US pediatricians and doctors ask crackdown on ads aimed at children. 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.
American Academy of Pediatrics has issued a new policy in response to a rising tide of advertising aimed at children. The policy appears in December’s Pediatrics.
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.