Bill Proposed to Curb Child Obesity by Regulating AI-Driven Junk Food Ads

[webfact]

 

A new bill designed to curb child obesity by safeguarding children from modern AI-driven marketing tactics that encourage unhealthy eating habits is set to be presented to legislators.

 

The Deputy Director-General of the Department of Health, Pongpol Vorapani, spoke during the final public hearing of the bill, noting that the high rate of obesity among Thai children, which has more than doubled over the past two decades, is primarily linked to the overconsumption of unhealthy foods.

 

The Food and Non-alcoholic Beverages Marketing Control Bill aims to raise awareness among children and their parents about modern marketing tactics that cleverly utilise AI to increase children’s exposure to advertisements that heighten their cravings for unhealthy snacks and drinks.

 

The Health Department considers obesity and other non-communicable diseases to pose a significant health threat to young Thais and to be a leading cause of premature death.

 

"The rate of obesity has largely stemmed from unhealthy dietary choices, including eating too much sweet, fatty, and salty food, and drinking sweetened beverages such as sodas and carbonated fizzy drinks," said Vorapani.

 

Marketing strategies employed by producers of these products significantly influence youngsters to make poor dietary choices, he added.

 

A lecturer at the Institute for Population and Social Research, Mahidol University, Nongnuch Jindarattanaporn, highlighted that more than 50% of Thai children are exposed to these marketing tactics.

 

She cited examples such as crunchy snacks packaged with famous cartoon characters and fizzy drinks promoted by celebrities or social media influencers.

 

Social media platforms like YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and X are the top choices for attracting young people’s attention to junk food, said Nongnuch.

 

"These marketing strategies have raised the target age groups’ cravings for these products by about 45%," she noted.

 

As the bill moves forward, it seeks to implement stricter regulations on how junk food is marketed to the youth, particularly on digital platforms.

 

File photo courtesy: Wikipedia

 

-- 2024-07-03

 

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[dinsdale]

36 minutes ago, webfact said:

"The rate of obesity has largely stemmed from unhealthy dietary choices, including eating too much sweet, fatty, and salty food, and drinking sweetened beverages such as sodas and carbonated fizzy drinks," said Vorapani.

All sold at schools and outside/next to schools. 

[ikke1959]

too much sugar use and kids don't play anymore except on their cellphones There is no time to play as kids have to be in school for long days.. Besides that everything must be easy. People in Thailand drive with their motorcycle or car to a shop stop in front of it and buy without walking one meter...And look at the television how many advertisement we see on sweets, candies , cookies and sugar energy drinks...

[sikishrory]

"Safeguarding" and "raising awareness" ?

Is national fried chicken day part of that?

Thought so.

[newbee2022]

8 hours ago, webfact said:

 

A new bill designed to curb child obesity by safeguarding children from modern AI-driven marketing tactics that encourage unhealthy eating habits is set to be presented to legislators.

 

The Deputy Director-General of the Department of Health, Pongpol Vorapani, spoke during the final public hearing of the bill, noting that the high rate of obesity among Thai children, which has more than doubled over the past two decades, is primarily linked to the overconsumption of unhealthy foods.

 

The Food and Non-alcoholic Beverages Marketing Control Bill aims to raise awareness among children and their parents about modern marketing tactics that cleverly utilise AI to increase children’s exposure to advertisements that heighten their cravings for unhealthy snacks and drinks.

 

The Health Department considers obesity and other non-communicable diseases to pose a significant health threat to young Thais and to be a leading cause of premature death.

 

"The rate of obesity has largely stemmed from unhealthy dietary choices, including eating too much sweet, fatty, and salty food, and drinking sweetened beverages such as sodas and carbonated fizzy drinks," said Vorapani.

 

 

Marketing strategies employed by producers of these products significantly influence youngsters to make poor dietary choices, he added.

 

A lecturer at the Institute for Population and Social Research, Mahidol University, Nongnuch Jindarattanaporn, highlighted that more than 50% of Thai children are exposed to these marketing tactics.

 

She cited examples such as crunchy snacks packaged with famous cartoon characters and fizzy drinks promoted by celebrities or social media influencers.

 

Social media platforms like YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and X are the top choices for attracting young people’s attention to junk food, said Nongnuch.

 

"These marketing strategies have raised the target age groups’ cravings for these products by about 45%," she noted.

 

As the bill moves forward, it seeks to implement stricter regulations on how junk food is marketed to the youth, particularly on digital platforms.

 

File photo courtesy: Wikipedia

 

-- 2024-07-03

 

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The bill wouldn't help I say but reduce the sugar in almost all the dishes and ban the "sweet shops" around the schools. When I came first time to Thailand in the 80s, there were all school girls slim, smiling, and nice looking.History!☹️

[harryviking]

9 hours ago, webfact said:

 

A new bill designed to curb child obesity by safeguarding children from modern AI-driven marketing tactics that encourage unhealthy eating habits is set to be presented to legislators.

 

The Deputy Director-General of the Department of Health, Pongpol Vorapani, spoke during the final public hearing of the bill, noting that the high rate of obesity among Thai children, which has more than doubled over the past two decades, is primarily linked to the overconsumption of unhealthy foods.

 

The Food and Non-alcoholic Beverages Marketing Control Bill aims to raise awareness among children and their parents about modern marketing tactics that cleverly utilise AI to increase children’s exposure to advertisements that heighten their cravings for unhealthy snacks and drinks.

 

The Health Department considers obesity and other non-communicable diseases to pose a significant health threat to young Thais and to be a leading cause of premature death.

 

"The rate of obesity has largely stemmed from unhealthy dietary choices, including eating too much sweet, fatty, and salty food, and drinking sweetened beverages such as sodas and carbonated fizzy drinks," said Vorapani.

 

Marketing strategies employed by producers of these products significantly influence youngsters to make poor dietary choices, he added.

 

A lecturer at the Institute for Population and Social Research, Mahidol University, Nongnuch Jindarattanaporn, highlighted that more than 50% of Thai children are exposed to these marketing tactics.

 

She cited examples such as crunchy snacks packaged with famous cartoon characters and fizzy drinks promoted by celebrities or social media influencers.

 

Social media platforms like YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and X are the top choices for attracting young people’s attention to junk food, said Nongnuch.

 

"These marketing strategies have raised the target age groups’ cravings for these products by about 45%," she noted.

 

As the bill moves forward, it seeks to implement stricter regulations on how junk food is marketed to the youth, particularly on digital platforms.

 

File photo courtesy: Wikipedia

 

-- 2024-07-03

 

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

Keep away from 7-11 that is feeding us with absolute crappy stuff!

[PeterA]

Our local school in the country has Students Day every year. I've been to this event for 6 or 7 years. Each year, each student is given bags the size of  big garbage bags full and overflowing with bags of chips, cookies and all manner of junk food. This event  is supported by the schools.

Fewer advertisements will not solve the problem. Education for parents and teachers is a good start.

[johng]

8 hours ago, dinsdale said:

All sold at schools and outside/next to schools. 

They even have 7/11 shops or vending machines in the hospitals.

[trainman34014]

By the time this has been 'Considered', 'Mulled', 'Proposed' Et al and they have set up Committee's and Panels etc; all these kids will be fat Old Age Pensioners !

[hotchilli]

9 hours ago, webfact said:

A new bill designed to curb child obesity by safeguarding children from modern AI-driven marketing tactics that encourage unhealthy eating habits is set to be presented to legislators

Forget banning adverts... ban crap food and drinks

[DLock]

Bumrungrad Hospital has a McDonalds in the hospital...

 

This campaign will have zero benefit.

[john donson]

education is the problem here, not just for food...