For decades, concerned parents have warned about the violence shown on animated shows directed at children, but a new study has shown that this may not be the bigger problem when it comes to what the young one watch, but rather the influence fat cartoon characters have on them - as being exposed to overweight characters makes children eat unhealthily.
Psychology researchers at Colorado State University recently conducted a study regarding the influence fat cartoon characters (such as Garfield, Winnie the Pooh, Homer Simpson, Peppa Pig or even Big Bird from "Sesame Street") have on young children, and results showed that children exposed to these characters were at least twice as likely to consume more junk food.
According to Medical Daily, researchers exposed 300 children between the ages of 6 and 14 to fat cartoon characters as well as others with "healthier" appearances, then giving them access to foods providing high energy levels and low nutrients - namely, unhealthier options.
The results were clear: when recently exposed to fat cartoon characters, the children in the study were twice as likely to consume different types of unhealthy foods.
The study on fat cartoon characters' incidence on children's food consumption is called "Kids, Cartoons, and Cookies: Stereotype Priming Effects on Children's Food Consumption" and was recently published in the last issue of the Journal of Consumer Psychology.
On the other hand, researchers admit that stopping children from being exposed to overweight characters is too extreme a measure, so their take is slightly different: they advise that children be informed about the risks of obesity.
"I think it is important for parents to know they should think about the way they might be associating food with fun for kids-in the form of exposure to cartoon characters, for instance-as opposed to associating food with nutrition and the family structure," said Professor Margaret C. Campbell, the lead author of the study on fat cartoon characters, according to Latinos Health.
