In France, according to a study conducted in 2015, 17% of children aged 6 to 17 are overweight: 4% of them even suffer from obesity. To limit excess weight among young people, Public Health France proposes to act first on the advertisements broadcast on television and on the internet.
Indeed: according to a national survey published this Wednesday, June 24, 2020, children aged 4 to 12 spend an average of 1 hour 28 minutes in front of the television each day; teenagers, meanwhile, surf the internet for an average of 1 hour 59 minutes a day. However, 60% of advertisements on TV and 20% of online advertisements relate to food products and half of them (48%) display a Nutri-Score D or E. Clearly: on the computer or in front of the television, young people are too exposed to fatty, salty and sugary foods – in short, to junk food!
What’s the problem ? “We know that being exposed to advertising for fatty, sweet, salty products, creates preferences and increases the consumption of this type of product (…) Advertising has a real impact on children’s eating behavior and consumption. These elements plead in favor of a framework for food marketing for products of lower nutritional quality, not only on television (…) but also on the Internet whose use is increasing“explains Anne-Juliette Serry, head of the nutrition and physical activity unit for Santé Publique France.
“We recommend banning advertisements for products with lower nutritional value (Nutri-Score D and E) on television and on the Internet, at times when children are most numerous in front of the screens.“that is to say between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m.
Obesity and overweight: acting on advertising, is it enough?
Not so sure. To prevent overweight and obesity in children and adolescents, only one recipe is really effective: it is necessary to adopt a balanced diet (less sugar, less fat and no snacking between meals) and to practice regular physical activity (football, dancing, badminton… in school, but not only!).
It is also essential to limit screen consumption (video games, television, internet, etc.) and to move as often as possible (at least 30 minutes each day). In addition, regular medical follow-up is essential – with, as a benchmark, the growth curve found in the child’s health record.
Source: press release Public Health France
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