2019, VOL. 5 ISSUE 2, PART F
Abstract:In general, people hold the perception that TV would play a vital role in preparing children physically and psychologically for school. In contrast, today the effect of television on children has become a growing concern to many due to its effect on children’s behavior, health, and cognitive development and learning.
Children and adolescents spend a considerable amount of time watching television. As a result, youth are exposed to a large number of food and beverage advertisements each day. TV advertising influences the food preferences, purchase requests and diets of children under the age of 12 years.
As soon as they watch advertisements on Television or food commercials young children are more likely to increase their caloric intake and snack foods. This means there is significant association between fast food advertising and child body mass index.
However it is more effective when parents impose restrictions of advertising exposure to pre-school and early elementary school children than to older children.
The findings provide insights into the potential effectiveness of alternative media interventions to counteract the unhealthy influence of television on diet, including nutrition education, parental communication and media literacy education to teach children to defend against unwanted influence, and reduced exposure to unhealthy messages through advertisements.