Do Food Commercials Make You Eat More?
If you've ever wondered if watching advertisements for assorted types of processed food products encourages children to eat more, some research suggests your suspicions are more than warranted.
Researchers from the University of Liverpool in the United Kingdom, exposed 60 children between age 9 and 11, of varying weights, to both food advertisements and toy advertisement, followed by a cartoon and free food.
More food was eaten after the food advertisements than after the commercials for toys. Interestingly the obese children increased their consumption of food the most (134%) compared to overweight children (101%) and normal weight children (84%).
First of all, I'm not surprised by these results. That is the whole point of food advertising, isn't it? To encourage consumption of the product? If it didn't work, why would food and beverage companies continue to spend millions on advertising? It does appear, though, that obese and overweight children are particularly vulnerable to this and that in itself is alarming and worth noting to appropriate government agencies.
~~Elaine
Related Topics: Technorati Tags: children, media, advertising, obesity
Researchers from the University of Liverpool in the United Kingdom, exposed 60 children between age 9 and 11, of varying weights, to both food advertisements and toy advertisement, followed by a cartoon and free food.
More food was eaten after the food advertisements than after the commercials for toys. Interestingly the obese children increased their consumption of food the most (134%) compared to overweight children (101%) and normal weight children (84%).
First of all, I'm not surprised by these results. That is the whole point of food advertising, isn't it? To encourage consumption of the product? If it didn't work, why would food and beverage companies continue to spend millions on advertising? It does appear, though, that obese and overweight children are particularly vulnerable to this and that in itself is alarming and worth noting to appropriate government agencies.
~~Elaine
Related Topics: Technorati Tags: children, media, advertising, obesity
Labels: advertising, children, obesity
12 Comments:
I know they effect me. Especially the chocolate ones (M&Ms, Dove, Reece's) and Oreos. My mind goes into overdrive and I start salivating, just like one of Provalov dogs!
Late night shakes? If I didn't hate to drive at night and had the money on hand I'd be at Sonic or Steak and Shake in a flash!
When I gave up MacDonalds last year for 9 months, I almost wept for their hamburgers at every commerical.
In the same way alcohol commercials effect alcoholics; food commercials effect the food~oholics; and that is exactly what I am!
No matter how you see it, it will always come down to self control and discipline. Advertising is good to introduce us new products. It is always up to us what we choose to buy and eat and give to our kids. Yes, it effects you but at the end of the day you are the one to make a decision how much you eat or drink of the advertised product.
I was effected.
But, I know thit it affected me!
It sure effects me, I love food and seeing it makes me want more. I do realize it is up to us to learn self control. But I sure do love food!
It is because of advertisements mainly that, all over the world, sodas had practically replaced health-drinks like milk, fruit and vegetable juices. Now, sodas, suspected of causing metabolic syndrome, is like crying over spilled milk. It means, there is need to regulate the junk-food advertisements, and the UN should take the first step in this direction. Dr. R.C. YashRoy
Typical. Blame how fat you are on some affliction when you don't stop putting food in your mouth.
Now you carry it further, by blaming television for showing good food.
You know what healthy people aren't doing? Sitting in front of the TV and thinking about food.
Wow...ads for food usually fill me up and I don't realize that I did not eat lunch. Reading cookbooks does the same thing. Is something wrong with me?
Yes, the one that talk about self control is speaking the truth. We mus be responsable for our own actions. Mad props to you and the poster below rakesh.
Learn how to become a fighter and not a victim.
na, not too much.
except for oreos!!!:))))
I must agree that the problem is more with the behavior of watching tv than with the content of tv, but that being said, doesn't anyone in the food industry recognize that promoting heathy foods could be profitable? I'll bet many kids and parents simply by stuff (good or bad) simply becuse they've heard of it. It seems like the food industry could come up with some catchy gimmicks , packaging, ads, etc that would actually get kids attention about healthy foods. A lot of kids actually like haethy foods - but they just don't see their peers eating them. Also, it seems like there is significant demand from the parenting public and health professionals for this sort of change.
Just thinking about a hotdog or a cup or coffee makes me want one, and I am 72 year-old married woman. Of course, seeing food on TV makes my mouth start watering, but I don't usually give in to temptation.
If you are what you eat than I'm cheap, fast and easy. Advertisements effect how we feel, they play on our emotions and make us believe that we can be happy like those in the ads. Psychologically, commercials make kids want to have what others do. They see kids in the commercials enjoying food, they see icons promoting these foods and they want that for themselves.
If you want to solve the problem turn off the TV and take your kids for a walk, play a board game be involved!!!!
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