Spanish TV as full of junk-food ads as English TV

Many of the commercials on Spanish-language television during after-school hours are for food and drink, with many of them sodas and fast food.

Reporting in the Journal of Pediatrics, Darcy Thompson, MD, MPH, reviewed 60 hours of programming on Univision and Telemundo, between the hours of 2 and 9 pm. Approximately 15% of the 989 advertisements aired were for food and drinks, accounting for 19% of the ad airtime. The number of ads were comparable to those on English-language stations in the US during the same hours.

Some advertised nutritional supplements for children. This could, the researchers said, play into fears that a child isn't eating enough, when in fact the child may be just fine, or in fact overweight or obese.

Over 30% of Hispanic children are overweight, compared to 25% of Caucasian children.