Food advertising and eating disorders

It is impossible to watch a commercial break on television without being exposed to a food-related ad. They are ubiquitous, and indeed provide one of the largest sources of revenues to broadcasters and cable networks. The ads themselves are quite often cleverly effective at triggering a hunger response, even when the viewer was not previously hungry. When the exposure starts with young children, who like to watch cartoon shows sponsored by the makers of sweet cereals and candies, the indoctrination is very hard to overcome. Eating disorders that lead to obesity and diabetes have reached record levels in this country, due in no small part to the advertising campaigns promulgated by the food industry.

And it's not just TV. Food photographs in magazines make a fetish of fattening foods such as cakes, cookies, pies, and junk food. Magazines also devote editorial content to the various allures of food, no doubt with the active support of food advertisers. We have seen articles where just about any kind of food is rated by culinary experts... you name the food, and some official-sounding panel has rated it. Often these same magazines, usually targeted at housewives, contain articles about losing weight and dieting right next to recipes for triple chocolate layer cake. No wonder so many people are confused about proper eating - mixed messages run rampant in today's print media.

Teen girls may have deep conflicts between food hunger and body image, both topics of heavy TV advertising. Often when a girl sees an ad for a delicious brownie mix followed by a diet pill ad filled with perfect bodies in swimsuits, she faces an unendurable conflict that tragically leads to anorexia nervosa and bulimia. The mixed messages only confuse young people, and the sad result is an epidemic of eating disorders and related ailments. The need for support groups and informational websites has never been greater.

Are there any answers? Unfortunately, the subject matter is complex, with First Amendment issues facing off against public health concerns. What are needed more than anything else are accessible and creditable sources of truthful information about the hazards of overeating, binging and purging, and unrealistic body image. The food industry is powerful, and the urge to eat is often difficult to control. Concerned citizens and parents must renew their efforts to make the public aware of how advertising manipulates eating behavior, and how to fight back when overwhelmed by tempting images of food. The Anna Westin Foundation is proud to stand at the forefront of the battle to rescue individuals from the scourge of eating disorders.

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Drew & Anna

The outrage at Anna's death and the outpouring of community support has led Anna's family to establish The Anna Westin Foundation, a nonprofit organization formed to help others suffering directly or indirectly from eating disorders, and to provide education and information designed to prevent the development of anorexia and bulimia.

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The Anna Westin Foundation - PO Box 268 - Chaska, MN 55318