Study: Children Are Still Exposed To Junk Food Ads on TV

A new study has revealed that children are still being exposed to a lot of junk food ads while watching TV.

The study, conducted by Cancer Council NSW and the University of Sydney and was published in the Journal of Public Health, has found that average kids watch three unhealthy food ads for every hour that they watch TV during the hours of 6am to 9am and 4pm to 9pm on weekdays and 6am to noon and 4pm to 9pm on weekends.

Researchers have analysed advertisements that were broadcast during peak children’s viewing times on three major free-to-air commercial television channels in Sydney, over a four day period in 2015.

The study showed that almost half, 44 per cent, of food advertisements were for unhealthy foods. One in five were fast food ads, while chocolate and confectionary and sugary drinks were the other frequently advertised foods.

Cancer Council NSW’s Nutrition Programs Manager Wendy Watson said that there has been no reduction in junk food advertising on TV during children’s peak viewing times since 2011.

The food industry already said in 2009 that they wouldn’t advertise unhealthy foods to children, but Ms Watson said that the industry’s self-regulatory initiatives are not working because there are ‘loopholes.’

She said that children are often watching TV shows in the evenings that aren’t defined as kids programs, like reality programs and sports.

“The percentage of children in the audience might be small but these are the top rating shows, so they have a huge audience and a huge children’s audience as well. That’s the loophole that is being exploited and that we are trying to highlight,” said Ms Watson.

Cancer Council NSW is now urging the government to intervene and implement strict regulation to ensure the future health of young Australians.

Ms Watson said that obese children will have greater risk of acquiring the 11 cancers linked to obesity. “Junk food marketers are influencing what children eat and they are more likely to put on weight then. Controlling the unhealthy food marketing to children has been shown to be quite effective in influencing the diet,” she said.

Source: News.com.au