Health
Ads influence what kids want to eat
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Dec. 26, 2005
Marketing of food and beverages to young children leads them to request and consume high-calorie, low-nutrient products, according to a report from the Institute of Medicine.
The report asks manufacturers and restaurants to direct more resources to developing and marketing child- oriented foods, drinks and meals that are higher in nutrients and lower in calories, fat, salt and added sugars.
Strong evidence was found that television advertising influences the food and beverage preferences and purchase requests of children ages 2 through 11, according to the committee that drafted the report.
Food, beverage and restaurant companies, as well as the entertainment and marketing industries, should expand, strengthen and enforce their standards for marketing, noted the report. For example, licensed characters, such as popular cartoon characters, should be used to promote only products that support healthful diets, the committee said.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2005/12/26/hlbf1226.htm.
