Cartoon Characters Coax Children
By Hannah, Ashley, and David
According to the Institute of Medicine, TV advertisements strongly influence kid’s diets. But the advertising world isn’t limited to TV. Cereal boxes, video games, and magazines with appealing characters now fill the shelves of many stores. Kids walk down the aisle, see their favorite cartoon, and grab the box regardless of what’s in it. The advertised food is often high in calories and provides no nutritional benefit.
Advertisements and commercials with cartoon characters make products appealing to little kids. While certain cartoon characters advertise healthy food, most of them advertise junk. Fast-food restaurants and the meals they provide for kids use cartoon characters to draw in children. The obesity rates have tripled in the last 40 years among kids ages 6-19. Because of the way these unhealthy foods are advertised and the visible increase in the number of obese children, schools have started to take action. A request for more physical education in schools has been issued. Although the industry is trying to promote better habits, advertising is still out there.
Sources:
Burros, Marian. "Report Links TV Ads and Childhood Obesity." New York Times.com. December 6, 2005. The New York Times. May 22, 2007. http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/06/business/media/06cnd-kids.html?ex=1291525200&en=c81a1eea871613b1&ei=5090.
"Report: TV ads contribute to childhood obesity." MSNBC.com. December 6, 2005. MSNBC. May 23, 2007. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10346448/%20.
Costello, Todd and O'Neill, Jimmy. "Blame for childhood obesity: Parents or advertising?." CardinalPointsOnline.com. April 19, 2007. Cardinal Points Student Newspaper. May 22, 2007. <http://media.www.cardinalpointsonline.com/media/storage/paper1064/news/2007/04/20/Opinion/Blame.For.Childhood.Obesity.Parents.Or.Advertising-2869170.shtml>.
220 Amherst Avenue
Sheboygan Falls, WI 53085
May 30, 2007
Letters to the Editor
The Sheboygan Press
632 Center Avenue
P.O. Box 358
Sheboygan, WI 53083
Editor:
Every year, the food industry spends $10 billion on advertisements to kids. Consequently, the obesity rate among children ages 6-19 has tripled in the last 40 years. Due to the significant increase in obese kids and the billions of dollars spent on advertising, we’ve decided to take action and see if we can help educate parents on the link between media and obesity.
Parent’s awareness of their children’s nutrition and diets has decreased, along with the lack of physical activity that children get each day. Also, the number of food products targeted at kids has increased from 52 products in 1994 to 500 products in 2004. The food that is advertised is often high in calories and low in nutrients, which puts children’s long-term health at risk.
The advertising and selling of unhealthy foods to kids has led to requests for more P.E. in schools. The industry is trying to promote better habits, but advertising is still an issue. Even though schools and businesses are trying to get involved, the issue of obesity needs more attention and support. Getting active as a family by going for a bike ride, taking family walks, or just playing outside can help kids become more active and have fun doing it!
The concern of childhood obesity is something that our society is faced with everyday. In order to become a healthier nation, parents need to get involved by realizing that there is a link between advertising and overweight kids. But just recognizing this link isn’t enough, we all need to take action. So next time your children want to turn on the TV, suggest a healthier alternative.
Hannah G.
Ashley H.
David B.
3rd hour HomePage
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