Are Your Children Being Targeted?!
American children spend 44.5 hours a week watching television and are exposed to up to 30,155 ads a year! 50% of those ads are for candy, snacks, sugary cereal and fast food, so it’s no surprise that Americans spend nearly $6.5 billion on holiday candy every year and 1/3 of American children are overweight or obese
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Some Facts:
Daily media consumption-
-4.5 hours in front of the tv
-1.5 hours on the computer
-2.5 hours listening to music
-Over 1 hour playing video games
-Only 38 minutes of reading
Consuming advertising-
-Ages 2-7; 13,904 ads annually and 12 food ads daily
-Ages 8-12; 30,155 ads annually and 21 food ads daily
-Ages 13-17; 28,655 ads annually and 17 food ads daily
50% of all ad time on children’s shows is for food.
Consuming treats-
-American children now eat an average of 3 snacks a day between meals
-On average, teens eat 34 teaspoons of sugar everyday
RESULTS:
1 in 3 American children is overweight or obese.
Childhood obesity has become parents’ number 1 health concern, ahead of smoking and drug abuse. They consider tv ads promoting junk food to be a big part of the problem. Youngsters who are overweight are even more susceptible to junk food ads and will increase consumption by 134%. The government is spending $51 million on marketing on healthy eating and exercising for kids. The food industry is spending $1.6 billion on ads promoting foods high in calories and low in nutrition to kids. 50% of overweight children remain overweight as adults.
What is being done?!
Children’s food and beverage advertising intuitive-
Urged by the better business bureau, leading food and beverage companies committed to limiting which foods they advertise to children under 12. The American academy of pediatrics called for a ban of all junk food ads during children’s programming.
FTC interagency working group on food marketing to children-
The federal trade commission proposed marketing standards to restrict advertising to kids younger than 6.
Remember when you were growing up? There was never this much technology around, all there was a place called outside where you played till the street lights came on. Teach your children the same basics in life, running around and playing ball or even reading outside, that’s still considered exercise but its making it fun so it doesn’t even seem like you’re moving your body, and as parents you should be a role model to your children. Spending time with your children outside brings many benefits but most of all create memories their minds will cherish. Be happy, be healthy, just be Morefit.