Why are junk food ads so bad for kids?
Children exposed to just a few minutes of unhealthy food and beverage marketing ate more during and after the ads. In spite of all your efforts to steer your children toward fresh fruits and vegetables, junk food ads may still have a strong hand in driving your kids toward overeating.
How are children protected from junk food marketing?
Children need to be protected from such marketing by a 9pm watershed on TV advertising and similar controls on non-broadcast types of marketing, including websites, sponsorship and promotions. What’s the problem? Why is this important?
How to stop your child from eating junk food?
Point out that the milk and fruit are actually the balanced part of breakfast, and the cereal is an ultra-processed food. Avoid advergames—which can include apps or websites designed by fast food restaurants or companies that make pop, treats or cereals. They simply entice your child to crave junk food.
How many calories do kids get from junk food?
A recent study funded by Heart & Stroke found that kids get 57 percent of their daily calories from processed foods like pop, chips, sweet cereals and French fries—the same foods on heavy rotation on kids’ TV stations and websites. That’s why Health Canada is stepping in to help regulate junk food marketing directed at kids.
How are kids affected by junk food ads?
Kids are bombarded with marketing at every turn. In fact, Heart & Stroke reports that 90 percent of the ads they see on TV are for junk food. Not surprisingly, kids who are exposed to this massive quantity of ads have an increased calorie intake and a preference for processed foods.
Point out that the milk and fruit are actually the balanced part of breakfast, and the cereal is an ultra-processed food. Avoid advergames—which can include apps or websites designed by fast food restaurants or companies that make pop, treats or cereals. They simply entice your child to crave junk food.
A recent study funded by Heart & Stroke found that kids get 57 percent of their daily calories from processed foods like pop, chips, sweet cereals and French fries—the same foods on heavy rotation on kids’ TV stations and websites. That’s why Health Canada is stepping in to help regulate junk food marketing directed at kids.
How old do you have to be to see junk food ads?
That sweep found that 2.3% of the 41,030 ads served to child avatars were for products high in fat, sugar or salt (HFSS). Companies are not allowed to target ads for HFSS products at children under the age of 16.
