Health
Obesity in children tied to food ads
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted March 10, 2008
A new study has uncovered evidence that the high-rate of obesity among Hispanic children may be due, in part, to the large number of fast-food ads on Spanish-language television.
A report on the study, which was funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, was released online Feb. 18 by the Journal of Pediatrics.
Researchers screened 60 hours of programming between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m. -- heavy viewing hours for school-age children -- on Univision and Telemundo. These two networks are the largest Spanish-language TV channels in the U.S., reaching 99% and 93% of Hispanics, respectively.
The study tallied two to three food commercials each hour, one-third of which targeted children. Nearly half featured fast food.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2008/03/10/hlbf0310.htm.
