Increased their food intake by over 130 percent following food adverts...

According to the University of Liverpool who have conducted a study into childhood obesity, the dangers of watching television advertisements are significant. The results of the study that were presented at the European Congress for Obesity in Budapest show that children who are overweight and who regularly watch adverts on TV for food will probably double their food intake.  The researchers also noted that the most obese children are the ones who are more probable to eat the unhealthiest foods.

Sixty children from the UK between the age of nine and eleven were studied for the survey and their food intake following TV advertisements was clearly noted. Children who were obese increased their food intake by over 130 percent following food adverts whereas normal weight children increased their food intake by only 84 percent following the advertisements.  Another thing that the researchers noted was that obese children would always choose the product with the most amount of fat namely chocolate.

Interestingly the researchers said that food advertisements did not necessarily mean that the children ate the particular food that was being advertised and often just ate more other food.  It appears that the advertisements just seem to remind and encourage children to eat a lot. The food industry claim that their advertisements do not make children eat more but only tell them what to eat and encourage them to change food brands, but this research seems to tell the opposite story.

Childhood obesity is a major problem because it nearly always leads to adult obesity and if the UK authorities are serious about tackling the obesity problem in the country they must concentrate hard on children and nip unhealthy eating habits in the bud.  At present it is estimated that around fourteen percent of all children are obese and almost one in three are overweight.