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Study: Advertisers Are Turning Kids Into Junk Food Junkies

New Study Looked At 20 High Schools Throughout California

POSTED: 5:00 pm PST March 21, 2006
UPDATED: 5:24 pm PST March 21, 2006

Food and beverage companies are influencing America's kids in a negative way, according to a new health study.

The study says advertisers are turning children into high-calorie consumers.

The study looked at 20 high schools throughout California -- two in San Diego.

They found schools have far too many advertisements promoting unhealthy things to eat.

Everywhere you look, advertisers are bombarding teenagers with messages, 10News reported.

"Everyone knows that advertising does influence what kids want and what they buy. The industry spends $10 billion on advertising food and beverages to youths," said survey representative Deirdre Kleske.

The Public Health Institute looked at schools around California and found 60 percent of posters and signage at school events promote junk food -- foods high in sugar, sodium and fat.

"A lot of us play sports, and when we have advertisements of junk food, it causes us after the game to get a hamburger. It doesn't cause us to get a salad," said student Maddi Fenno.

As childhood obesity rises, the Public Health Institute says schools should do more to encourage healthy eating.

High Tech International High School and Middle School are a model for how schools could be, 10News reported. There are no vending machines on the campus and the drink choices include vitamin water.

Students at High Tech International held a fruit giveaway day, passing out apples instead of candy.

"You see it. It's always there and you're so tempted to buy it, and we don't really think about the long-term effects of the things that we do today," said student Issac Jackson.

Jackson said just a few years ago, he was drinking several sodas a day.

Then he learned that overweight children are at risk for diabetes and are likely to become obese adults.

When it comes to junk food marketing, some say it's not all bad.

So called junk food advertisers help students raise money for uniforms and field trips.

Some parents say although advertising does influence opinions, so can they, and kids need to be taught at home what foods to eat.

Three bills that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed last year will give California the toughest nutrition standards in schools in the nation this summer.


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