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    Kids Still See Unhealthy-Food Ads on TV, Study Finds

    TUESDAY, Aug. 2 (HealthDay News) -- American children see fewer food and drink ads on television today, but most of the ads they view are for unhealthy products, a new study says.

    The study also found a large jump in children's exposure to TV ads for fast-food restaurants.

    The findings suggest food industry self-regulation has done little to reduce children's exposure to ads for unhealthy products, the researchers said.

    They examined changes in food, beverage and restaurant TV ads seen by children before and after the Children's Food and Beverage Advertising Initiative was enacted in 2006. Companies in the voluntary program agreed to limit ads for unhealthy foods and beverages that target children 11 years and younger.

    From 2003 to 2009, daily exposure to food, beverage and restaurant ads fell by 18 percent among children ages 2 to 5 and by 7 percent among children ages 6 to 11. But in 2009, 86 percent of all TV food and beverage ads targeted at children 11 years and younger still featured unhealthy products high in saturated fat, sugar or sodium.

    This percentage was even higher (88 percent) among companies that were part of the voluntary program to limit such ads, the study authors noted.

    "Our findings show that industry self-regulation has had limited impact, particularly on the types of products companies continue to advertise," lead researcher Lisa M. Powell, of the University of Illinois at Chicago and Bridging the Gap, a national research program funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, said in a foundation news release.

    "There was greater improvement in ads targeting kids ages 2 to 5, but more limited progress for ads seen by kids ages 6 to 11. And fast-food ads increased substantially -- kids 11 and under are seeing more ads for fast food than any other type of food," she added.

    The study was published Aug. 1 in the journal Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.

    More information

    The American Academy of Pediatrics offers an overview of child nutrition.

     

    7 comments

    • t_michaelson  •  9 mths ago
      Oh dear God, NO! Our precious, precious little chiiiiildren are seeing images of unhealthy food! AAAAAGH!

      They can be rude, noisy, grabby future rapists/ gold diggers... but for the love of all that's holy, don't even THINK of letting them grow up the least little bit FAT! 'Cos that'd be, you know, immoral or something!!!!!!!!!!

      *Priorities*, people.
    • Bilbo Tea Baggins  •  9 mths ago
      in the supermarket they need to keep all those candies and chocolates behind the counter and require id to purchase them. THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING WITH KIDS. THEY ARE TOOOOO PRECIOUS
      • Amanda 9 mths ago
        You are joking right??
    • Amanda  •  9 mths ago
      The parents are still the ones that buy the food so the advertisements aren't that big of a deal. Just because your kid sees something on t.v. and wants it doesn't mean you have to get it for them.
      • t_michaelson 9 mths ago
        Except when Mommy immediately caves into her little darling's in-store, on-the-floor screeching fit to buy that box of whatever. Because Princess/ Little Man must. Have. EVERYTHING they want!
    • WILLIAM  •  9 mths ago
      so what....parents control what the kids eat not the Food Police...they need to chill
    • Concerned  •  9 mths ago
      HEADLINE:

      Kids Still See Unhealthy-Food Ads on TV, Study Finds

      So, what are parents doing to stop this; or does someone hope the government steps in so that parents don't have to do it?
    • Jason  •  9 mths ago
      I wonder how much money could have been saved if they had..say...called a parent? What difference does it make anyways? A child's diet is dependent on what a parent buys for them, not what they see on TV. Studies like this are asinine.
      • Amanda 9 mths ago
        Studies like this allow the government to say "see the voluntary regulations didnt work, I guess we now have to make this mandatory!" We can't teach anyone personal responsibility that would be too much!
    • Kristal  •  9 mths ago
      Death-Book For Kids. "When is it a good time to talk to kids about death? "When Mommy Went To Heaven".. now available at www.barnesandnoble.com, www.borders.com, www.amazon.com, www.amazon.co.uk.
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