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Any explanation must answer the "why". Their explanation says that they like fast food because they are exposed to more advertising, and we know advertising ten

Any explanation must answer the "why". Their explanation says that they like fast food because they are exposed to more advertising, and we know advertising tends to work pretty well. You propose a mere correlation, but don't say why that correlation exists or what causes it.

electromagnetic 18y ago
They're mistaking correlation with causation. Here's the basic breakdown: Teenagers who spend 5 hours watching TV aren't spending that time exercising... FACT. You'd also be surprised that watching TV actually increases mental activity, and I'd hazard a $100 bet that those kids are also playing video games and such. All of these boost mental activity, which increases the brains demand for glucose (even though it doesn't use up nearly as much as it makes us take in). Could it be that these teenagers are eating sugary foods because their body demands it? Those teenagers not spending 5 hours a day watching TV are likely getting much more exercise, which means they're spending less time using mental skills and thus their brains are likely demanding less glucose than the non-exercising teens. Advertising works extremely well... when I'm trying to decide between PS3 and Xbox, Pepsi and Coke (to some degree), etc. However I see lots of advertisements for pregnancy tests, pantyhose and lots of other products that as a man I'm simply not interested in. Edit: Occam's Razor stipulates the simplest explanation is often the correct one. If I spent 5+ hours a day not exercising, I'm likely to be over weight. In one week I managed to eat 4 big macs, 4 large fries, 4 large cokes and a ton of other crap foods and I lost weight. I work construction and despite eating up to 4000 calories in a day I still lose weight, because I do a shit load of exercise. I love junk food, however if I worked in an office I'd be seriously overweight. Well technically I am seriously overweight, however that's because the BMI is a load of crap. Put it this way, overweight people are usually at risk of fast pulse (tachycardia) and high blood pressure, my doctor was concerned because I was bradycardic, my rest pulse got down to 47 at one point, however I'm good because I wasn't suffering from lethargy, I mean working 12 hour days isn't exactly the norm for someone with bradycardia. Thankfully I also have perfect blood pressure even though I'm like a 31 on the BMI scale (morbidly obese).
- davi 18y ago
  You'd also be surprised that watching TV actually increases mental activity I bet it increases it in the occipital cortex, where primary visual processing is going on; this doesn't mean it's doing anything for these kids' cognitive capabilities. Do you have a citation?

electromagnetic 18y ago

They're mistaking correlation with causation. Here's the basic breakdown: Teenagers who spend 5 hours watching TV aren't spending that time exercising... FACT. You'd also be surprised that watching TV actually increases mental activity, and I'd hazard a $100 bet that those kids are also playing video games and such. All of these boost mental activity, which increases the brains demand for glucose (even though it doesn't use up nearly as much as it makes us take in). Could it be that these teenagers are eating sugary foods because their body demands it? Those teenagers not spending 5 hours a day watching TV are likely getting much more exercise, which means they're spending less time using mental skills and thus their brains are likely demanding less glucose than the non-exercising teens. Advertising works extremely well... when I'm trying to decide between PS3 and Xbox, Pepsi and Coke (to some degree), etc. However I see lots of advertisements for pregnancy tests, pantyhose and lots of other products that as a man I'm simply not interested in. Edit: Occam's Razor stipulates the simplest explanation is often the correct one. If I spent 5+ hours a day not exercising, I'm likely to be over weight. In one week I managed to eat 4 big macs, 4 large fries, 4 large cokes and a ton of other crap foods and I lost weight. I work construction and despite eating up to 4000 calories in a day I still lose weight, because I do a shit load of exercise. I love junk food, however if I worked in an office I'd be seriously overweight. Well technically I am seriously overweight, however that's because the BMI is a load of crap. Put it this way, overweight people are usually at risk of fast pulse (tachycardia) and high blood pressure, my doctor was concerned because I was bradycardic, my rest pulse got down to 47 at one point, however I'm good because I wasn't suffering from lethargy, I mean working 12 hour days isn't exactly the norm for someone with bradycardia. Thankfully I also have perfect blood pressure even though I'm like a 31 on the BMI scale (morbidly obese).

davi 18y ago
You'd also be surprised that watching TV actually increases mental activity I bet it increases it in the occipital cortex, where primary visual processing is going on; this doesn't mean it's doing anything for these kids' cognitive capabilities. Do you have a citation?