Ebook: Advances in Communication Research to Reduce Childhood Obesity

Rates of childhood obesity are alarmingly high and increasing each year. Studies have shown that obese children are more likely to become obese adults and are likely to suffer with numerous health consequences like coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, and Type II diabetes, among others. Studies also indicate that television viewing and exposure to advertising for food products influences children's attitudes toward, food preferences and food purchase requests for foods with low nutritional value. It is important to better understand the role of media in childhood obesity and to learn how media may be used to address this issue in a positive way. This book focuses on communication and media research that can have an impact on reducing childhood obesity. Emphasis is placed on topics related to how the media communicate health-related messages about food, nutrition and diet that influence childhood obesity. Particular emphasis is on the new media, given the fact that media now have more central roles in socializing today’s children and youth than ever before. Advertising and marketing messages reach young consumers through a variety of vehicles – broadcast and cable television, radio, magazines, computers through the Internet, music, cell phones – and in many different venues – homes, schools, child-care settings, grocery stores, shopping malls, theaters, sporting events, and even airports. In addition, given the disparity in obesity rates between children of color and the general population, special attention is given to research on media targeting these populations.

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Limited-edition flavor promotions. Pop-ups on the Net. Junk food blogs. Cereal ads in cartoon shows. Between traditional and emerging media, today's youth are exposed to more advertisements for food and beverages than ever--and, unfortunately, the rising number of overweight and obese children and teenagers reflects this, as do the alarming rates of weight-related disease among young people.

Advances in Communication Research to Reduce Childhood Obesity focuses not only on the power of media in driving food choices in youth, but how these same media may be harnessed in reversing the obesity epidemic. Spanning psychology, marketing, and policy, the book explores the range of advertising strategies targeting young people, salient technological innovations, food industry responses to recent policy initiatives, and issues concerning groups who are at greater risk such as minors from lower-income households who are often faced with food insecurity and poor nutrition, which typically impact communities of color, and pre-teens. Its focus on the multiple levels of communication across these concerns offers readers important insights into both the scope of the problem and the opportunities for solutions. Included in the coverage:

• The strategic nature of marketing to children and adolescents by food and beverage companies.
• The role of schools in food and beverage marketing.
• A multi-method study of how youth perceive and evaluate food advertising.
• First Amendment implications for combating obesity through regulation of advertising.
• Targeted marketing of junk food to minority youth: communities fight back.
• Leveraging industry efforts to fight childhood obesity.

Advances in Communication Research to Reduce Childhood Obesity is thought- and action-provoking reading for applied researchers in public health, health promotion, health psychology, maternal and child health, obesity epidemiology, health marketing, and health education.