Pediatricians urge restrictions on ads for sex-related products

Children should be exposed to fewer television ads for anti-impotence drugs and more for birth control, and need to be shielded from an advertising onslaught in general, the leading United States pediatricians’ group said.

Inappropriate advertising contributes to many kids’ ills, from obesity to anorexia, to drinking booze and having sex too soon, the American Academy of Pediatrics says.

The American Academy of Pediatrics, in a new policy statement, also urged limits to children?s television viewing and access to the Internet, as well as restrictions on how alcoholic beverage makers promote their products.

The pervasive ads influence children to demand poor food choices, and to think drinking is cool, sex is a recreational activity, and anorexia is fashionable.

In response to such negative and inappropriate ad camaigns, the American Academy of Pediatrics says doctors should ask Congress and federal agencies —

– to ban junk-food ads during shows geared to young children;

– limit commercial advertising to no more than six minutes per hour, a decrease of 50 percent;

– restrict alcohol ads to showing only the product, not cartoon characters or attractive young women; and

– prohibit interactive advertising to children on digital television.

The academy also says that television ads for erectile dysfunction drugs should be shown only after 10 p.m.

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