According to a new study, a ban on fast food advertisements in the United States could reduce the number of overweight children by as much as 18 percent. In addition, the study reports that eliminating the tax deductibility of television advertising would also result in a reduction of childhood obesity.
The study’s authors found that a ban on fast food television advertisements during children's programming would reduce the number of overweight children ages 3-11 by 18 percent, and would lower the number of overweight adolescents ages 12-18 by 14 percent.
Should the U.S. pursue this path, they would be following Sweden, Norway and Finland, which are thus far the only countries to have banned commercial sponsorship of children's programs. Research also indicates that there is an 80 percent chance an overweight adolescent will be an obese adult. Over 300,000 deaths can be attributed to obesity and weight in the United States every year.
What do you think?
Sources:
Science Daily November 19, 2008
The Journal of Law & Economics November, 2008
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I agree that it's mostly up to parents to provide healthy food for kids. When I was a child, McDonalds was a once a year treat and I remember thinking that it was only ok. My mother always prepared fun, healthy and interesting meals.
December 13, 2008 - 3:09pmThe fast food industry only has power if we let it.
Also, if you don't have a cable or satellite at home and just watch netflix, basically choosing to ommit commercial advertising from your life, the influence is not so much there.
I haven't watched TV for many years now and love not having that negative influence in my life.
Drastic for some, perhaps.....?
This Comment
I agree with Susan moderation is the key. I think this study is ridiculous to indicate that if we stopped running fast food ads during children's programming that it would reduce childhood obesity by 18%. I personally believe that there is a segment of the population who are predisposed to be obese by their genetic makeup. They have done a lot of research on this and have found a "fat gene". As the human race has evolved there has become an abundance of food availability, which has caused obesity to rise among those people who are predisposed to be overweight. Kind of like pouring gas on a fire effect. (That is my theory) I think the cure for obesity will come from genetic research. I think blaming the fast food industry or the corn refiners or any food industry is craziness. Did we not learn anything from prohibition?
December 13, 2008 - 8:58amThis Comment