Obesity Discussion Forums

[Obesity Discussion]

Ban Junk Food Ads Before 9pm Says Watchdog, UK
16 Jun 2006

The Food Standards Agency, UK, says junk food ads should be banned before 9pm to protect children's health. The agency said Ofcom's proposals stop short of a pre-watershed ban, which is not enough. Ofcom is the UK media regulator.

Recent estimates indicate that 14% of England's children are obese.

Ofcom's proposals included:

-- Banning junk food ads during programmes aimed at pre-school children
-- Restricting junk food ads aimed at children under 10.

The Food Standards Agency rejected the proposals saying that more children need to be protected from junk food ads.

Various health organisations, such as the British Heart Foundation, say banning junk food ads would have the backing of most English parents. The British Heart Foundation says that about 80% of all ads on TV are for junk food.

The average English child watches 20 hours of TV each week. The ads they watch must be having a considerable influence on what they choose to eat.

TV companies are concerned about the serious loss in revenue. Perhaps it all comes down to a question of priorities. What matters more, children's health, or broadcasters' income?

Written by: Christian Nordqvist
Editor: Medical News Today
Diet and Childhood Obesity

[yuliyasha]

Hm, I don't know how much good the banning of fast food ads would do...because parents are the ones buying kids meals and it's up to them to decide which dietary choices kids get. It might work with High School and College students who live on their own and pay for their own meals. It seems so much cheaper and more convenient to grab hamburger on the way to the class vs stay by the stove and cook...I personally like the idea banning fast food chooices and candy vending machines from schools' cafeterias!
Yuliya

[Irving]

Originally Posted by yuliyasha

Hm, I don't know how much good the banning of fast food ads would do...because parents are the ones buying kids meals and it's up to them to decide which dietary choices kids get. It might work with High School and College students who live on their own and pay for their own meals. It seems so much cheaper and more convenient to grab hamburger on the way to the class vs stay by the stove and cook...I personally like the idea banning fast food chooices and candy vending machines from schools' cafeterias!
Yuliya

Could the idea have been that little kids won't ask for something if they do not know it exists? Could it be that seeing the candy on TV might make the kids crave something sweet that second? I wonder if there are studies that have been done to link the two together.