Posted September 1st, 2010
Children and teens are seeing fewer television advertisements for fruit drinks, regular soda and sweets such as candy, cookies and pastries, according to a study recently published in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine. However, youths of all ages are exposed to substantially more TV ads for fast-food resaurants.
What does this all mean?
Self-regualtion pledges by major food and beverage companies to eliminate uhealthy TV ads targeting children ages 11 and younger must be monitored and assessed. As the report indicates advertisers, despite self-regulation pledges, are finding alternative ways to build brand loyalty among kids. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation President and CEO, Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, M.D., M.B.A., said: “Research shows that marketing has a strong influence on what children consume. Yet unhealthy foods are still marketed to kids. Restricting the marketing of uhealthy foods is one of the most powerful and cost-effective ways to change what children consume and reduce childhood obesity. Studies such as this one will help us evaluate the impact of industry self-regulation.”
