Childhood obesity and the media.
This article assesses the role played by media in contributing to the current epidemic of childhood obesity. Electronic media use, often referred to as screen time, is significantly correlated with child adiposity. Although the causal mechanism that accounts for this relationship is unclear, it is well established that reducing screen time improves weight status. Media advertising for unhealthy foods contributes to obesity by influencing children's food preferences, requests, and diet. Industry efforts have failed to improve the nutritional quality of foods marketed on television to children, leading public health advocates to recommend government restrictions on child-targeted advertisements for unhealthy foods.
Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Arizona, 1177 East, 4th Street, Shantz Building, Room 328, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA. hinglem@email.arizona.edu
Melanie
M
Hingle
Dale
D
Kunkel
D000329:Advertising; D002648:Child; D004032:Diet; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D019649:Food Industry; D005518:Food Preferences; D006801:Humans; D008402:Mass Media; D009765:Obesity / Q000209:etiology*; D018910:Video Games / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015430:Weight Gain