Television Ads May Unconsciously Lead Young Children To Overconsume Snacks, Study Suggests.

reported that research suggests that “Mindless snacking in front of the television set may start long before children know how to work the remote control.” Researchers studied 60 children aged 2 to 5 years and examined “how advertising influences...eating in the absence of hunger.” Lead study author Jennifer Emond of Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire said, “If kids are exposed to food ads during” TV viewing time, “they may unconsciously overconsume snacks which can lead to extra weight gain.” The findings were published in the journal Pediatrics. http://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-toddlers-tv-snacking-idUSKBN13H2H0