I bimbi sono stati divisi in 3 gruppi: quelli che mangiavano cibi pronti e trasformati ricchi di grassi e zuccheri, quelli che seguivano una dieta a base di carne, verdure e patate e quelli che consumavano frutta, insalata, verdura e pesce.A otto anni e mezzo sono state poi valutate le capacità cognitive e intellettive dei bambinitramite alcuni test e, tenuto conto anche di altri fattori come livello di istruzione della madre, agiatezza socio-economica della famiglia e durata dell'allattamento al seno, gli studiosi hanno associato a una dieta a base di cibi industriali a partire dai tre anni di età un’intelligenza leggermente inferiore.
http://www.greenme.it/mangiare/alimentazione-a-salute/4114-cibo-spazzatura-bambini-quoziente-intellettivoE da uno studio* dell'OMS (Organizzazione Mondiale della Sanità) emerge quanto sia grande l'affare della pubblicità che ha per target i bambini: è risultato evidente come i prodotti alimentari reclamizzati per bambini continuino a rappresentare un profilo dietetico decisamente indesiderabile, dando enfasi a cibi molto calorici, ricchi di grassi, sale e zuccheri (merendine, snacks, patatine, dolciumi, caramelle, cioccolate e ovetti, succhi di frutta, bibite gassate e non, per non parlare degli 'happy meal' dei fast foods...); al contrario, non esiste quasi promozione per quel tipo di alimenti raccomandati dagli organi di salute pubblica, come per esempio frutta e vegetali...
The Junk Food, that kind of food that is addictive, that triggers depression, but that after all it sometime makes us happy is put on trial again
This time the news affect the children. Giving them fatty foods, of very low quality and with nutrient supply to zero, it means "providing" them with an infinitesimal IQ, as reported by some Researchers at the Bristol University (UK) that analyzed the eating habits of 3,966 children aged 3, 4, 7 and 8 and a half years old as recorded by Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children. The children were divided into three groups: those who ate processed foods and high in fats and sugars, those who followed a diet of meat, vegetables and potatoes, and those who ate fruit, salad, vegetables and fish. At the age of 8 years old those children were tested in order to assess the cognitive and intellectual capabilities also taking into account other factors such as level of education of the mother, socio-economic prosperity of the family and duration of breastfeeding; the scientists could associate a slightly lower intelligence in children with a diet based on processed foods from three years of age"THE EXTENT, NATURE AND EFFECTS OF FOOD PROMOTION TO CHILDREN: A REVIEW OF THE EVIDENCE TO DECEMBER 2008 PREPARED FOR THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION"* confirms that in both developed and developing countries: there is a great deal of food promotion to children. Television advertising is the most dominant promotional channel but the full range of promotion and marketing techniques and strategies are used in, and integrated together, by the food and advertising industries. Children recall, enjoy and engage with the multiple promotions and evocative brand building initiatives they are exposed to. The emergence of new mass media channels such as website and mobile telephone SMS services offer less visible but highly direct targeted marketing opportunities. The evidence base for the effect and reach of these newer promotional channels is quite small, but to date, suggests it is gaining share rapidly and effectively. The evidence reviewed confirms that the food products promoted continue to represent a very undesirable dietary profile, with heavy emphasis on energy dense, high fat, high salt and high sugar foods, and almost no promotion of foods that public health evidence encourages greater consumption of – for example fruit and vegetables...
...From the research evidence, children’s food promotion has been dominated by television advertising over the past few decades.
The majority of this promotes the ‘Big Five’ group of food products, namely pre-sugared breakfast cereals, soft-drinks, confectionary, savoury snacks and fast-food outlets. There is some evidence that the dominance of television has begun to diminish particularly with the rise of digital media. The importance of strong, global branding reinforces a need for multifaceted communications combining television with merchandising, ‘tie-ins’ and point-of-sale activity. The advertised diet contrasts sharply with that recommended by public health advisers. Themes of fun and fantasy, or taste, are used to promote to children. Health and nutrition is not a common theme for promotion, and the recommended diet for long term good health gets little marketing support..."
*"THE EXTENT, NATURE AND EFFECTS OF FOOD PROMOTION TO CHILDREN: A REVIEW OF THE EVIDENCE TO DECEMBER 2008 PREPARED FOR THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION"http://whqlibdoc.who.int/publications/2009/9789241598835_eng.pdf