FTC Issues Subpoenas As Witch Hunt Ignores CDC
Add to My Profile | More Videos
The Federal Trade Commission has issued subpoenas to 44 food and beverage companies including cereal maker General Mills. The subpoenas, sent over the course of last week, are inquiries into the marketing practices of the companies towards children and the companies have 90 days to respond. Kirstie Foster, General Mills spokeswoman has said that General Mills will comply.
This continues the forward momentum of the witch hunt for the culprits of the childhood obesity epidemic. The US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) based in Atlanta has said that based on two National Health and Nutritional Examination Surveys conducted in 1976-1980 and 2003-2004 showed that the percentage of overweight children were increasing as shown here:
- 2-5 years went from 5.0% to 13.9%
- 6-11 years went from 6.5% to 18.8%
- 12-19 years went from 5.0% to 17.4%
The numbers show a definite increase in childhood obesity. In fact, the numbers have basically tripled. One question I could not help but wonder was why the first study took 4 years, and the second was done over the course of 2 years. The fact is I think the movie Super Size Me
The CDC also has a page regarding contributing factors to this epidemic. Here are the behavioral factors they list:
- Energy Intake- The CDC specifically points out sugar-sweetened beverages (i.e. Coca-Cola) that are high in calories as a potential leading cause due to children not compensating for their intake during meal time and their unfilling nature as a liquid as compared to a solid
- Physical Activity- The CDC points out that children will spend less time engaged in physical activity while in school. Daily participation in school physical activities dropped from 42% in 1991 to 28% in 2003. Education cutbacks, improper physical eduction criteria, and diminishing after school activities due to the loss of funds are all contributable factors
- Sedentary Behavior- The CDC found that one study showed children spending 3 hours a day watching television, DVDs, and movies as an attributable factor due to decreased activity, increased snacking, a lower metabolic rate, and finally a mention about children making poor choices due to advertisements. There is no mention of the amount of time children spend online, playing video games, or reading so it is assumed that those activities are in addition to the 3 hours
The CDC at no time lists cereal as a potentially contributable factor, and only once mentions advertisements. The CDC does mention that the 3 hours spent is watching television, DVDs, and movies but does not give any numbers regarding how many commercials for food are shown during that time period. One would assume that it would be a substantially less number considering that advertisements for food products have never been seen on a DVD and most movie advertisements happen before the previews for foodstuffs sold specifically at the concession stand of which there are none that I know of that sell cereal.
Here are the environmental factors the CDC lists:
- Within the home- the home environment can affect the behaviors of children who see their parents as role models including how it relates to calorie intake and activity
- Within childcare- Almost 80% of children 5 years and younger with working mothers spend 40+ hours a week in childcare. Childcare needs to be an environment where eating healthy and activity habits are developed
- Within schools- Because of the amount of time children spend in schools each day, they become an ideal place for nutritional education, healthy eating habits and physical activity. These habits can become lifetime values
- Within the community- Communities influence a child’s access to not only physical activity through parks, playgrounds, and bike paths but also a child’s access to affordable healthy food choices in local markets
What the CDC does do is highlight a point I have been trying to make since the fascist tyrants at the Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood, that the failure of our education system is not only a factor but appears to be along with economic impacts and the disappearance of the middle class, the REAL culprit here. Not only does the educational system fail to provide children with enough physical activity, but it has failed in educating them and their parents before them, who are role models to their children, about nutrition.
When properly educated, the advertisements will have no effect on the choices both children and adults make. The choices they make, whether society deems them right or wrong, will be their own and of their own free will. That is afterall what this country is all about… isn’t it?
Popularity: 20% [?]
Related Posts
Comments
6 Comments
Comments RSS TrackBack Identifier URI
Leave a comment
This is stupid. I mean, not your post but the idiocy that you even have to have a post like this.
The video was HIGH-LARIOUS! LOL
heh. That video was great. It seems some folks just like blaming people. True some of it is due to advertising, but it’s our responsibility to give them choices and show kids good eating, exercise and lifestyle habits. What a\re they going to ban next? The ads for morally bankrupt action heroes and anorexic fashion model dolls? I mean come on.
I love this. It is not the advertising that is changing what people weigh, it is the way they are taught to live their lives.
Oh my God. Was that horrible thing for real? Please tell me they aren’t REALLY going to start shaming heavy kids. My youngest is overweight and we ARE workiing on it. I would be in terror if anyone started that!
Oh. I am still in shock. That was awful.
J.
No Hoosier, that video was a satirical look at these people done by The Onion. Of course, it may only be a matter of time before that actually becomes an option.
I am so glad they were only joking, but when you have a little chubby boy like I do, the thought of him being treated badly just because of his size is just horrible. I guess some things can’t be funny if they’re close to your heart.
J.