Childhood obesity in the United States is reaching epidemic proportions. With more than one fourth of advertising on daytime and prime time television devoted to foods and beverages and continuing questions about the role television plays in obesity, a study in the November/December issue of the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior examines how food advertising aimed at children might be a large contributor to the problem.
More than one 4th of advertising on daytime & prime time TV devoted to foods and beverages questions the role TV plays in child obesity.
More than one 4th of advertising on daytime & prime time TV devoted to foods and beverages questions the role TV plays in child obesity.
Children's networks had the highest percentage of food-related ads predominately for sugary cereals & sweets, high fat food, fast-foods, chips/crackers. Fast-food restaurants, sugary food, chips/crackers, and sugar-added beverages collectively accounted for more than 70% of food commercials; 34% were for ''food on the run,'' fast-food restaurants and convenience food. In contrast, fruits, vegetables, and juices were advertised in only 1.7% of the commercials to children.
Compared to TV for a general audience, children's networks expose young viewers to 76% more food commercials per hour than did the other networks.
To add insult to injury, Kellogg's claims that cereals can boost immunity. Yes, pictured on a box of the sugary kid’s cereal, Cocoa Krispies, is the claim that it can help boost your child’s immunity. Nothing like jumping on the Swine Flu Consumer Conscious bandwagon. This news, led to a huge backlash amongst professionals in health, fitness, and nutrition .
"The idea that eating Cocoa Krispies will keep a kid from getting swine flu, or from catching a cold, doesn't make sense," says Marion Nestle, nutrition professor at New York University.
Kellogg’s scrapped their controversial immune-system claims from its Cocoa Krispies and Rice Krispies cereal boxes two days after a USA TODAY story revealed that a growing number of critics — including San Francisco's city attorney — were seriously questioning the wording bannered across the cereal boxes that read: "Now helps support your child's IMMUNITY (sic)."
Sources:
Elsevier Health Sciences (2009, November 5). TV Bombards Children With Commercials For High-fat And High-sugar Foods. ScienceDaily. Retrieved November 8, 2009, from http://www.sciencedaily.com /releases/2009/11/091104181155.htm
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/2009-11-02-cereal-immunity-claim_N.htm
"The idea that eating Cocoa Krispies will keep a kid from getting swine flu, or from catching a cold, doesn't make sense," says Marion Nestle, nutrition professor at New York University.
Kellogg’s scrapped their controversial immune-system claims from its Cocoa Krispies and Rice Krispies cereal boxes two days after a USA TODAY story revealed that a growing number of critics — including San Francisco's city attorney — were seriously questioning the wording bannered across the cereal boxes that read: "Now helps support your child's IMMUNITY (sic)."
Sources:
Elsevier Health Sciences (2009, November 5). TV Bombards Children With Commercials For High-fat And High-sugar Foods. ScienceDaily. Retrieved November 8, 2009, from http://www.sciencedaily.com /releases/2009/11/091104181155.htm
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/2009-11-02-cereal-immunity-claim_N.htm
Thank you for this article. Educating the public is the key to changing this situation. There seems to be no social conscience in the food industry, and corroboration from the government in the absence.
ReplyDeleteLife comes from life, and only from life. At each step in the food-chain nutrients go through specific biological processes to increase their value. Simply sprinkling a collection of chemicals that can be called “vitamins” does not make something food.
Real nutrition must come from nature. Eating a wide variety of unprocessed foods is one very important element of a healthy life.
Dr Chris Hansen, DC