A new study conducted by Yale University suggests that soft drink and other sugary beverage manufacturers target their marketing campaigns to Latino and African-American children and teenagers.
A report released today from Yale's Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity said that children and teens were exposed to double the amount of television ads for full-calorie and sugary beverages from 2008 to 2010. The study also reported that black children and teens saw 80- to 90 percent more ads compared with whites, including more than twice as many ads for Sprite, Mountain Dew, 5-hour Energy, and Vitamin Water. Hispanic children saw 49 percent more ads for sugary drinks and energy drinks, with Hispanic preschoolers seeing more ads for Coca-Cola Classic, Kool-Aid, 7 Up and Sunny Delight than their older counterparts.
In an effort to support Michelle Obama's "Let's Move!" campaign to end childhood obesity, leading beverage companies printed product calorie information on the front of bottles. Industry leaders also agreed to practice responsible marketing practices with respect to youthful viewers.
"There is no doubt that children and teens need protection from the masterful and ubiquitous marketing by companies of products known to increase risk for obesity and diabetes," Kelly Brownell, co-author of the report wrote in an article for The Atlantic. "Industry's promise to behave better seems empty when the evidence shows they are exposing children even more to messages promoting high-sugar drinks."
For access to the full report, please visit sugarydrinkfacts.org.
Sources: Huffington Post; The Grio; Reuters
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