A recent research study performed at New York University has found that foods and drinks that are nationally promoted by celebrities tends to be worthless junk that is contributing to the epidemic of childhood obesity. The foods and the drinks have almost no nutritional value at all Many of the products do, indeed, have no nutritional value at all and may even contribute to failing health. The researchers commented that this greatly saddens them because so many young people, as well as adults, look up to these celebrities as role models.
The most common of these endorsements were for sweets, soft drinks loaded with artificial sweeteners, and, the old stand by, fast food. Many experts are blaming these celebrity endorsements as being a serious contributor the current epidemic of childhood obesity in the country. Young people, especially children, believe the celebrities that the food they are hawking is good for them.
The study was published in the journal Pediatrics and the NYU Medical Center research team studied dozens of celebrity endorsed foods and drinks advertisements and measured their popularity by the Teen Choice Awards, Billboard charts and by celebrity endorsements out on You Tube. The researchers stated that celebrity food and beverage endorsements out at YouTube had received and astronomical 313 million combined views.
There were 57 food and drink products endorsed by 65 celebrities in the videos and nearly 85% of the endorsed products had no nutritional value at all. Only a pistachio video, promoted by the Korean singer, Psy, had any nutritional value at all. The celebrities who currently have the most drink and food endorsements are Britney Spears, Maroon 5, and Justin Timberlake.
The researchers further stated that food and drink ads, especially those endorsed by celebrities, have been shown, in other research, that children, especially teens, will tend to overeat after being exposed to them. Beyonce Knowles has a $50 million dollar endorsement deal right now with Pepsi and Justin Timberlake got $6 million just to sing a McDonald’s jingle.
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