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Children as young as 2 years of age may be
influenced in their food choices by a 30-second
advertisement they see on television.
The investigators found that a group of
children aged 2 to 6 years were more likely to
choose food products that they saw advertised
compared with youngsters who had not viewed the
commercials.
In fact, just one or two commercials were
enough to influence their choices.
Some researchers speculate that childhood
obesity results from children spending more
time watching television than in any other
waking activity, thereby being exposed
constantly to televised portrayals of high-fat,
high-energy foods.
Parents need to understand the power of
advertising on young children and limit the
time they spend watching TV.
Kids are bombarded with the same commercial
over and over again. But it doesn't take
repeated exposure; the effect of advertising
can happen from just a single exposure.
Advertisements for new products were
particularly influential.
In other findings, nearly two thirds of
parents reported that a television was on in
their home most of the morning and 81% said it
was on most of the evening. Children were more
likely to watch TV if their parents did.
A growing body of evidence on the influence
of TV viewing on children prompted Congress to
pass a law in 1990 that limited commercials in
children's programming to just over 10 minutes
an hour on weekends and 12 minutes an hour
during the week.
Journal of the
American Dietetic Association January 2001;
101: 42-46
Dr. Mercola's
Comment:
Another opportunity for me to
step up on the soap box and encourage all of
you to minimize your child's exposure to this
pernicious influence.
These companies are not
fools. Their marketers create very effective
ads that will unquestionably mold your child's
desire to eat their junk food.
This will only make your job
that much more difficult to have your child eat
properly. Your children may object to the TV
restriction now, but they will thank you in the
future when they are healthy and their friends
are obese and chronically
sick.
Source: mercola.com - the world´s
No. 1 health website
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