It might seem evident that sitting in front of the boob tube can turn you into a couch potato, but with all the commercials centered on junk food, the results are even more staggering. According to a study by some University of Liverpool researchers, TV ads about food increased the amount of food eaten by already obese children by 134 percent. A study of 60 kids between 9 and 11 years of age found that overweight children ate 101 percent more (and normal weight children, 84 percent more) after being shown a series of TV food and toy ads, in between a cartoon. When the watching period was over, children were provided with a variety of foods, and obese children consistently selected chocolate and jelly-filled sweets. The researchers also have plans to study whether or not public responsiveness to kids watching too much TV can actually avert childhood obesity.
TV Ads Might Increase Childhood Obesity
Posted by Nirmala N.
It might seem evident that sitting in front of the boob tube can turn you into a couch potato, but with all the commercials centered on junk food, the results are even more staggering. According to a study by some University of Liverpool researchers, TV ads about food increased the amount of food eaten by already obese children by 134 percent. A study of 60 kids between 9 and 11 years of age found that overweight children ate 101 percent more (and normal weight children, 84 percent more) after being shown a series of TV food and toy ads, in between a cartoon. When the watching period was over, children were provided with a variety of foods, and obese children consistently selected chocolate and jelly-filled sweets. The researchers also have plans to study whether or not public responsiveness to kids watching too much TV can actually avert childhood obesity.