Childhood obesity is a true epidemic in our country. One in three children under 12 is overweight or obese. The advertising of junk food does not help at all to prevent it, so from many sectors it is proposed to prohibit it so that children are not influenced.
Mexico has already done so, which leads us to ask: in Spain too junk food ads should be banned during children's hours.
Just sit in front of the TV to realize that, along with toys, junk food ads dominate the advertising spaces of children's programming. Especially, in the time slot in which they usually spend more time in front of the screen, between 19 and 22 at night during the week, and 7 and 10 at weekends.
Spanish children between 3 and 12 years old are the ones who spend the most time in front of television throughout Europe, after the Italians. They are in front of the screen an average of 2 and a half hours a day, in which they can see 54 ads, of which the majority are of foods and drinks high in calories and sugars.
From hamburgers, candies, industrial pastries, soft drinks and all kinds of fast food. Come on, food little or nothing nutritious and certainly not recommended for the diet of the little ones.
Now, we can't blame all the publicity either. I think ads should be banned because through them children are being taught habits that are harmful to their health. But as a complement to the nutritional education that is given at home.
That is, it is no use banning advertisements if healthy habits are not encouraged at home. As Eva commented yesterday, putting a brake on child overweight begins at home. The promotion of good eating habits and physical exercise is, in the first place, the responsibility of the parents.
What do you think about it? Do you think ads for junk food should be banned during children's hours?
