A New Study on TV and Childhood Obesity

You've heard the messages about TV time and the link to childhood obesity. The concept makes sense; kids who watch more TV spend less time being active, they often eat in front of the TV, and they are exposed to ads for junk food. One recent study puts a concrete number to that last link between child obesity and TV ads for junk food: according to co-author Shin-Yi Chou and her colleagues, "a ban on fast-food television advertisements during children’s programming would reduce the number of overweight children ages 3-11 by 18 percent, while also lowering the number of overweight adolescents ages 12-18 by 14 percent."

The findings of the report have lead some to call for congressional regulation of television food advertisements aimed at children. It's hard to believe that simply banning some ads from children's programming would have such a profound effect on kids' health. Is it the job of government to ban certain types of advertising? What constitutes junk food? McDonald's and other fast food joints, for example, have tried to add healthier options to their menus. Would they still be able to advertise? The simple issue becomes more complex when talk of government regulations arises, but whatever the outcome, I am glad that the study is there to remind parents of the dangers of TV advertising and our sacred role to protect our kids -- even from something as seemingly harmless as a TV ad for a burger and fries.