Environmental Risk Factors And Obesity

Television and advertising companies have been linked to childhood obesity. Advertisers spend on average two million dollars in the United States each year marketing food to children. The

This overwhelming statistic contributes to the 17% of children that have obesity in the United States. More specifically in Texas, 19.1% of children are considered obese. Furthermore, Texas is tied for the rank of 11 for the highest obesity rates among the United States. Looking at the Brazos County every one in seven person is obese. This statistic accounts for the one half of the population is overweight or obese. In lower-income areas such as parts of the Brazos Valley, obesity rates tend to be higher compared to higher income areas. reveal to have higher obesity rates. This is because majority of low-income families have less access to healthy food and opportunity for physical activity. Lower income neighborhoods offer a higher accessibility to unhealthy food sources. In a study done on low-income areas of Los Angeles, it was shown that a greater number of fast-food restaurants congregate the low income areas of Los Angeles compared to the higher income areas of Los Angeles (Hilmers, et al., 2015). Results for similar studies done on the amount of convenience stores in certain areas show that “Low-income zip codes have 30% more conveniences stores” compared to middle-income zip codes (Hilmers, et al., 2015). Convenience stores tend to carry large amounts of snack food, a variety of beverages, and little produce. Low-income areas also reveal that the portion of recreational facilities in

The food industry has mastered the delicate art of trickery over many years and has been able to convince consumers to buy their products, thinking they are healthy, when in reality they are contributing immensely to the obesity epidemic in America. Food corporations have developed a marketing strategy where they target juvenile audiences with their products. The companies do this by having advertisements on children's television programs encouraging children to buy their processed, high-sugar food products. Companies get kids’ attention by including beloved children's figures with their commercials, thus piquing their interest. Children view their favorite characters on television programs and ask their parents or guardians to purchase the items for them and the parents, remaining blissfully unaware that they are relinquishing their child's health to mass food corporations, concede and buy the food, which causes their child to become unhealthy and eventually obese. Another way food companies market their products is by embedding their advertisements with words like “Cheap, easy, fast”, which appeals to low income families looking for a inexpensive meal, or families on the go that need to quickly get a bite to eat. Due to the fact that unhealthy fast food choices are often the easiest method for gaining a quick meal, more and more families are

Why is it Sociological & Social? Obesity has become a large and dark reality in United States. For someone who does not have sociological imagination being overweight is the result of bad personal choices or genetic predisposition. (Crosnoe) Cultural beliefs and practices related to food and feeding vary among ethnic groups, and these differences may contribute to different patterns of obesity in children and youth, related to their ethnicity. As described in the epidemiological overview show higher than average obesity prevalence in non-Hispanic, black and Mexican American children compared to non-Hispanic white children at most ages. In boys excess obesity ages 2 through 11 compared to girls ages 6 through 19. (Kumanyika 61-70)

Dangerous surroundings creates a higher risk of obesity for low income children and adults. Living in poverty, especially in crime stricken areas, ensures “a dearth of safe environments for physical activity and recreation” (Blumenthal). Furthermore, gym memberships and personal trainers are costly, so many turn to try exercising near their homes. In an area with myriad crimes, a

This is a weakness because the data may have changed due to the rising endemic of childhood obesity in the United States. Focusing on the ideas of “toxic environment”, there has been no research conducted on the relationship to genotype. It is unknown if certain individuals, who have obesity-predisposing genes, are likely to expose themselves to the toxic environment. Concerning socioeconomic status, it is difficult to classify the mechanisms that underlie it, as research has some suggestions, but no definitive proof. Several studies in poor SES areas had a higher exposure to fast-food outlets, which contain calorically dense inexpensive foods. Many low SES communities are situated in high frequency areas, therefore less space for parks or recreational centers. Some researchers claim limited access to resources, differential costs of nutritious foods or access to recreational facilities all play a role in the inverse relationship between obesity and SES. There is little research on how family home nutrition and physical activity influences food insecurity and childhood obesity in rural settings. It is difficult to gain this information, as many people want to live private lives and not be the center of an ongoing research

In low- income neighborhoods predominantly composed of people of color which also lack access to healthy food, childhood obesity in adults is prevalent. Obesity affects 40% of adults and 33 % of children (Saelens et al., 2012). More than half of Latino/ African American children are obese (Saelens et al., 2012). While 31 % of White people live in a supermarket tract, only 8 % of African Americans do as well (Food Trust). Access to healthy food is a crucial influence in a person’s weight. Decreases in diet related diseases is seen with closer proximity to produce and fresh food. Research shows that children who live in neighborhoods with both healthy food access and safe play spaces are 56 % less likely to be obese than children in neighborhoods without (Saelens et al., 2012).

Ultimately, parents and advertising play a huge part in childhood obesity. Parents need to teach kids at a young age, the importance of exercising and eating right and how it will lead to a healthier lifestyle. If parents are parenting, by encouraging their children that the commercials aren’t always right and they

Some of the major reasons why more and more children are becoming obese are issues due to the built-environment, lack of physical activity, and poor diet. Chicago is divided up into 77 communities. Some communities have greater risk factors than others. The different built-environments within the 77 communities can be a risk factor. A built-environment is simply the design and construction of a community’s structures, walkways, parks, and other physical and spatial aspects. Built-environments determine the walkability of a community. Walkable communities have many walkways with an abundance of crosswalks. There are lots of parks and open green space for recreation in a walkable community. The community is designed for mixed use, you can work, shop and play all within a few blocks to encourage walkability. Unfortunately, not all communities in Chicago are designed to be walkable. This causes a lack in physical activity as people tend to rely on cars to get from point A to point B and have no place to play or exercise. These communities are made up of predominantly lower-income families and are at higher risk of childhood obesity. Lack of physical activity in some of the neighborhoods is also due to high-crime rates. Families don’t allow their children to play outside as often in communities with high-crime rates. Too many children have died because of violence in the streets. According to Angela Caputo of The Chicago Reporter, 500 children were murdered throughout the neighborhoods of Chicago from 2008 to 2012 (Caputo A. 2014). With an alarming statistic like this, it’s no wonder why children don’t go outside to play. Another reason why children aren’t outside playing is the increased use of technology. Kids are too busy watching T.V., playing video games, and surfing the web. Kidshealth.org states that Children who consistently

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

To begin with, marketing strategies, including the location of the advertisement of unhealthy foods, the advertisement may affect the child’s food decision. For example, schools can allow advertisements from local food companies to promote their food. The author who wrote the article, Childhood Obesity Causes & Consequences, clarifies many high schools and middle schools, nearly half, let non-healthy foods be advertised to faculty and students (“Childhood Obesity Causes & Consequences”). Therefore, schools that allow such advertisements to be placed promote unhealthy foods to children and then children are influenced to eat the product. Another example of location is technology combines many sources of food companies to advertise food to the one place children are most likely going to be. The author points out foods that have low nutrients but high calories, fat, and other unhealthy nutrients are highly marketed towards children in the media (“Childhood Obesity Causes & Consequences”). In other words, children that are on different

There are some specific and real problems that advertising can cause upon children (William A. Ramsey). Fast-food restaurant advertising it’s influencing our children to be obese. Childhood obesity around the world is causing worries, especially detrimental as its effect carries on into parenthood. The ratio of children 's who are overweight has approximately tripled in the same period, reaching fourteen percent (Center for disease control

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

The commercials feature animated characters selling fast food kid meals. Children relate with the cartoon characters and want to eat the foods that are being promoted. Children receive the message that fast food is good for them, and do not understand that eating too much fast food can be unhealthy for them. Unfortunately the message from this type of advertising is geared toward the child thinking I need to have the fast food. This is a bad message to leave in children?s minds, because it can also cause problems with their health. The obesity rate in young children has risen drastically over the last twenty years. Health reports have attributed this to the continuing increase in the amount of fast food children are consuming. Television commercials for fast food are on every channel, and the number of channels has risen over the last twenty years. Children who watch television are exposed to a non-stop borage of commercials. This continual exposure promotes a cycle of the child always wanting to go to the fast food restaurants. Parents also are affected by the commercials. Their children want to eat fast food, and the fast food is very convenient for busy families. It is much easier to go through a drive-thru and order the food, then to cook the meal at home. This can be a harmful pattern for the family to establish. Convenience over a more healthy home cooked meal adds to the childhood obesity