Should TV Food Commercials Targetting Children Be Banned?
November 11, 2012
Children in developed countries are
facing serious health hazards, such as obesity, that are thought to be directly
linked to their pattern on consumption influenced by junk food commercials during
children’s TV programs.
New Zealand is considering a ban following a finding that
65 percent of all the commercials during children’s TV programs promote food
that is high in fat, sugar, and salt content such as sweets, snacks, drinks and
ice cream. Child diabetes and dental problems have been attributed to such
foodstuffs.
Most European Union members have
also launched strict regulations against children’s TV commercials, but only
Sweden and Norway have seriously attempted to a complete ban. Responses to the
policy have varied; some have protested against it, while others have adjusted
their approaches to marketing their snack products.
A study of Ofcom, a media regulating body in the UK, found
that commercials do not have a direct impact on children’s eating habits. A
commercials ban would therefore not mean much in reducing the childhood obesity
rate.
What has been found to have direct
impact is the change in the eating habits of the community, whose access to
instant meals is increasing all the time. More people have less time to prepare
food, so variations of instant food are increasingly becoming a choice, despite
the fact that most of these meals are fatty, calorie-laden and high in slat and
sugar content.
Another argument against the ban is that child obesity has
more to do with a sedentary lifestyle than with TV commercials. Today’s
children spend more hours before the television or computer than on active
play, leading to the calories piling on and turning into fat.
In short, proponents of the ban base
are that child obesity their argument on the health risks facing obese children
who will likely grow up obese and prone to disease. They believe that banning
the commercials, children will be less likely to consume junk food.
0 comments
thank you ^^