Study: Black Children Exposed To More Unhealthy Food Ads Than White Children

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A new study says that black children are being exposed more regularly to ads that promote unhealthy food and drinks than white children of the same age.

These findings concern health experts.

The study was conducted by the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at the University of Connecticut. The study took a look at how television viewing patterns impacted what advertisements were seen by what groups of children.

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Researchers took data from Nielsen to examine television viewing times and the amount of food advertisements viewed in the United States in 2008 and 2012. The results were broken down by race, age group and network type.

The study explained that for both black and white children, the exposure to food advertising increased with age. However, black children were found to have viewed 50 percent more food advertisements than white children of the same age. Networks that targeted black youths were found to air more food advertisements.

The researchers concluded the study by saying that networks targeting black youth should work to reduce the number of advertisements for unhealthy foods. They add that less viewing of these advertisements could help to reduce health issues in the black community.