DAVIS, Calif.—A study in the November/December issue of the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior says food advertising aired on children’s networks may be a large contributor to the rising incidence of childhood obesity in the United States.
Children’s networks, the study notes, exposed their young viewers to 76% more food commercials per hour than other networks. Approximately 7.7 food commercials per hour appeared on the children’s networks, or about one food commercial every eight minutes. And, the researchers note, the food advertisements were predominately for sugary cereals and sweets, high fat food, convenience or fast-food restaurant food, and chips/crackers.