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Canadians are taking a legal approach in their efforts to curb the obesity epidemic by challenging junk food companies in court. One legal tactic involves using laws against marketing certain products to children.

Saputo Inc. marketed its Vachon snack cakes to children in daycare centers as a nutritious snack when combined with fruit and milk. The ads encouraged children to stay fit by doing a "gorilla dance" as they ate the cakes shaped like gorillas. Saputo argued that it was promoting physical fitness, but a Quebec court ordered the company to pay a fine of $44,000.

"Using children to sell products goes against the law," said Suzie Pellerin, director of an anti-obesity group in Canada.

Pellerin's group is instrumental in taking McDonalds, Burger King and General Mills before Canadian courts this year, facing charges related to beaming junk food advertisements and promotions at children by distributing toys in children's meals, sponsoring movies, and advertising Lucky Charm games.

"Since we cannot act on the content of food offered to children," Ms. Pellerin said, "we can at least reduce their exposure to this advertising."

Labels: laws, penalties, junk_food

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A new study indicates that young adults do not usually take time to eat leisurely meals, and that this practice of eating "on the run" leads to the consumption of too many junk foods.

Researchers from the University of Minnesota studied 1,687 people ages 18 to 25 years old and found that about 40 percent reported that they did not have to time to sit down for regular meals, leading to higher intake of soft drinks, fast foods, and high fat foods. People who do sit down for leisurely meals tend to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, and make other healthy choices, the researchers reported.

This study appeared in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association.

Labels: obese teens, junk_food, fast_food

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Restricting access to snack foods in schools leads children to eat slightly increased amounts of vegetables and fruits, according to a new study from the University of South Carolina.

Wendy Gonzalez analyzed data from 10,285 fifth graders at 2,065 schools. Those schools that restricted the availability of snacks such as ice cream, baked goods, and candy had a 21% increased consumption of vegetables and a 15% increase for fruits.

Gonzalez, writing in the Journal of Nutrition, said that restricting availability of snacks is a better policy than limiting the number or types of snacks at schools.

Labels: vegetables, junk_food, snacks

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A study conducted by nutritionists at a hospital in Australia found that factors contributing to obesity are present in young children's lives long before they begin attending school. The study reviewed nutritional information for kids ages four to six in 18 different schools.

"Just over half of the children had junk food, including fried potato products, cakes, sweet biscuits and soft drinks, more than twice a day. About 40 percent of children were eating only one daily serving of vegetables, compared to the recommended four servings."

Fiona McKenzie-Lewis, a nutritionist, said the survey highlights just how important it is for parents to monitor their kids' eating habits at very early ages. Source: ABC News (Australia)

Labels: toddlers, parents, junk_food

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One in three high school cafeterias still sells junk foods, according to new data from the Center for Disease Control. However, this statistic represents progress. In 2004, 53 percent were selling candy and high fat, salty snacks; in 2006, the rate was 37 percent.

Dr. Howell Wechsler, director of the CDC's Division of Adolescent and School Health, said that schools are selling junk food because they need money. He admitted that food revenues drop during the first few years a school cafeteria substitutes healthy foods for the more popular but less nutritious ones. However, sales eventually climb, he said.

This study appears in the CDC Weekly Report on Morbidity and Mortality.

Labels: schools, cafeterias, junk_food

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Researchers have found that communities with an abundance of fast-food and convenience stores have much higher rates of obesity and diabetes.

"Dr. Francine Kaufman, one of the nation's leading childhood diabetes experts, said the new research demonstrates that staying healthy is not simply a matter of personal responsibility."

Dr. Kaufman works with programs that help small neighborhood markets buy refrigerators so they can sell fresh produce. Source: Detroit News

Labels: community, junk_food, fast_food

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A recent public opinion survey by the Transatlantic Consumer Dialogue (TACD) found that 82 percent of Americans think food companies aren't doing enough to help combat obesity. Though a staggering number of food companies say they're reformulating products to make them healthier, consumers are looking for more.

"US based companies are complying with government initiatives in Europe that curb junk food advertising to kids, limit fat and salt content in processed foods, and call for nutrition information on the front of food packages, but are opposing such steps in the US..."

The survey also found that Americans still think there is too much advertising of junk food to children and that the government should get more involved in combating childhood obesity. Source: FoodNavigator.com.

Labels: food_companies, advertising, junk_food

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British media regulator Ofcom stopped short of a total ban on junk food advertisement aimed at children. It's a move that has disappointed the British Heart Foundation and consumer groups, which called for a complete ban on all junk food advertising before 9pm.

"Under the plans, celebrities and characters from films or TV programs would not be allowed to take part in any food or drink commercial targeted at the under-10s. Adverts showing excessive consumption would also be discouraged. Ofcom research indicates TV adverts have a 'modest direct effect' on children's food choice."

Ofcom goes on to say, however, that exercise, family eating patterns and school policies play a greater role than advertising. Read more at BBC.co.uk.

Labels: advertising, junk_food, influences

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A study that was conducted in 2003-2004 and is being published in the journal Pediatrics found that advertising during kids' TV shows was almost entirely comprised of junk food ads.

"A nine-month survey of the nutritional content of food ads in 170 top-rated [according to Nielsen] TV shows with kids 2-17 concluded that 97.8% of those food ads viewed by young children (2-11) were for foods with poor nutritional content, and 89.4% of ads for teens (12-17)."

The survey did not include fast food advertisements. The senior Vice President of the American Association of Advertising Agencies has argued that the findings are in opposition to a study conducted by the FTC but, while the FTC study found that ads for junk food hadnt increased significantly in 30 years, it also found that 95% of all ads were for restaurants, fast or junk foods.

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Labels: advertising, junk_food, TV

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For years, family physicians have warned parents against giving their kids too much fruit juice because it was linked to obesity. But a recent study has found that 100 percent fruit juice with no sugar added does not contribute at all to childhood obesity.

"Other studies, meanwhile, have found that many fruit juices provide powerful health benefits, [Pamela] Rockwell notes. Research in recent years has identified ways that beverages such as pomegranate, orange and cranberry juices can help to prevent or cure diseases."

Parents still need to be careful what they give their children. Most fruit juice drinks are not 100 percent natural, and many have high concentrations of corn syrup, which is connected to many health issues.

Labels: healthy_eating, junk_food, diseases

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At a Federal Trade Commission Forum on Wednesday, eleven of the nation's biggest food and beverage companies signed contracts agreeing to limit the kinds of products they'll market to children. The pledges came from companies like Coca-Cola, McDonald's USA, Kraft Foods Inc. and General Mills who are promising to restrict advertising to kids 12 and younger.

"If the task force determines that these pledges do not go far enough, legislation may follow, said Gary Knell, the task force's volunteer chairman and the chief executive of Sesame Workshop, an educational organization."

The task force on media and childhood obesity led by Senators Sam Brownback (R-Kan.) and Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) is working on a report on media and childhood obesity.

Read more at LATimes.com.

Labels: advertising, junk_food, marketing

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Some West Virginia schools, in an effort to address childhood obesity, have begun stocking cafeterias and vending machines with "faux-junk food". The pizza is made with low-fat cheese and a whole grain crust. The deep-fried super donuts are fortified with 5 grams of protein and 14 minerals and vitamins. But does this method teach the right kinds of eating habits?

"While the faux-junk food movement may be an appropriate stepping stone to healthy eating, some nutritionists say it could establish bad habits... [Dr. Stephen Daniels] worries that children who grow up eating faux-fast foods may have trouble making good food choices as adults."

Other nutritionists insist that children will eat healthier foods when they're prepared right, and that this establishes better eating habits as children learn how to correctly prepare and enjoy genuinely healthy food. Read more at MontereyHerald.com.

Labels: healthy_eating, junk_food, nutritionists

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For years, there's been a commonly held belief that 100% fruit juice (possibly because of its high sugar content) increased the risk for weight gain among children. But the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey has shown that not to be true.

"In fact, children aged two to three who drank the most juice were nearly three times less likely to be overweight than children who drank no juice at all."

Kids who drank 100% fruit juice also consumed higher amounts of vitamin C, potassium, riboflavin, and magnesium. They were also more likely to consume whole fruit than kids who drank very little, or no, fruit juice. Read more at CTV.ca.

Labels: nutrition, weight_gain, junk_food

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