Children’s TV shows 
‘put a positive gloss 
on unhealthy foods’

CHILDREN’S TELEVISION shows have been criticised for fuelling the obesity crisis by promoting unhealthy foods.
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Sweet snacks and sugar-sweetened drinks are painted in a positive light to young viewers in the UK and Ireland, according to experts.

The study of the small screen found that there are an average of 14 “food cues” in weekday programmes broadcast between 6am and 11.30am, when pre-schoolers are most likely to have control of the remote.

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It also discovered that eating and drinking were common activities in children-specific programmes and that unhealthy foods and beverages were especially common.

Authors of the report, published in the Archive on Childhood Disease, said: “Increased time in which children spend watching television is a well-described contributor to paediatric obesity,” the authors said.

“This study provides further evidence of the prominence of unhealthy food in children’s programming.

“We suggest that parents, policymakers and physicians should be aware of the frequent portrayals of unhealthy food and beverages in a positive light. Future programmes should address this by including frequent and positively associated connotations with healthy foods and behaviours.”

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