Earlier this week, the Walt Disney Co. took a step that should help improve the eating habits of many of the nation’s children. It announced that it will ban ads for junk foods on its TV channels, radio stations and websites starting in 2015. The nation’s youngsters — heavier and more prone to life-threatening or lifelong illnesses than their peers in earlier generations — should benefit greatly from the decision.
So should their families and the nation. If kids eat healthier, they and the rest of their family should become less obese and more healthy over time. A healthier population eventually will become less of a drain on the nation’s healthcare system.
There have been tentative efforts from other entertainment providers to control advertising content on popular shows like Saturday morning cartoons, but none have been as far ranging as Disney’s. Indeed, Michelle Obama, who leads a national campaign to slow or halt childhood obesity, called Disney’s decision a “game changer.” She’s right.
The entertainment giant’s new rules are based on federal guidelines developed by health care professionals. They are worth noting:
• Breakfast cereal (1 ounce by weight): 130 calories, 10 grams of sugar, 200 milligrams of sodium.