Advertising to Children Can Cause Obesity

Have you ever paid close attention to the commercials on children’s television networks? Well, kids tend to notice every-single detail, even if the things being advertised are unhealthy for them. That doesn’t bother kids though. Now a day when kids see something on television that interests them, they automatically want it, and don’t even think about their health. Did you know that half of the advertisements shown during children’s shows are for food? It’s true, and 38% of all those are for candy and snacks. And people wonder why more children keep becoming overweight, the answer is the advertisements. Advertisements are one of the big reasons for children becoming overweight. Kids see these ads on television, in magazines, on billboards, and automatically want it, even though it’s unhealthy and can cause health issues in the future. About 30.3 % of children, ages 6-11, are overweight and 15.3% are obese. About 33.4% of teens, ages 12-19, are overweight and 15.5% obese. This is stated in the article Media Use and Obesity among Children. The biggest health issue that you’re at risk with when being obese is Type II diabetes. This is the diabetes linked with obesity, in children and teens and has increased significantly in the past few decades.

The types of food being advertised on television vary. 24% of all food ads are for cereal, 10% are for fast food, 4% are for dairy products, and 1% is for fruits and vegetables. This is stated in the article among all Children, tweens see the most food ads at more than 20 a day. Very seldom will you see advertisements on a children’s network for fruits and vegetables. When children become overweight and obese they don’t understand how much their health can be in danger. There can be some serious side effects. According to the article TV ads contribute to child obesity.  If only children could realize that themselves, then everyone would be a lot healthier.

Carley L.

Laurana R.

John K.

 6th hour

_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

June 1, 2007

220 Amherst Avenue

Sheboyqan Falls, WI 53085

Letters to the Editor

The Sheboygan Press

632 Center Ave.

P.O. Box 358

Sheboygan, WI 53081

Editor:

Though out the past several years children have become more addicted to television then ever. It’s very sad the amount of television an average child watches each day, because of the fact that it can cause serious health problems.

The advertisements shown on children’s television shows are not always the healthiest decisions. Basically all of the food being advertised is either for candy or snacks, both of which are unhealthy for us. Advertisers should be advertising more healthy foods so everyone stays fit and healthy.

With all of the unhealthy foods being advertised many kids are becoming overweight and obese. Being obese can result in Type II diabetes, which is the diabetes linked with obesity, and this type of diabetes has increased significantly in the past few decades.

Unhealthy foods are not only advertised to us through commercials on television, but on the actual T.V. shows, where cartoon characters are advertising them. If only the media would advertise more healthy foods, a lot more people would be in better shape and would live longer lives. 

Advertisements are the main source of children becoming overweight.  Once children see advertisements that interest them, they automatically want it, even if it’s not the healthiest. The media should have more concern over people’s health, especially children’s, before they think about making a huge profit over their product. If our media would pay more attention to this, our society would be a better place to live.

                                                                                                Sincerely,

                                                                                                Carley L.

                                                                                                Laurana R.

                                                                                                John K.