Children see 1,000 adverts for junk food every year

CHILDREN watch up to 1,000 junk food TV adverts every year, researchers have claimed.

Their study also revealed that, during peak viewing times, children are exposed to more than twice as many commercials plugging unhealthy products as healthy ones.

The first study of its kind used a monitoring system to record the adverts being shown on four TV channels in Australia over a year.

Study lead author Professor Lisa Smithers, of Adelaide University, said snack foods, fizzy drinks, takeaways and fast foods were among the most frequently advertised products, and that over a year they added up to the equivalent of five hours of continuous viewing. She said: ‘The times when most children are watching television are also the times when there’s the most unhealthy foods advertising.’

The findings follow an analysis by Liverpool University last year that revealed British children can see as many as 12 junk food ads an hour during family shows such as The Voice.

In Australia, advertising industry regulations to protect young viewers are voluntary.