Sports teams hawking junk food to kids, study says
by Claudia Boyd-Barrett posted in Parenting
Wondering why your kids seem to constantly crave junk food" Sponsorship advertisements for sporting events they see on TV or online might be influencing their food preferences, according to a new study.
A whopping 76 percent of foods featured in sponsorship ads for sports teams are unhealthy, according to the study published this week in the journal Pediatrics. And more than half of non-alcoholic drinks touted in those ads are sugar-sweetened, the research found.
Scientists identified the top 10 sports organizations watched by kids ages 2 through 17 using Nielson's television ratings. Then they listed each league's sponsors and analyzed the nutritional content of the food and drink they advertised. The analysis included advertisements on television, on banner ads and in YouTube videos in which the sports organization's logo appeared alongside the sponsor's name, product or logo. The NFL had the highest youth viewership. It also had the most food and beverage sponsors. Next came the National Hockey League, followed by the Little League.
Not all sponsorship activity got included in the study, such as marketing announcements during games and on the sidelines. Also, the study wasn't designed to prove whether or not the junk-food ads actually influenced what children want to eat and drink. Nevertheless, other research has shown an association between frequent viewing of ads for unhealthy food and youth obesity.
Childhood obesit...
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