Will banning Fast Food advertising reduce Childhood Obesity?

[Lisa Newton]

A study published in this month’s issue of the Journal of Law and Economics found a correlation between television commercials and the increase in childhood obesity trends.

In the study, economists estimated that if the US were to ban fast food advertisements from television programs, the number of overweight children in the country would be reduced by 18% and decrease the number of overweight teenagers by 14%.

Are the researchers being proactive or blaming television for society’s ills?

What do you think?

[JJ]

You can't stop children to eat fast food if the parents themselves eat and encourage the fast food lifestyle. Fix the core first.

[njwoods]

hello all,
I think that is a great idea, but yes, the schools need help as well. Take out the fast food vending machines or replace the insides with healthy choices instead.

Also the price of higher quality foods and restaurants needs to be more moderate. Of course they will go to a fast food place with a large family, not many can afford to do it any other way.


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[cher]

I find it proactive. Granted, every company has it's right to target advertising, but if it's not constantly on the tv, it wouldn't be seen as this great thing. Then again, it's not like the kids are cashing their paychecks and heading to McDonald's. I would put just as much attention and blame on the parents. My son has a friend that lives off McDonalds, Wendys and Little Caesar's pizza. When he stays at our house, I asked him if they ever sit down and eat home cooked meals in his house, and as a child, he truthfully answered, "hardly ever".

[Doris Herrmann]

I became a teacher to help develop the minds of our youth, but I can't help but feel a certain sadness at how out of shape so many of my students are. I don't think advertisements are enough. Our children need a lifestyle change. 14% is too much, until it's 0% we need to keep working.

[Mike Foster]

I just published a blog post and new video about this topic: http://livelife365.blogspot.com/2009/04/can-we-beat-obesity.html
We can fight this growing trend, but it will take hard work and education, lots of it.

peace,
mike

[Jill]

I do believe the schools all need to change what foods are served and it should be taught at school and at home. More parents need to be involved as I know with going to schools that many parents do not make time to speak or teach their kids about portion size.

This sure might help as everyone knows how the media plays such a big role in our society.

[geetha]

It is obvious that children are impressionable and with that being said it is up to parents to monitor their children' s television- viewing habits. Unfortunately, today such a rudimentary application of parenting is not as easy to adhere to as may be perceived. Children are spending less time under their parents guise and more time gazing at the television. Is this something that fast- food corporations have caught onto? Of course! Fast- food corporations have always recognized their influence over children, unfortunately, today they are acting much more aggressively, placing their outlets within close proximity to schools. Children are no longer free to make their own choices as fast- food corporations have invaded everything from their schools to their favourite tv shows.

http://valuethemeal.blogspot.com/

[Susana]

Oh, yes! All industries know how to manipulate consumers. It is up to us to choose intelligently. Parents are busy to do this. They work hard -if they have a job- to support their families and continue buying. So it creates a vicious circle neglecting what is important for a family to function.

[TC]

This is just one factor in the scheme of things. I would not agree that it would have such a large impact but welcome the ban just the same. The continued bastardization of foods & processed foods, cost factors of poor nutritional value foods related to raw produce & healthier foods, over utilization of synthetic products especially High Fructose Corn Syrup are also key factors relating to childhood obesity. I did a report on the epidemic of childhood obesity back in 1988 when I was doing research on the hypothalamus. This was a serious issue back then and has only gotten worse.