Does Media Cause Childhood Obesity?

One reason for this cause is the parents’ lack of personal responsibility for their children’s health, making sure that they are eating healthy, and having the proper exercise they need to stay in shape. In the article by journalist Daniel Weintraub “The Battle Against Fast Foods Begins in the Home”, he argues that child obesity starts in the home, that parents are the reason why child obesity rates are booming by stating “ It’s the fault of parents who let their kids eat unhealthy foods and sit in front of the television or computer for hours at a time .” . Parents allow their children eat whatever they want, not knowing or caring how detrimental it may be for their health. Also, many parents don't encourage their children to go outside for physical activities for at least a half hour a day. Instead, many parents accuse video-games for the reason that their child is obese. Parents play a main role towards the cause of child obesity, even though fast food industries might seem like the culprit, one must understand all the factors that contribute to the obesity

Many Americans are suffering from nutrition issues. There are approximately 12.5 million children and adolescents aged 2-19 years that are obese (CDC). The proper health and nutrition for children is very critical to their growth and development. The media and its promotion of junk food is one way that affects obese children. Within this paper, I will discuss the long and short term

Many Fast food companies target children because they are young and are good at persuading their parents to get what they want. “It’s not just getting kids to whine” (Schlosser 43). Fast food companies target kids based on what they are looking for which is money. “The decade of the child consumer” (Schlosser 43). Americans need to pay close attention to how their children spend their money. As more kids visit fast food restaurants, companies will come out with more items for kids to purchase as time goes along. More companies in America will keep targeting kids because they see an advantage in it that the reader does not see. “We see this as a great opportunity” (Scholosser 48). In the meantime, an employee at a fast food restaurant will sell fast food items to kids because they want their money in order to increase the business. As more fast food companies make sales, this will create a dynamic bond between parents and their children because the reader ponders how the fast food industry is affecting their children. As more kids leave after school to go and have something to eat with friends at a Taco Bell, or Pizza Hut, kids will buy food based on what they may be craving during lunchtime. “Research has shown children are more likely to choose foods with familiar logos” (Heyes). At some point in time, there will be millions of parents who will talk to their kids about their active interest in visiting fast food restaurants after school all of the time. The reader may

obesity is okay and that it is not that big of a deal, they are wrong. There

The cause of childhood obesity is widely debated. There are some who believe childhood obesity is caused by socioeconomic factors while others believe it is caused by media marketing junk food to children. As a response to this ongoing debate, food markers, mainly fast food, try to defend themselves by blaming childhood obesity on physical inactivity and the lack of parental influence on a healthy diet. Despite what many researchers may believe, childhood obesity is caused by a combination of key factors. According to a well-written article by Erica Roth, Childhood Obesity, she along with other doctors believes that obesity could be caused by many different factors. Some may include “family history, many psychological factors, and lifestyle” (Childhood Obesity). However, the causes of childhood obesity are not limited to these life threatening factors, childhood obesity is almost always

Intro: Thesis, childhood obesity is thriving through societal appraisal but can be countered through conventional means.

“Approximately 17 %( or 12.5 million) of children and adolescents aged 2-19 years are obese.” (CDC). Therefore, proper health and nutrition is critical to the growth and development of young children. Many of our Americans are suffering from these nutrition issues. Media and its promotion of junk food is one way that affects obese children. Throughout this paper I will discuss the long and short term impacts of obesity on children’s growth and development, describe a specific child who is affected by obesity, and three ways to combat obesity that

First, media coverage of childhood obesity can be seen from organizations such as the Childhood Obesity Foundation. The organization’s purpose is “…to lead a societal shift toward healthy eating and active lifestyles to promote childhood healthy weights and the resulting physical and emotional impacts” (Childhood Obesity Foundation 2015). The mission statement promotes the idea that childhood obesity could cause unhappiness and sickness for children, and that society needs to change in order to address the issue. A section on the website addresses the current obesogenic environment of society, which it describes as “…places that encourage people to eat unhealthily and not exercise enough” (Childhood Obesity Foundation 2015). The foundation frames society as a negative environment that encourages unhealthy behaviors, requiring changes to a more health-focused society. Furthermore, the website has a section regarding the complications of childhood

It was found that at each hour of TV watched by a 5-year-old child their chances of obesity would rise by 7%. Whilst studying 8000 children who had watched 8 or more hours per week, all age 3 it was found that by the time all those children were aged 7, every single one of them were at higher risk than average of obesity. (Pediatrics, 2011). Television on its own shows from 4400 to 7600 fast food commercials a day. Those statistics don’t include what is shown in magazine, billboards and so on. The number of health promoting adverts shown is 165 a day its no wonder today’s children are at higher risk. Speaking of which, the number of children under 5 effected worldwide by obesity found in 2013 was an astonishing 42 million. Its predicted that by 2025 this number will rise to a huge 70 million. (Bupa,2016) The media has fooled people the way never use overweight or unhealthy looking people In adverts, how often do we see obese people on our televisions? Especially when we are trying to be sold something. More often than not in movies fat people are portrayed as unattractive and unpopular and the laughing stock. Society seems to find it difficult to sympathise with obesity as a disease as many see it as self-inflicted issue. (Teaching tolerance, 2016). ) it was found that by 2006, obesity was responsible for 10 percent of media

All across the world, society is infused with media. Everything is about it. Movies, news celebrities, and the worst one. Advertisements. These ads cause the human to long for the need to obtain a certain product. The greatest victim is the children. Watching television everyday can make the children ache for the need to own the new toy or something, junk food. Junk food is advertised as good food or “hip” food. Kids become persuaded with the images and videos into thinking that they must want it, thus asking their parents. A study done by Dr. Strasburger figured out that screen time that advertises junk food and fast food increases children 's requests for those particular foods and products. Such as; snacking increases while watching TV or movies, and late-night screen time interferes with getting adequate amounts of sleep, which is a known risk factor for obesity (Strasburger). This includes the studies that were conducted by the nations

Kids are seeing too many fast food commercials a day. Have you had a teen in your life ever say to you, “Please mom, let me eat at Rock &, Roll Diner!” or “ It’s the best,I heard from my friend Tyler.” If you have heard that from your thirteen plus year old child, then they are being targeted by advertisers around the world. Advertisers treat teenagers as a separate target audience.

Fast food advertisement agencies take advantage of the ignorance of children to scam them into wanting unhealthy meals. Each year, the fast food industry spends over $3 million of advertising targeted towards children. Half of television advertisement is used during children’s shows and with cartoons. Out of all the factors

A McDonald’s commercial starts off with the minions from the popular kids’ movie, “Despicable Me.” They take the Happy Meal from an employee and run off with it. The next scene is the minions sitting down eating the food from the McDonalds Happy Meal. Bubbles start to float into the screen from one of the minions blowing in their milk. The minions are laughing popping the bubbles, and it goes to a mom with her two kids popping the same bubbles. The kids and the mother have huge smiles on their faces, enjoying the time at McDonalds. The kids are playing with the toys that are included in the Happy Meal, which are small toys of the minions. It switches to showing the happy meal, and all the toys you can get surrounding it. That is marketing to the youth. Up to the age of four or five, children don’t know the difference between advertising and entertainment (Target market: children as consumer, www.aboutkidshealthy.ca). By showing kids advertisements of fast-food, it increases their want for that food because of the toys included, and the characters that were added in. Parents will frequently buy their kid(s) the food, which is a cause of child obesity. Youth marketing should be banned because it leads to child obesity, self-esteem and materialistic issues, and can affect the child-to-parent relationship.

About a third of children in the U.S. are considered overweight or obese, and researchers believe television advertising is a significant contributing factor (4). Exposure to television advertising is basically universal and the ads present foods as desirable and attractive. Children have been shown to be far more receptive to television advertising messages than classroom lessons (3). It leaves a harder lasting impression on them because the food products are presented in a cool, fun way that attracts children. Most of the time, children would pick foods that they may not even like, simply because they think it’s the cool thing to eat and once a kid gets his mind set on what they want, it is very hard to steer them away from wanting it. Television ads for foods geared toward children are usually fun, and bright with animations and lots of cool characters that the children can relate to. This directly influences the child’s food preference and unfortunately most of these ads are for processed, unhealthy food products like cereals, snacks, fast food, and soft drinks. In the U.S., there are few restrictions on food ads, but that's not the case in the U.K., where junk food can't be marketed on children's television (4).

Food advertisements, if focused at the right people and in the right places, are a complete success. These features, some of which are commercials, seduce society into buying food that we necessarily do not need. Many advertisement companies, especially those about food, are directed to children because they know that if you grab the kids you have their parents. While brands are using fun cartoons like “Trix Rabbit” and “Toucan Sam” (Green, 2007, p. 49) supermarkets are taking these items and placing them right in front of the children, at their level, advertising the “Fun foods” (Elliot, 2008, p. 259-273). They do this so the kids will use their, “pester power” (Scholsser, n.d., p. 2) to get what they want. A series of studies have been performed on children and television advertisements. An article states, “These studies have generally linked children's television viewing to negative health effects” (Korr, 2008, p. 451). Amongst these negative effects is a higher level of childhood obesity (p. 451). Similarly, in another study performed by a group of researchers, kids were asked to explain the television commercials that they remembered the best. The answers given were then compared with their diets. Interestingly, the items those children remembered best, chips, sweets, and sodas were a huge part of what they ate (Hitching & Moynihan, 1998, p. 511-517). However, some authors argue that television producer’s, even though their