There may be a connection but more research is needed to understand all of the variables that contribute to a child's health.
The media landscape is riddled with marketing messages than undermine healthy choices. In 2006, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) released a report titled "Food Marketing to Children and Youth: Threat or Opportunity?" The report was requested by Congress and sponsored by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Included in the report is a review of the scientific evidence on the influence of food marketing on diets and diet-related health of children and youth. Although many factors contribute to a child's dietary habits, including genetics and cultural background, the report concluded that current food and beverage marketing practices put children's long-term health at risk. According to the report, "If America's children and youth are to develop eating habits that help them avoid early onset diet-related chronic diseases, they have to reduce their intake of high-calorie, low-nutrient snacks, fast foods, and sweetened drinks, which make up a high proportion of the products marketed to them."
The amount of time a child spends watching TV also impacts obesity rates. According to one study, the likelihood of obesity among low-income multi-ethnic preschoolers (between the ages of 1 and 5) increased for each hour per day of TV or video they viewed. Children who had TV sets in their bedrooms (40% of the sample in this study) watched more TV and were more likely to be obese.
The media landscape is riddled with marketing messages than undermine healthy choices. In 2006, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) released a report titled "Food Marketing to Children and Youth: Threat or Opportunity?" The report was requested by Congress and sponsored by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Included in the report is a review of the scientific evidence on the influence of food marketing on diets and diet-related health of children and youth. Although many factors contribute to a child's dietary habits, including genetics and cultural background, the report concluded that current food and beverage marketing practices put children's long-term health at risk. According to the report, "If America's children and youth are to develop eating habits that help them avoid early onset diet-related chronic diseases, they have to reduce their intake of high-calorie, low-nutrient snacks, fast foods, and sweetened drinks, which make up a high proportion of the products marketed to them."
The amount of time a child spends watching TV also impacts obesity rates. According to one study, the likelihood of obesity among low-income multi-ethnic preschoolers (between the ages of 1 and 5) increased for each hour per day of TV or video they viewed. Children who had TV sets in their bedrooms (40% of the sample in this study) watched more TV and were more likely to be obese.
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