Disney is getting a makeover in their programming. The happiest place on earth now wants to be the healthiest. Over the next few years, the company is doing away with all advertisements promoting unhealthy food choices on Disney television channels, websites and radio stations. Disney is the first major media company to introduce new standards for food advertising on programming targeting kids and families.
Overweight Kids and TV: An Advertising Epidemic
On Saturday afternoon, September 29th, 2007, the cable television channel Nickelodeon showed nothing for three hours to celebrate “Worldwide Day of Play”, encouraging children to get off the couch and be active. The “Worldwide Day of Play” is part of Nickelodeon’s “Let’s Just Play” campaign, in partner with the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, to encourage kids to participate in active, healthy and playful lifestyles. The goal of the Alliance for a Healthier Generation is to create a new generation of healthy Americans by addressing one of the nation’s leading public health threats — childhood obesity.
So it should be simple, right? Don’t let kids spend so much time in front of the television … get them to be more active and they won’t be overweight. Or is there more to it? Let’s explore some of the science.