Children and Commercials

Minty

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Call for children's food ad curbs

The charter asks countries to look at how unhealthy food is marketed to children
European health ministers are being asked to sign up to an anti-obesity charter stating that children should not be "exploited" by food companies.
The World Health Organization is holding a conference in Turkey later this month where, it is expected, the charter will be adopted.

A draft version, seen by the BBC, calls for marketing pressure to be reduced.

In the UK, broadcasting regulator Ofcom is set to make its recommendations on junk food advertising this month.

We should stop the commercialisation of children

Professor Phil James, International Association for the Study of Obesity

Ofcom has said it does not believe a total ban is necessary.

But health campaigners are calling for a complete ban on advertising of unhealthy foods before the 9pm watershed.

The draft WHO charter says: "Special attention needs to be focussed on vulnerable groups such as children and adolescents, whose credulity should not be exploited by commercial activities."

It calls for a "reduction in marketing pressure, particularly to children".

Countries around Europe have differing policies on marketing to children.

There are statutory bans on advertising in Norway and Sweden, guidelines in Finland and Ireland and self-regulation by the advertising and media industries in the Netherlands, Portugal and Spain.

France has said all TV ads for processed foods, or products with added fat, sweeteners or salt must carry a health warning - or the advertiser must help fund health campaigns.

Dr Francesco Branca of the WHO said the problem of direct marketing to children was being considered.

He said the industry favoured self-regulation, but added: "Early indications are that this may not be sufficient".

'Sabotaged'

Britain has the highest climbing rate of childhood obesity in Europe.

By 2010, one million children in the UK are expected to be classed as obese.

Professor Phil James, chairman of the International Association for the Study of Obesity, said something had to be done.

He said adverts must be restricted, and healthy diet and exercise promoted.

Read the rest here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6110378.stm

Considering that reports have connected publicizing with the genuine and increasing trouble of child obesity, and that marketers are maximizing objecting to smaller and smaller children, I think controlling junk foods advertised at children could help bring obesity problem down.
 
Ofcom stated what was to be done with unhealthy adverts yesterday. The FDF think they are too strict and health groups are saying they are not strict enough, which probably means they are just right
News Item here
 
I think it's a good move. :cool: In fact I think in general that advertising geared at children should be used cautiously.

I've never had a TV in my life - although of course I've watched programmes and adverts while I'm at friends' houses and stuff. Recently I've had to spend extended periods of time at my mate's place, with the TV on constantly, and I was quite surprised at myself, how unpleasant I found it to be repeatedly bombarded with adverts telling me what I should be wanting and how I should be thinking. I was actually repelled by it. :souka:

Of course, there are still some adverts that are good and/or funny! :p But in general, I found myself reacting very adversely... And I just can't imagine what it must be like to grow up surrounded by that kind of... stuff. :buuh:

Then again, I've always been a contrary bugger. One surefire way to get me to do something is to tell me to do the opposite. So I'm probably not the best target audience for ads! :D Anything that's telling me what to do gets my hackles up and my hooves dug in straight away (if I was some kind of animal that could have both hackles and hooves! :mad: ).
 

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