Spanish-language TV advertising for sugary drinks and energy shots increased by 44% over the past few years, according to a new report. The report, Sugary Drink FACTS 2014, updates the Yale Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity's 2011 research on sugary drinks and advertising to children. The report highlights industry progress but also indicates that companies still have a long way to go to improve their marketing practices and the nutritional quality of their youth-marketed products. This is particularly relevant to Latino youth, who consume more sugary drinks than their white peers, with 74% of Latinos having their first sugary drink before age 2. Some progress was made in marketing to Latino kids: On Spanish-language TV, Kraft Foods and Red Bull eliminated virtually ...
A new study from Michigan State University found a link between the identification of fast-food logos and higher weights in children. Children who could better identify the logos and images of fast-food, soda, and unhealthy snack brands were more likely to be overweight. They classified the status of weight for the children, ages 3-5, by their Body Mass Indexes (BMIs). The kids were shown images that included McDonald's golden arches, the Trix rabbit, and the Burger King crown, as well as being asked to match food items and cartoons to brand names. Anna McAlister, an assistant professor and study researcher at MSU, said that the results show how it is not just a sedentary lifestyle that is causing obesity in America. "Of course we want kids to be active, but the ...
While obesity rates may be leveling off for some, rates among Latino youth remain significantly high, according to a new fact sheet. The fact sheet, from Leadership for Healthy Communities, indicates that Latino children and adolescents are more likely to be overweight and obese than their White peers, due to limited availability of healthy foods and safe recreational facilities that contribute to unhealthy environments for Latino families. Factors such as acculturation and unhealthy food and beverage marketing play a role in higher rates of overweight and obesity among Latino youths. "Comprehensive solutions, which include increasing access to affordable healthy foods in communities and schools, limiting the marketing of unhealthy foods and beverages, addressing neighborhood ...
What is the best way to get young people to drink more water? That's the question of a new poll on PreventObesity.net. Answers range from removing local and state taxes on water to banning marketing of sugary drinks to kids to installing free water taps and water bottle-filling stations nationwide. Among Latino youths, consumption of sugary drinks—soft drinks, sports drinks, fruit-flavored drinks, and other caloric but non-nutritious beverages—is higher than the overall average, which contributes to increased rates of obesity, diabetes, and other health issues that disproportionately affect Latinos, according to a research review by Salud America!, a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation research network on Latino childhood obesity that is based at the Institute for Health Promotion ...
McDonald's is expanding it's offerings for kids by adding Go-Gurt, a flavored yogurt usually eaten by children, to it's Happy Meals. The Chicago Tribune reports that beginnig July 4th, a low-fat strawberry yogurt will be availalbe as a side in Happy Meals and Mighty Kids Meals as an alternative to french fries or apple slices, which were added in March 2012. McDonald's appears to be doing this in response to many parents pleas to offer more healthy options with kid's meals. The new Go-Gurt option will have 50 calories and 6 grams of sugar in it's 2.25 oz serving. The fast food chain has been under criticism for many years because of it's possible contribution to the childhood obesity epidemic in America. Appearing along side the yogurt option is a new animated character ...
New research by the Yale Rudd Center explains how marketing negatively not only affects young children, but also impacts adolescents aged 12 and older. “[The food industry] considers children ages 12 and older to be appropriate targets for marketing that encourages consumption of products that can harm
their health. Yet recent research provides convincing evidence that unhealthy food marketing also negatively affects children 12 years and olde,” Yale Rudd Center notes in the report. Highlights from the report include: The adolescent brain is highly vulnerable to marketing, especially when it’s pushing really tempting stuff.
The ways kids are being targeted – through social media and mobile phones – can seem like fun and games. Making it even harder to ...
Thirteen-year-old Estrella Hernandez, a member of the Mayor's Fitness Council Student Ambassadors, is making waves with her idea for an innovative fitness app made just for youth. Her app, "WeWalk," aims to motivate kids to exercise by using technology that they are familiar with. Kids play games on apps all the time, but now they can lead healthier lives while continuing to play. After learning about health issues and how obesity is affecting other youth her age, Estrella was inspired to combine health and technology. She has already received $12,500 in funding from the 80/20 Foundation and HEB. Building the app isn't simple, as it involves maintaining users accounts, monitoring how much users walk, and using Geo locations. Once the app is developed and beta tested, it will ...
Sesame Street characters like Elmo and Rosita can now be used for free to market fresh produce in food stores by mid-2014 thanks to a new partnership aimed at encouraging children to eat more fruits and vegetables. The two-year partnership—between the Sesame Workshop and the Produce Marketing Association (PMA) and the Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA) and First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! initiative—allows PMA’s community of growers, suppliers and retailers to utilize the strength and influence of the Sesame Street brand without a licensing fee. That means characters like Big Bird, Elmo, Rosita and Abby Cadabby can adorn produce sections and products to showcase fresh fruits and vegetables to kids. “Just imagine what will happen when we take our ...
Obesity: Hispanic America's Big Challenge In its recent report, the Hispanic Institute urged Hispanic organizations to stop accepting money from the food industry. The report notes that food companies spend massive amounts of money marketing high-fat and high-sugar items to Hispanics, which is particularly frustrating given that Hispanics have high rates of obesity and ...
