Visualize this: kids around America are seated in front of the TV watching food commercials at the rate of more than five per hour. More than 70 percent of those commercials are for sugary foods, fast food, and other high-calorie items, all of which can add to childhood obesity.
Childhood obesity and excessive weight is a national problem. The National Center for Health Statistics states that 17 percent of children are overweight. Further, overweight children quite often turn into overweight adults. They have an greater risk for diabetes, heart disease, stroke, arthritis, and certain cancers, among other ailments and diseases. According to 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 encourage increased consumption of food, unhealthful foods, and a sedentary lifestyle.
According to researchers at the University of California-Davis, who studied the types of food commercials watched by children 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, including children’s cable channels, networks that appeal to older youths, mainstream English-language channels, and the two highest rated Spanish language channels.
A total of 5,724 commercials were recorded. Of these, 1,162 were food-related. Children were exposed to an average of 5.2 food related commercials per hour. Of these commercials, more than 70 percent were for unhealthful items (foods with elevated sugar and/or excessive fat content), which contribute to childhood obesity. Thirty-four percent of the commercials were for fast-food restaurants and convenience foods.
The highest share of food-related commercials were seen on children’s networks, where the commercials were primarily for sugary cereals and sweets, high-fat foods, fast-food restaurant fare, and snacks. Compared with TV for a general audience, children’s networks exposed its watchers to 76 percent more food ads each hour than the other networks. Young people that watch TV on a children’s network during Saturday morning from 7 to 10 AM observe approximately one food commercial per eight minutes.
Older kids continue to be exposed to unhealthful food ads. The researchers watched programming such as the music videos offered by BET and MTV. They found that 80 percent of the MTV food ads were for fast food restaurants, sugary beverages, and sweets.
The authors of the study, which was published in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, indicated that “Study after study has documented the adverse health effects of food advertising targeting children and adolescents.” They continued to say that “School- and family-based programs that have attempted to reduce children’s media use have shown promise.” But because kids are shown food commercials via other media, particularly the Internet, the authors propose the creation of “nutrition-focused media literary interventions” to help young people translate the economic motivations of food advertisers and the methods the industry applies to increase market for their products. These campaigns, along with others, may help stem the growing epidemic of childhood obesity.
Here is your free guide to healthful cooking. For more information about some of the causes of childhood obesity visit Facts About Childhood Obesity.
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