Health group calls for control on TV ads of junk foods
TV commercials for junk foods and snacks must be controlled in order to prevent children from becoming obese and prone to sickness because of unhealthy eating habits, health groups urged on Tuesday.
A recent survey showed that twothirds of the 42 commercials broadcast during weekend cartoon programmes were advertising junk foods and snacks, said Dr Wittaya Kulsomboon of Chulalongkorn University's social pharmaceutical research unit.He said advertising aimed at children was expensive, with nine minutes on air costing up to Bt900,000. There are 155 million overŽweight children worldwide and up to 45 million are clinically obese, said dentist Krisada Reungareerat of ThaiHealth. Krisada said adverts and TV commercials were important facŽtors in causing children to become fat. A study by the UK Office of Communications found that chilŽdren under eight were the easiest group to convince because they could not separate reality from advertising, especially if the messages were told to them by cartoons, famous people or their favourite stars. Twothirds of children aged six and seven said they believed what the commercials conveyed. According to the survey, the most influential adverts were those giving away toys, at 49 per cent, followed by those presented by famous actors and cartoons, at 35 per cent. British kids spend 17.2 hours a week watching TV, while Thai kids spend 16.4 hours a week. "Children aged from two to 12 should be protected from taking in so many messages from the media without the ability to differentiate," said Krisada, adding that countries such as Ireland, Sweden and Norway already banned TV comŽmercials targeting children under 12. The Consumer Protection Network, the Thai Health Promotion Foundation and parent networks want a law change to prohibit advertisers using actors, singers, cartoon characters, mascots and children under 14 in comŽmercials. They believe that adverts should attach warning messages and not give away toys or premiums to attract kids and that the length and frequency of commercials should be limited. The Nation
|
