Originally published January 9 2006
Scientists study the effects of TV ads on young children's diets
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
The Institute of Medicine has released a report that demonstrates the tremendous influence television ads have on the dietary decisions of children under 12, and so the scientists on the panel that made the report have recommended that cartoon characters market only healthy food.
SpongeBob SquarePants, Shrek and other characters kids love should promote only healthy food, a panel of scientists recommended.
In a report released Tuesday, the Institute of Medicine said television advertising strongly influences what children younger than 12 eat.
The report said the food industry should spend its marketing dollars on nutritious food and drinks.
That means SpongeBob, the popular animated star of the Nickelodeon cable TV network, and other characters should endorse only good-for-you food, the panel concluded.
The growth in new food products targeted to kids has been huge, from 52 introduced in 1994 to nearly 500 last year, the report said.
''Overwhelmingly, those foods are high-calorie, lownutrient foods, not the kind of foods that are recommended for children to eat,'' Wartella said.
''We like to think that SpongeBob SquarePants and Shrek and the pretty little princesses are likable, kid-friendly characters, but they're being used to manipulate vulnerable children to make unhealthy choices,'' said Harkin, the senior Democrat on the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee.
Nickelodeon in October announced a campaign aimed at persuading kids to eat healthy foods and to get up off the couch and move.
Among children and adolescents from ages 6 through 19, obesity rates have tripled in the past 40 years.
The food and beverage industries argue that they already are taking steps recommended in the report, making products healthier, shrinking package sizes and touting healthy lifestyles.
''The growth in the food and beverage industry is in healthier foods,'' said Richard Martin, of the Grocery Manufacturers Association.
An advertising industry spokesman called the findings frustrating, because many companies have been reformulating products to make them healthier or reporting calorie and fat content on menu boards or packaging.
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