Preview

Television Advertising aimed at children in Australia should be banned

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
978 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Television Advertising aimed at children in Australia should be banned
In 2004, there were 5,500 TV advertisements and children who watching advertisements between 2 - 11 years old accounted for 22% (Cartere 2009). The roles of children in modern society are changing. Children continually assume larger roles in their homes and are becoming more involved in the shopping habits of the household. According to a survey, there are six most popular subscription advertising channels between children zero to twelve year-old were obtained from an advertising information company, and included all advertisements for food and non-food products broadcast between 7:00 and 20:30 (Hebden et al. 2011, p.127). Children become the prime targets of television advertising. Sometimes a good positive ads is an extremely huge role in children's education. Limit children to see the ads is very important because it has the potential to affect children's future. However, this essay will argue that television advertising aimed at children in Australia should be banned for several reasons: children's physical health and lifetime habits can be changed by TV ads. TV commercial not only be able to influence children's moral behavior, but also causes conflicts between parents and children. Furthermore, television advertising have a negative influence over children minds.

Firstly, television advertising not only impacts on children's physical health, their lifetime may be affected as well. The unhealthy food advertising is ubiquitous in children's television programming and this could cause the serious problem of children becoming obese. For instance, according to the recent research by the Australian Government, the Children's Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey, indicated that 23% of Australian children aged 2 to 16 years were overweight or obese (King et al. 2011, p131). In addition, the cultivation of good health eating habits for children should be learned from childhood by their parents. Furthermore, the improvement of a balanced diet for people definitely

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Powerful Essays

    United States faces the risk that the percentage of obesity among children will increase. The percentage of children and adolescents who suffer from this epidemic is 17% (CDC). One generation ago, the rate was three times less than now. The number of obese children is continuously growing, which may cause a danger to children and the future of the country. The risk of obesity does not only mean the risk of diseases and health problems, but also the risks associated with psychological and social impact. There is no doubt that one of the biggest causes of obesity is the unhealthy dietary choices that many children make nowadays (IOM). The larger the increase in the percentage of obese children and thereby the increase in the risks surrounding them, the greater the need to confront this problem. Companies, institutions, parents, and individuals should play a role in fighting obesity, but the role of government is most important. The government can enact laws regulating the process of junk food advertisement aimed at children that contribute to the problem significantly. Although some jurists and businessmen oppose such regulation by government, there is some evidence that regulating junk foods advertisement aimed at children yield positive results.…

    • 1232 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Each year, children are spending less time outdoors playing and more time indoors watching television. With all the time spent indoors, physical activity and exercise is greatly lacking in children today, which is contributing to the rise of childhood obesity. Instead of riding bikes with friends or playing sports in the street, children are sitting slumped on the couch, staring at the television, with no motivation to stimulate activity. This is in part to the content of the programing as well as the advertisements during commercial breaks. In the midst of these programs are advertisements for the newest toys that every child wants to have. During the hours that children typically watch television, broadcasting networks are playing advertisements that spark interest in a child, convincing children that they need these new games and toys. Fun and exciting ads are not the only factor in the rise of obesity, along with toys and games; non-nutritious advertising is playing its role in this as well. The food displayed is of no nutritional content, which of course, is exactly what children want. Again, these ads are sending children into a frenzy, begging parents to purchase these food products. “Food is the most commonly advertised product on children’s television” (Zimmerman & Bell, 2010, pp. 336-337). Many studies have been conducted in regard to television viewing and childhood obesity and statistics indicate that the main cause of obesity in children watching television is the advertisements for food during children’s programming Regardless of whether the programs are educational or strictly entertaining, television programs that contain advertisements during the show are linked to contribution of obesity in children, according to Zimmerman & Bell (2010). DVD’s and television programs that contain no in-program ads, such as Nick Jr., appear to have a drastically reduced association. Watching television does not have…

    • 899 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Fundamentally, this academic journal provided vital information on childhood obesity. The linkage between food advertisement and children obesity was concise and conveyed huge issues. Statistics show, that if we can advertise more “healthy” related commercials we can limit obesity challenges. This article is a huge asset to my paper because it exemplifies huge aspects that my paper needs in order to be viable. Fortunately, it allows people to see that there is a chance that it can be changed.…

    • 2204 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Mexico Ethical Dilemmas

    • 4995 Words
    • 20 Pages

    Because of the increasing medical concern over obesity in the United States, federal regulation of advertising has effectively reduced to one-tenth of all advertising during children’s television programs advertisements for foods high in fat, sugar, and salt and low in nutrition.…

    • 4995 Words
    • 20 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Since the 1970’s the United States has been witness to a growing epidemic of childhood obesity tripling and in some instances quadrupling. Due to this major health concern it is believed that the advertising of unhealthy foods is the cause of childhood obesity in America. Majority of the advertising is done via television, which promotes fast food or “junk food” and is usually low in nutrition and high in sugar and sodium. The Federal Trade Commission, Institute of Medicine, and various health interest groups understand the issue at hand, and have considered taking preventive measures to stop this problem. Understanding the laws and regulations, as well as the consequences of advertising unhealthy food towards children may shed some light on this grown problem of childhood obesity in the United States…

    • 2106 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Creative marketers’ food advertisements are one way to affect children’s health. This article states, “In a survey of 3,342 youths aged between 15 and 23, researchers found that a higher percentage of obese and overweight participants identified with fast food ads,” This quote describes that many obese and overweight people were associated with fast food advertisements. Food advertisements are effective enough to change people’s health. The unhealthy food sold can change the way people live. Another…

    • 419 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Child obesity is a growing problem in Australia, with an estimated 2/3 of children considered overweight, 1/3 of which are considered obese. Coincidently, Australia not only has the most overweight children, it also has the highest proportion of junk food advertising on commercial television (Chapman et. al, 2006; Morton, 1990; Morton et. al., 2005).…

    • 3724 Words
    • 15 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    “It has been estimated that roughly 60-92% of children play computer games daily”. (Papoutsakis, 2007) With the staggering number of television viewing, the role of food advertisers must be addressed as one of the causes of obesity. “Nearly half of U.S. middle schools allow advertising of less healthy foods, which impact students decision making of healthy food choices”. (CDC, 2011) Portion control has also changed for kids in the last five years. “ Portion sizes of less healthy foods and beverages have increased over time in restaurants, grocery stores, and vending machines. Research shows that children eat more without realizing it if they are served larger portions. This can mean they are consuming a lot of extra calories, especially when eating high-calorie foods.” (CDC , 2011) Another factor that is affecting obesity is children is the fact that most families in today 's world are way to busy to enjoy a meal at home and spend more time eating out on fast food. In summation, in today 's world, kids are not exercising like they should and are eating the wrong type of food as well as eating more to satisfy their appetites. Television and video game playing is a contributing factor because it takes away time that is needed to exercise and influences kids to make unhealthy and irrational choices concerning food consumption based on food advertisements.…

    • 1666 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Childhood Obesity

    • 2257 Words
    • 10 Pages

    In today 's society, childhood obesity is considered a serious public health issue and can be classified as an epidemic. In the United States alone, one in seven children ages 6-17 are considered to be obese. In the last 40 years in the United States the rate of childhood obesity has tripled. The main reason why childhood obesity has become such a serious issue is because children now days live more sedentary lifestyles. Children now days are bombarded with television advertisements urging them to eat foods high in fat and calories while staying inside and playing video games or watching television. Childhood obesity does not only affect children in childhood but can cause a list of health issues in their adult lives also. When it comes to education regarding childhood obesity, the responsibility needs to be addressed by the parents, schools and the media.…

    • 2257 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Childhood Obesity

    • 1238 Words
    • 5 Pages

    In this paragraph I will be discussing three of the contributing factors to obesity in children, media, parents, and schools. Though parents should not allow the television to become their babysitter, some often do. Children, who are the most profitable sector in the media, are dragged into the unmerciful pull of the media. There are countless television programs and stations for children of all ages. With this wide variety, children are able to spend hours watching television which requires no physical activity, so children rarely, if ever participate in any physical activities outside of the school setting. This leads to inactivity which consequently, may lead to obesity. The media also contributes to obesity in children because of their junk food advertisements. During these programs, many food ads entice the children causing impulse eating. With the inactivity and impulse eating, children are more susceptible to become obese. To counteract the affects of the media, children need guidance from their parents. Parents have a major influence on the well-being of their child. They can contribute to the possibility of obesity affecting their child by cooking and buying unhealthy food and permitting too much time watching television.…

    • 1238 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Childhood Obesity

    • 1659 Words
    • 7 Pages

    The nature of childhood obesity is growing at a fast rate since two decades ago. People are finding more and more children at risk of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes since the media has focused on children eating more sugar and fast food in their diets. However, media is sending subliminal messages to kids through commercial and tricking them to convince parents to buy bad junk food. Therefore, Parents need to regulate how much television and fatty food their children watch and eat.…

    • 1659 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Childhood Obesity

    • 2392 Words
    • 10 Pages

    Currently there has been a rise in childhood obesity, and the numbers are only going higher. One reason being is the lack of activity. Mainly a habit of television viewing, the absence of physical liveliness, and inert exercise might cause obesity in offsprings. Rigorous testing in South Carolina showed that obese children participated drastically less in light and heavy physical activity compared to the nonobese children. A nationwide study in the USA resulted that the most overweight youngsters participated in the most TV viewing and the least amount of heart pumping activities (Ebbeling, Pawlak, Ludwig). The most controversial topic of obesity is television viewing. Not only known to remove time from physical work, watching TV drastically increase the amount of energy consumed. Reason being is that most kids not only sit there and view a screen but are chowing down sweets and unhealthy snacks (Ebbeling, Pawlak, Ludwig). Children of the older generations didn't have this problem due to the fact of less TV shows and channels. Another cause of the rising obesity levels is that students are not getting enough physical…

    • 2392 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The findings strongly support the notion that the most important lifestyle factor in childhood obesity is television watching (Monmaney). The television brings the child`s imagination to life, giving them entertainment to do without the running and exercising of outdoor sports. The more television a child watches the more obese the child will get. Next, the problem is getting so out of hand that the government is going to have to start getting involved. Satcher and Shirley Watkins, the undersecretary of agriculture for food, nutrition and consumer services said that, "'TV increases obesity, stifles creativity and shortens attention spans among young people'" (Bauder). This is their reason for joining the campaign for a "TV-Free America." It is estimated that an obese child watches an average of four hours and nine minutes of television each day. That is four hours that a child could be bonding with their family or taking action in some physical activity. Thus, problem with child obesity starts as young as infancy. If the child's parents do not stress exercise the child will find an alternative way to occupy their…

    • 771 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Many kids are weak minded therefore, they believe everything that they see or hear. "The food and beverage industry spends about $2 billion a year targeting kids, often with ads for sugary drinks and junk food that are high in fat, sugar, and salt. Experts say it works: children who see food ads consume 45 percent more food than children who don't, and they eat fewer fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Nearly 40 percent of children's diets are now made up of unhealthy fats and added sugars" (Unhealthy Food Should Not Be Marketed to Children). Children should not be blasted with with advertisements for unhealthy foods that promote obesity and health problems like diabetes and high blood pressure. Children are easily hoaxed into believing everything that they see or hear. Therefore, many companies take advantage of this and they feed off of marketing to kids. Furthermore, many children also tend to lack physical activity in their daily lives. When children eat a lot, they become lazy and no longer want to move around and exercise. Instead of exercising, kids are now preferring to either sit and watch TV, play on their phones/ Ipads, or playing video games. (Introduction to Childhood Obesity: At Issue). When kids become lazy, that's when they start to become obese because they aren't burning all of the calories that they are consuming. None of the things that kids prefer to do now include moving such as, playing on their phones, watching TV etc. Because of advertising and the lack of physical activity, childhood obesity is on the…

    • 751 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Medias have a major impact on children. Children and adolescents spent most of the time on television. Medias should be using a method to deliver a message for healthy diet by advertising healthy eating habits. Unfortunate, research showing that the media is advertising…

    • 479 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays