Fast Food Marketing and Childhood Obesity

STUDY

As noted by Edible Progress, a new study connects a child's ability to recognize brands selling processed foods high in fat and sugar (think fast food logos) with that child having a high Body Mass Index (BMI). In other words, children who who can recognize "junk food" brands are more likely to be obese.

To some this might seem like a relatively commonsense connection. Children who eat more fast food know more about that food. Children who eat more fast food also will tend to be more overweight than those who do not. Nevertheless, it is a significant finding in the context of marketing unhealthy food to children. Children are routinely exposed to advertisements for unhealthy food on television and in schools (although the latter might be changing because of new proposed regulations under the Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act. The study's findings provide evidence that suggests such exposure could have a real impact on children's health.

The United States has no laws restricting advertisements aimed at children. To some this might seem like a matter of parental responsibility, but it is worth noting that, as of 2007, over 30 countries have laws in place that limit television advertisements aimed at children. According to Consumers International, Brazil recently banned all advertisements aimed at children, deeming them "abusive." (here's the text for those of you who can read Portugese).

Neil Pederson, J.D. Expected 2015, William Mitchell College of Law.

Photo Credit: http://www.morguefile.com/archive/display/156284

"The Fate of Our Nation Rests On School Lunches"

Famous chef and activist Alice Waters, recently wrote for Time on the topic of the National School Lunch Program. Her main point, that the foods we choose to provide to children through school lunch is an issue central to confronting America's obesity epidemic.

Data compiled by the USDA's Economic Research Service illustrates just how high the stakes are in terms of the nutrition content of meals we provide at our nation's schools. in 2013, Nearly 50 million children were eligible to receive breakfast and lunch under the National School Lunch Program.

Providing meals to children should be recognized as a huge success in terms of feeding hungry children. With the increasing role of the National School Lunch Program in children's lives, however, it is important to also observe that this means that school lunch provides two out of three meals (or all meals for some children) for millions of children each day--much of it fast food.

As Waters notes: "[b]y allowing fast food culture into the cafeteria, we have effectively endorsed that industry’s values [and] helped facilitate the obesity epidemic."

Neil Pederson, J.D. Expected 2015, William Mitchell College of Law.

Photo: http://www.morguefile.com/archive/display/835470

NYC proposes to ban super size drinks

The headline reads: NYC proposes ban on sale of oversize sodas.  Naturally, my first thought was, "uh oh.  Will this apply to beer too?" (I often refer to light beer as "barley pop" so making this connection was quite reasonable.)

According to the Associated Press article by Samantha Gross, New York City's "proposal would impose a 16-ounce limit on sugary drinks sold at restaurants, movie theaters, sports venues and street carts. It would apply to bottled drinks — many plastic soda bottles contains 20 ounces — as well as fountain sodas. "

The thinking is that people consume the serving amount handed to them.  There is some validity to this assumption.  In his book Mindless Eating, Brian Wansink describes food psychology research showing that the size of the container affects the amount one consumes.  We really cannot tell when we've had enough without someone telling us. (Aside: Mindless Eating is a fascinating and entertaining read!)

The New York City proposal has exceptions for grocery stores and will not apply to alcoholic beverages, so I guess my beer is OK.  (And now I am wondering about those non-alcoholic beers . . . )

Here is the New York Times article on this proposal: New York Plans to Ban Sale of Big Sizes of Sugary Drinks

Posted by Donna M. Byrne, William Mitchell College of Law

Preventing Obesity

We eat poorly and don't exercise.  Here's the latest from Reuters via msnbc.com:

Cheap obesity steps could have major health impact

LONDON — Taxing junk food, limiting food adverts and making labels clearer could be the best way to curb rising obesity levels in countries like India and China, where increasing prosperity is creating ever heavier consumers. . . .

I eat poorly, and I don't exercise enough, and it's not because I don't know enough.  Eating well takes time.  Buying vegetables takes more time than buying packaged foods.  Cooking it requires time and effort.  Lifestyles that expect us to be in an office from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. are simply not conducive to health, in my opinion.  And we can rant and rave about junk food and junk food ads until the hormone-heavy cows come home, and I bet it won't do any good unless we adopt different expectations about what is important.