Selena Gomez and Madison Pettis have a lot in common. Both are actresses from a Disney series and they both share the same birthdays. Gomez turned 24 on July 22 and is known for her role as Alex Russo in Wizards of Waverly Place. Pettis on the other hand turned 18 on the same day. Pettis played Sophie Martinez in the show Cory in the House.
Needless to say both stars have had an influence on children over the years. That is why it is a little surprising that Madison Pettis and Selena Gomez both recently endorsed Coca-Cola on Instagram. Gomez can be seen modeling with a Coca-Cola in an Instagram photo, while Pettis can be seen drinking a bottle of Coca-Cola in an Instagram video with the label, “Girls just want to have fun.”hen your lyrics are on the bottle
A video posted by Madison Pettis (@madisonpettis) on
Selena Gomez and Madison Pettis Promote Coca-Cola on Instagram: Can This Contribute to Childhood Obesity?
There is an ongoing fear that sugary beverage endorsements from influential stars like Selena Gomez and Madison Pettis will lead to childhood obesity.
Many Americans are addicted and celebrity endorsement may be to blame. Take for example a recent study published in the June edition of the journal Pediatrics. The study looked at 590 endorsements from 163 different celebrities. Researchers found that 65 celebrities were associated with 57 different food and beverage brands, including low-nutrient and sugar-sweetened drinks.
Childhood obesity has quadrupled in adolescents and doubled in children during the last 30 years. In 2012, over 33% of adolescents and children were obese or overweight. High-calorie and sugary drinks like Coca-Cola products certainly might help contribute to childhood obesity!
Obese youth also have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, including high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Obese adolescents also have an increased risk of pre-diabetes and diabetes. Obese children and teens are also at risk of other adult problems like stroke, osteoarthritis, and several types of cancer like breast, colon, prostate, thyroid, and pancreatic cancer.
For Gomez in particular, drinking sugary beverages like Coca-Cola could be potentially harmful due to her lupus diagnosis. It’s recommended that people with lupus avoid sugary products like Coca-Cola, which can be damaging to the immune system and leave you susceptible to illness and infection.
What should children and adolescents consume instead of sugary drinks? To replace Coca-Cola, Selena Gomez and Madison Pettis should celebrate their birthdays with water or freshly squeezed vegetable juices. Drinking a half glass of vegetable juice before meals is thought to regulate your appetite. Drinking quality water every two hours can also help manage cravings for sugar.
Sources:
Bragg, M.A., et al., “Popular Music Celebrity Endorsements in Food and Nonalcoholic Beverage Marketing,” Pediatrics, June 2016; http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2016/06/02/peds.2015-3977.full.
“Childhood Obesity Facts,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website; https://www.cdc.gov/healthyschools/obesity/facts.htm, last updated Aug. 27, 2015.
