Advertisers make the change for childhood obesity

Advertisers make the change This three part series on child hood obesity ends the week on a more positive note. Apparently, the efforts of Senator Harkin and others to regulate food companies' ability to market to children is resonating. At a food industry summit earlier this month companies like Kraft Foods vowed to include more messages on exercise in their marketing and will work to limit advertising to children under the age of twelve. One executive from the ad agency that handles McDonalds and the Kellogg Co. said that there would be more campaigns that promote an active lifestyle along with messages that encourage balanced eating habits in the near future. Healthy spokespeople appear to be a trend as well and McDonalds will be using Olympic athletes to pitch their healthy menu items. Still industry professionals say that despite changes on their end, even new products like healthier cereals, until parents take responsibility for their children's diets by forgoing what is easier, for what is better, childhood obesity will remain an epidemic. I'm Susan Allen and this is food Forethought. Source: Reuters Tues, March 15 2005