Post: Number One Health Issue: Obesity
Number One Health Issue: Obesity
What's the top issue facing today's kids? Obesity, according to a poll released recently by The Endocrine Society and Research!America.
The majority of people said that obesity was a public health issue that society had to work together to solve. But who bears most responsibility, according to the respondents?: Parents.
At Common Sense Media, we too believe obesity is a health crisis for today's youth.
Since 1960 the number of kids who are overweight has tripled; childhood obesity is now described as "epidemic" by the medical community. Additionally, it’s estimated that 80 percent of adolescents who are overweight will remain so into adulthood. The American Academy of Pediatrics calls the costs associated with childhood obesity "staggering."
Parents can do better to raise healthier kids, but that means we need better resources to help raise their awareness about healthier living -- and about the role media plays in shaping their family's health habits.
Marketing plays a central role in the rise in childhood obesity. On average, one food commercial is shown every five minutes during Saturday morning cartoons. Young kids are exposed to endorsements or "tie-in's" from junk food companies with every click of the remote. This manipulation is obvious but extremely lucrative — and the trend is growing.
84 percent of middle schools and 58 percent of elementary schools allow the sale of soda or other sugar-laden drinks on their grounds. There have been numerous attempts by big-name food brands to identify themselves with a healthy, active lifestyle. Many toys are co-branded with the junk food industry; fast food establishments lead the trend by including movie-related toys in their kids’ meals.
This barrage of marketing unhealthy foods to kids requires awareness and interception from parents. Help kids connect healthy eating habits with more energy and physical fitness.
For tips on what you can do, check out our tip sheet, Selling to Kids.
There are 1 replies to this post
Date: December 22, 2006
Shaping Youth is doing some intense counter-marketing in this junk food arena.
Your readers might enjoy this piece we just posted titled, "Peer Driven Junk Food Allure & What's Cool to Kids." We include updated research from Harvard School of Public Health, as well as some details on our counter-marketing efforts taking place to combat this epidemic.
I spent last week at an elem. school collecting empty wrappers to mount on our poster board for "Dare to Compare: A Gross Out Game for Good Nutrition" session being filmed in January.
We're using intervention and media counter-marketing tactics with kids targeted to their age of influence. (e.g. cartoon characters selling younger kids, caffeinated "energy drinks" marketed to tweens-teens, etc.)
We’re also counter-marketing some REALLY toxic messaging beyond junk food (pink energy drinks & pink cigarettes would you believe?) so Shaping Youth Board advisors Dr. Sharon Lamb & Dr. Lyn Mikel Brown will join us with insights & reaction on 'the marketing of pink' ---
Here's to a healthier New Year ahead...
Link: http://www.shapingyouth.org/blog/?p=177