food restaurants and convenience items.
The highest share of food-related advertisements were seen on children's networks, where the ads were for the most part for sugary cereals and sweets, high-fat foods, fast-food restaurant fare, and snacks. Compared with programming for a general audience, children's networks exposed its watchers to 76 percent more food advertisements each hour than the other networks. Children that watch TV on a children's network during Saturday morning from 7 to 10 AM are shown approximately one food commercial every eight minutes.
Older kids continue to be exposed to unhealthful food advertisements. The researchers watched programming such as the music videos offered by BET and MTV. They reported that 80 percent of the MTV food ads were for fast food restaurants, sugary beverages, and sweets.
The publishers of the research, which was published in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, wrote that "Study after study has documented the adverse health effects of food advertising targeting children and adolescents." They went on to state that "School- and family-based programs that have attempted to reduce children's media use have shown promise." But because kids are exposed to food ads by other media, particularly the Internet, the authors propose the introduction of "nutrition-focused media literary interventions" to help young people understand the economic motives of food advertisers and the techniques the industry practices to increase desire for their products. These campaigns, and others, may help slow down the growing epidemic of childhood obesity. - 33373
Childhood obesity and excessive weight is a national problem. The National Center for Health Statistics show that 17 percent of children are overweight. Further, overweight children quite often turn into overweight adults. They have an elevated risk for diabetes, heart disease, stroke, arthritis, and certain cancers, along with other ailments and diseases. As reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), part of the problem may be that American society has become "obesogenic,". This is defined by situations and environments that promote increased consumption of food, unhealthful foods, and a sedentary lifestyle.
As reported by researchers at the University of California-Davis, that evaluated the types of food commercials observed by kids who watch English- and Spanish-language TV programs. During high viewing times for kids (Saturday mornings and weekday afternoons). Recordings were made of broadcasts on twelve networks, which included children's cable channels, networks that attract older youths, mainstream English-language channels, and the two highest rated Spanish language channels.
An aggregate of 5,724 commercials were recorded. Of these, 1,162 were food-related. Kids were shown an average of 5.2 food related commercials per hour. Of these commercials, more than 70 percent were for unhealthful foods (foods with increased sugar and/or elevated fat content), which add to childhood obesity. Thirty-four percent of the advertisements were for fast-food restaurants and convenience items.
The highest share of food-related advertisements were seen on children's networks, where the ads were for the most part for sugary cereals and sweets, high-fat foods, fast-food restaurant fare, and snacks. Compared with programming for a general audience, children's networks exposed its watchers to 76 percent more food advertisements each hour than the other networks. Children that watch TV on a children's network during Saturday morning from 7 to 10 AM are shown approximately one food commercial every eight minutes.
Older kids continue to be exposed to unhealthful food advertisements. The researchers watched programming such as the music videos offered by BET and MTV. They reported that 80 percent of the MTV food ads were for fast food restaurants, sugary beverages, and sweets.
The publishers of the research, which was published in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, wrote that "Study after study has documented the adverse health effects of food advertising targeting children and adolescents." They went on to state that "School- and family-based programs that have attempted to reduce children's media use have shown promise." But because kids are exposed to food ads by other media, particularly the Internet, the authors propose the introduction of "nutrition-focused media literary interventions" to help young people understand the economic motives of food advertisers and the techniques the industry practices to increase desire for their products. These campaigns, and others, may help slow down the growing epidemic of childhood obesity. - 33373
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Here is your free guide to healthful cooking. For more information about some of the causes of childhood obesity visit Facts About Childhood Obesity.
