Celebrity endorsements maybe making you fat.
Obesity is one of the leading problems affecting the world. Processed sugars are one of the main reasons why people continue to gain weight. A recent study examined why adults and children are prone to reaching for soda or unhealthy food and what they found was a little shocking.
Obesity has become such a pressing public health issue that society must acknowledge the human suffering and costs associated with diabetes, obesity, and associated comorbidities. Musicians, actors, and other celebrities can be tremendously influential, particularly for the young fan base that may be swayed by their endorsements.
The points out that children between the ages of 12 and 18 listen to two hours of music a day. When they see their favorite artist endorsing a product, the likelihood of them buying a product skyrockets. Unfortunately, the vast majority of what celebrities are endorsing is filled with sugar.
Forty-nine (71%) of the 69 nonalcoholic beverage references promoted sugar-sweetened beverages. Twenty-one (80.8%) of the 26 endorsed foods were energy dense and nutrient poor.
Beyonce recently recieved $50 million for her current endorsement deal with Pepsi. Justin Timberlake received $6 million for his ‘I’m Lovin’ It!’ commercial campaign a few a years ago. And both of those products are incredibly bad for you.
The issue doesn’t seem to be stopping anytime soon. The study ends by pointing out some crazy stats for advertising absorption by the general public.
Celebrity ads appear to be popular, with >312 million viewers watching the 94 videos associated with celebrity food and nonalcoholic beverage endorsements in this sample on YouTube alone.
And that is on YouTube alone. Celebrities are indirectly killing an entire generation by promoting unhealthy foods.
Via TIME
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