Moms Talk: Is There a Link Between Childhood Obesity and Exposure to Food Ads?

In this week's , I fleshed out some reasons for parents to be concerned about marketing tactics used by food companies to lure kids into eating their often unhealthy products (or begging mom and dad to buy them!)

The American Academy of Pediatrics this month is calling for a ban on junk food advertising. The group sites an American childhood obesity epidemic and solid epidemiological evidence that indicates that the more TV kids watch, the more likely they are to be obese. The lead author of the AAP's statement notes that kids see an average of 5,000 to 10,000 advertisements each year!

So parents, what do you think? Do you think it's the government's place to put a ban on junk food advertising? Are you comfortable with the amount of ads your children see on a daily basis?

Do you think it's effective enough for groups like the AAP to raise concern about such issues and for parents to take personal action for the children's health without government support? Should the government protect corporate interests over those concerning public health?

And what about parents who lack education about these issues and are at a consequently higher risk of having unhealthy children and being unhealthy themselves?

Let us know what you think in the comments section below.