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Media, such as television, movies, and the Internet, are important sources of information for children. These media can affect children's and adolescents' attitudes and behaviors toward a number of health behaviors, including smoking, violence, and nutrition. There is concern about the impact of media food advertising to children because of links between these advertisements and the growing problem of childhood obesity.

• It is estimated that children see 7600 food commercials a year on television. Between 35% and 45% of commercials on children's television are for food. Almost all advertised food is unhealthy.
  
• Commercials increase preference for advertised foods and increase children's requests to parents for those foods.
  
• Many of these food advertisements have themes of magic and adventure. Since young children do not understand differences between fantasy and reality, they may believe that eating a certain cereal will give them magical powers.
  

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Megan A. Moreno, MD, MSEd, MPH, Writer; Fred Furtner, Illustrator; Frederick P. Rivara, MD, MPH, Editor

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