How is TV Making Your Children Obese? (Hint, It"s Not Being Sedentary)
Back in 2004 the Kaiser Family Foundation released a comprehensive report reviewing with over 40 research studies that looked into the role of the media and the ever increasing rate of youth obesity.
It was no surprise that much of the research pointed out that the children who watched the most TV were most likely to be overweight.
There was an interesting component of the research, however, that went against logical thinking and suggested that children who spent more screen time hours per day did not necessarily spend less time in vigorous physical activity as one might assume.
So the question arises - what is the more profound link between TV or screen time and obesity.
The research points to a viable missing link.
A major contributing factor to rising obesity rates in children with increased screen time is their exposure to the billions of dollars spent marketing high fat, low-nutrient junk food.
$15 billion alone was spent in 2002, marketing and advertising candy, cereal, soda and fast foods to our kids.
Many times these marketing ads include a favorite character, sports figure or entertainment icon to bait the hook and capture your child's cravings.
And the actual nutritional value of foods is last on the list of importance to these marketers and the result is often confusing to our children.
From a child's perspective, if a role model is promoting a food or beverage, than it must be good for them,right? The research estimates show that children are exposed to about 40,000 ads / year just on TV (not including the internet).
Investigators found that a single exposure to a commercial can have a profound affect on a child as young as 3 with regards to their food choices.
Many US children (as high as 26%) watch 4 or more hours of TV per day.
Imagine how many ads THEY see in one day.
On the flip side there is a glimmer of hope - that with the same intensity and use of the media, public health campaigns can promote healthy eating, better nutrition education and proper food choices to positively influence our children today and make them smarter consumers in the future.
Lastly, we can not deny our fundamental role as parents.
Ultimately it is our decision, our responsibility and yes, many times our resilience, to resist the begging and pleading of our children and not give in to the billion dollar junk food industry that does not have our children's best interest at heart.
It's in your child's best interest for you to know how to fight this battle against the junk food marketers and give your kid a fighting chance!
It was no surprise that much of the research pointed out that the children who watched the most TV were most likely to be overweight.
There was an interesting component of the research, however, that went against logical thinking and suggested that children who spent more screen time hours per day did not necessarily spend less time in vigorous physical activity as one might assume.
So the question arises - what is the more profound link between TV or screen time and obesity.
The research points to a viable missing link.
A major contributing factor to rising obesity rates in children with increased screen time is their exposure to the billions of dollars spent marketing high fat, low-nutrient junk food.
$15 billion alone was spent in 2002, marketing and advertising candy, cereal, soda and fast foods to our kids.
Many times these marketing ads include a favorite character, sports figure or entertainment icon to bait the hook and capture your child's cravings.
And the actual nutritional value of foods is last on the list of importance to these marketers and the result is often confusing to our children.
From a child's perspective, if a role model is promoting a food or beverage, than it must be good for them,right? The research estimates show that children are exposed to about 40,000 ads / year just on TV (not including the internet).
Investigators found that a single exposure to a commercial can have a profound affect on a child as young as 3 with regards to their food choices.
Many US children (as high as 26%) watch 4 or more hours of TV per day.
Imagine how many ads THEY see in one day.
On the flip side there is a glimmer of hope - that with the same intensity and use of the media, public health campaigns can promote healthy eating, better nutrition education and proper food choices to positively influence our children today and make them smarter consumers in the future.
Lastly, we can not deny our fundamental role as parents.
Ultimately it is our decision, our responsibility and yes, many times our resilience, to resist the begging and pleading of our children and not give in to the billion dollar junk food industry that does not have our children's best interest at heart.
It's in your child's best interest for you to know how to fight this battle against the junk food marketers and give your kid a fighting chance!
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