There is no doubt that obesity among the children of this country has become a problem of epidemic proportions. As many as one in every five kids has a body mass index in the 95th percentile, which is the criteria for the obese category. There are plenty more kids who fall into the overweight category, which places them at higher risk for obesity as they get older. The health issues that stem from this condition are numerous, and include high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease. Some of the illnesses may not appear until adulthood, although diabetes is getting diagnosed more and more within this country’s youth population.

How does Marketing Food to Children Cause Obesity?

If you turn on the television during the day, you are likely to see many programs that are geared toward young children. Many of these shows have educational value as well as an entertainment aspect for kids today. Unfortunately, marketers have capitalized on the popularity of these shows by marketing foods during the programming that kids are virtually guaranteed to like and want. Most of these foods fall far behind in the nutrition race, and are instead packed with sugar and fat. When a child is bombarded with this advertising while watching their favorite programs, Mom is at a distinct disadvantage when it comes time to do the grocery shopping. Kids will beg and plead for the cereals that are little more than a bowl of sugar, and snacks that are high in fat and low in nutrition.

If this cause and effect seem difficult to believe, consider the evidence. A couple of years ago, the Institute of Medicine released a study that showed a link between marketing food to children and obesity. The study showed that the advertisements that children saw on television greatly influenced their preferences, and what they actually ate. It is also evident in the sales figures that most of the food sales to children went for candy, sweet and salty snacks and sodas. The money that goes into the sales of these products is huge, which explains the big marketing budgets that go into the advertising of these products as well. Money talks and the kids seem to be the big losers when it comes to marketing foods that cause obesity in children.

What can be done?

There are some steps that parents can take to prevent this phenomenon from occurring in their own homes. First, limit the time that your kids spend in front of the television. Not only will less TV viewing encourage more physical activity, your kids will also not be exposed to the marketing of foods that cause obesity in children. When you go to the store, leave your kids at home whenever possible, and encourage them to snack on healthy choices rather than the high fat, low nutrition selections that are so often advertised. With proper parental guidance, marketing food that causes obesity in children will have much less influence on your household.

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