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Are Unhealthy Food Advertisements Linked to Childhood Obesity?
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Childhood obesity, particularly in the United States, has become a rising problem that is detrimental because its effects carry on into adulthood. Over the last thirty years, the prevalence of overweight children and adolescents in America has more than doubled. Children and adolescents are increasingly engaged in sedentary behavior, spending less time exercising outdoors and more time watching television and playing video games. Television viewing may contribute to childhood obesity both by reducing energy expenditure from displacement of physical activity, increasing energy intake from increased snacking during television viewing or as a result of exposure to food advertising. The contributions of commercial advertising of foods and its effects on children and adolescents becoming overweight is an ongoing problem. This paper will explore the relationship between the exposure to fast-food restaurant advertising on television and childhood obesity.
Behavioral and environmental factors are large contributors to the obesity epidemic and also the most easily modifiable causes of obesity among children (Nestle, par. 1). Television viewing is suspected to be one potential contributor to childhood obesity through several possible avenues. First, television viewing time will displace time spent engaging in physical activity. The sedentary nature of watching television further encourages one to consume unhealthy foods. Moreover, being exposed to food advertisements o...
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