Link between advertising and childhood obesity

by Kristin Darguzas (Subscribe to Kristin Darguzas's posts) Sep 28th 2006 1:37PM

Categories: Health & Safety, Media, That's Entertainment

We had no cable when I was a kid, just the CBC in fuzzy-blue mode with horizontal revolving stripes periodically slicing through the screen. We were always outside, building forts and scaling trees and playing California kickball. And, here I go again, with the waxing about how things were better back in the day. But it's true, isn't it?

I was appalled by this article that states that the average American child watches 2-4 hours of television a day. Over the course of a year, that's 4,000 TV ads per year, most of them for cereal, candy, toys and fast food.

So, concerned that perhaps a steady diet of TV ads is contributing to the childhood obesity epidemic in the US,. the FCC plans to study links between the ads, viewing habits, and the rise of childhood obesity. I think they can probably save the money they'll spend on a study: I absolutely believe there's a link between TV, advertising, and the increase in overweight children.

Some children's advocacy groups have called for a ban on junk food marketing to kids. I think it's a start. What do you think?

Source

Comments (10)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Jen 9-28-2006 @ 2:07PM

I think it's a start, but how do you keep the parents from ultimately BUYING the junk food? I think it's time we (parents) stop passing the blame on to advertisers, manufacturers, etc. Our kids aren't going to eat junk food if we don't buy it for them. Simple as that.

Jen
http://www.youngparentsmagazine.com

Mamacita 9-28-2006 @ 2:10PM

I believe that childhood obesity, unless it is a medical disorder (and those are rare), is caused by parents who give in to a child's demands rather than be the adults who are in charge. A child can eat only what is in the house to eat. A child can choose only what choices are permitted. The adults buy the food, and unless they choose, of their own free will, to give in to the child's requests for sugar and salt and lard, the house could contain only nutritious food. McDonald's and Hershey's do not make people fat. Self-indulgence and sissy parenting make people fat. Too much of anything makes people fat. Fat adults have only themselves to blame, but if the kids, who can, after all, eat only what adults allow them to eat, are fat, then those adults should examine their lifestyle pretty severely. We make ourselves fat by our choices. Choose wisely for your children, and don't allow the children to have their own way. Once in a while is fine, and fun, but when the kids call the shots on food, the wrong people are in charge of the household.

Picky kids are no fun. Let them get hungry enough and you might be surprised at what they'll eat. At our house, every meal consisted of two choices: Take it or leave it. They were always free to leave it, but it was a long time 'til breakfast.

Don't give in.

This also makes the occasional trip to McDonald's or Long John Silver's a treat instead of an entitlement.

But don't blame ads or anything else for childhood OR adult obesity. It all comes down to choice. Nobody is forced to buy anything. We are only encouraged and tempted; the ultimate choice is ours. Choose wisely, but if you don't, please don't blame anyone but yourself.

Anna 9-28-2006 @ 2:27PM

Why does everyone keep insisting on the government banning or taxing things? It's not a solution. Unless the products are no longer distributed, there is no stopping anyone from buying them. That's the freedom of America.

So, it's up to parents to explain why something is unhealthy for their children. And I have my work cut out for me being an overweight mom. I know the reasons why I am overweight, and how I sometimes yo-yo. I also know this is not healthy. In recognizing these things, I'm helping myself to make better decisions about my body. This is what we want for our children. We just have to educate them and simply not buy things that we do not want our children to consume.

Anna 9-28-2006 @ 2:28PM

I just have something to say after reading some of the comments...

There are medical reasons why some adults are overweight, too. Not everything has to do with laziness, as people perceive. I have a diagnosed thyroid disorder, and have had this since I began a menstrual cycle at 12. This is NOT something that has to do with laziness. I have been dealing with this my whole adult life, and I do my best to make the best choices in the foods I eat. It's not an easy task, and medicine has not been an answer for me--although it does help.

People, please think twice before you label someone or make comments on how you believe their life is...because you have no idea how anyone else is living their lives. If you don't know what it is to struggle with your weight, your physiology and your esteem, DON'T you dare sit in judgement of anyone else.

That's not what we are here on this Earth for.

Jonathon 9-28-2006 @ 2:37PM

I think the start is: stop letting them watch 2-4 hours of TV a day.

thordora 9-28-2006 @ 2:42PM

I have trouble blaming advertisers and manufacturers 100% because I take a look at my husband, who spent MUCH of his time parked in from of a TV as a child, who's mother purchased every single candy coated food possible.

I on the other hand, had the same blurry CBC, and a mother who kicked me out the door often. She rarely let me have junk food, and controlled what I ate.

He's in pretty good shape, and was through his teenage years/young adult years, while I have been overweight for a very long time. Likely because he was inundated with crap food, while I was always denied it.

When my kids watch TV, 99% of the time it's commerical free, or a video. They want treats now and again, and they are given them, so they don't learn to lust for it unreasonably. However, a can of mandarin oranges are as much of a treat in our house as is smarties.

I've made my arguments in the past for a little more onus on manufacturers, but as someone else has said, ourselves as parents take the brunt. I had the fantastic idea to take my daughter to McD's once, thinking it would be a once off. Now, it's the first thing she asks for as a treat. My bad. But, they also ask for poppadums as treats, so I believe we hit a nice balance most of the time.

At the end of the day, our actions as parents, be us skinny or fat, is what matters.

ann adams 9-28-2006 @ 3:31PM

So where do we start and stop with banning ads? Very few of us agree where "junk" leaves off and "healthy" begins.

Ban the juice commercials because of the sugar? Anything that isn't gluten free? Meat? Eggs? Dairy?

It would never stop unless we removed all food advertising from t.v.

It is not the job of the manufacturers to choose wisely for our kids; it's ours. No is such a simple word. Changing channels if we have a problem with advertising is almost as simple.

I've never sheltered them from the ads because I know the final decision on what goes into their tummies along with how much t.v. (not a lot) and the content (kid appropriate) is mine. Big Brother is already far too alive and well in the USA.

Ginny 9-28-2006 @ 5:08PM

At our house, every meal consisted of two choices: Take it or leave it.

ROFL You go girl.

Brenda 9-29-2006 @ 12:52PM

I blame the internet, eveytime my e-mail gets logged out and it tells me to check my cookie settings I go eat a cookie *lol*

Waya 9-30-2006 @ 8:30AM

Although I'm sure there are people who are obese b/c of a particular illness, as in someone mentioning about thyroid disorder. But I'm sure the majority of the obese masses are obese b/c of poor eating habits.

If you look around the world, in other countries...why people from the U.S. are much bigger than the other people in other countries? I really do believe that poor eating habits, too much junk food, fast food, no exercise or little of, is the main problem.

I think parents need to stop blaming everyone else for their lack of nutritious eating habit. I limit the amount of tv my children watch (only on the weekends) and we don't eat junk food on a daily basis, they do get their candies or chip once in a while. And my children love brocollis.

When I go food shopping, I can't help but notice what other people have in their carts, and looking at them and see not only is the mother obese but the kids as well. So, my only conclusion is that the mom needs to stop putting junk in the cart. End of story.

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