Is Television Viewing

Responsible for the

Rise in Childhood
Obesity?
Mitch Scheide and Marcus Kyriacou
Whats the Problem?
Health Officials and the CDC are alarmed at the rapid growth
in childhood obesity.
Since 1980 the proportion of overweight children from age 6-
11 has more than doubled.
The rate of adolescents has more than tripled.
Today, 10% of 2-5 year olds are overweight.
15% of 6-9 year olds are overweight.
4 in 10 African and Mexican Americans are considered to be or
to be at risk of being overweight.

What is O-be-sity?
Coincidence?
During the same period of this childhood obesity, there has
been a huge increase in media targeting children including;
TV shows and videos
Specialized cable networks
Video games
Computer activities and internet web sites


Heres the Catch
Today, children spend and average of 5 hours a day using
these media types. (Full Time Job)
They spend more time doing these things than anything else
but sleeping.
Even children 6 and younger spend as much time experiencing
media as playing outside.
Hmm?
Is Television Viewing responsible for the for the rise in
childhood obesity?
According to The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation
YES
The time children spend using media displaces time they
could be spend in physical activity.
The food advertisements children are exposed to on TV
influence them to make unhealthy food choices.
The cross-promotions between food products and popular TV
and movie characters are encouraging children to buy and eat
more high calorie foods.
YES
Children snack excessively while using media, and they eat
less healthy meals when eating in front of a TV.
Watching TV and videos lowers childrens metabolic rates
below what they would be even when they are sleeping.
Depictions of nutrition and body weight in entertainment
media encourage children to develop less healthy diets.
Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvMsGwhJSWU
Thoughts?
What do you think? Do you feel that these are legitimate
accusations or do you feel they may be exaggerated?
What about you? Did you fall into any of these categories?


Hmm?
Is Television Viewing responsible for the for the rise in
childhood obesity?
According to the Center for Science the Public Interest..
NO
A study observing 251 schools (high and middle) in 24 states
of the contents within their vending machines.

75% of beverage options and 85% of snacks were of poor
nutritional quality.



NO
Cause for concern?
74% of middle/junior high schools and 98% of senior high
schools have vending machines, school store or snack bars.
Children are in schools a substantial portion of the week.
Obesity rates are rising in children AND teens.
NO
Schools Should Practice What They Preach
Schools should offer more healthy items in their cafeteria and
vending machines.
The Sale of Low-Nutrition Foods in Schools Undermines
Parents ability to Feed their Children Well.
Parents entrust their children with the school. Most parents
are not aware of the poor foods being served to them on a
regular basis.


No
Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8zG67EdNEk
Thoughts?
Do you feel that your school lunches had more unhealthy
choices than healthy?
Do you think that less children will take part in eating school
lunches if the selection become more healthy?
Think Pair Share
1.Should the schools or the parents take more of the blame
for unhealthy eating habits?
2. Do you thinks advertisers should be held accountable for
contributing to the obesity epidemic?
3. If you could only eliminate one part of the problem which
would be a priority? Unhealthy Eating Habits or Lack of
Physical Activity
4. Is television viewing responsible for the rise in childhood
obesity?


Beales III, J., & Kulick, R. (2013). Does Advertising on Television
Cause Childhood Obesity? A Longitudinal Analysis. Journal Of
Public Policy & Marketing, 32(2), 185-194.

DelCampo. (2013). Is Television Viewing Responsible for the
Rise in Childhood Obesity? Current Issues In Health (pp. 195-
218). USA: McGraw Hill-Education.