Food Advertising And Its Effects On Food And Food

As the author of article “Regulating Food Advertising to Children,” Margo G. Wootan proposes, “Responsible food marketing to children must address not only how food is marketed but also which foods are marketed to kids (334).” She believes that even in the absence of government control there should be some guideline for food marketing to act responsibly and not encourage children to eat foods that are harmful to their health and well-being. Because of the increasing rate of childhood obesity in the United States, the author suggests a compromise approach between marketing techniques

Along with these factors the food industry is spreading the sell of high-sugar and high-fat foods, increasing their portion sizes and uncontrollably boosting these products. In the article, “Fast-food Culture Serves Up Super-Size Americans”,  author Bridget Murray discusses “toxic signs” such as Nutritious foods reign, serving sizes keep increasing, and the food Industry has run amok. The food industry has prospered into being in common places such gas stations, vending machines, convenience stores,  serving high-fat, high-sugar food, and restaurants increasing their serving size and promoting bargains for low cost products.  Murray has noted, “ High-fat, High-sugar foods are widely available, taste good and cost less than healthier food”; an example of this would be vending machines. Vending machines contain many fatty foods at low prices as they are convenient to a typical person. The most common source of increasing serving sizes, is McDonald’s use of Super-Size it, which they had made into a verb. The food industry has run amok by serving appealing processed foods, through colorful packaging in addition to using advertisements on television, computers and social media. Children spend most of their day watching T.V., where they view multiple advertisements. In recent articles, “...research has found that children who watch more than three hours of television a day are 50 per cent more likely to be obese than children who watch fewer

Additionally, the connection found between childhood obesity and the marketing of the food industry in the American Psychological Association’s article The Impact of Food Advertising on Childhood Obesity is intriguing because it has been found that the advertisement of fast food may affect childhood obesity. The marketing of food industries has an impact on childhood obesity because fast food

As a result of the constant marketing of unhealthy, saturated fatty foods towards a younger demographic, America’s youth is rapidly becoming obese as they are left defenseless against these multi-billion dollar companies. According to the Annual Review of Public Health, about “35% of American children are overweight or obese” (Harris, 212). Children who are obese are more susceptible to an entire life full of medical problems and complications. Reports also indicate that the numbers of obesity have been on the rise for the past couple of years. In addition to that, “in the next 25 years” the likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes “is expected to rise by 36.5% in the United States” (Harris, 212). This is a staggering number that should not be taken lightly. Measures need to be taken in order to prevent numbers from reaching critical levels such as this. There are many ways that food marketing effects the health levels

“A recent examination of the nutritional content of food ads during children’s programming found that 72.5% were for high-calorie, low-nutrient products; 26.6% were for high-fat or high-sugar products: and just 0.9% were for low-calorie, nutrient-rich products” (Powell, Schermbeck). Even web sites promote unhealthy food products which create a bad perception for a healthy lifestyle for kids. Gaming web sites particularly, market poor-nutrient foods targeted for children. Research has shown that food advertising companies have strategized an effective selling plan towards children. Companies rely on features that appeal to children: happy, colorful, vibrant, exciting and fun. There are very little food product advertisements promoting fruits and vegetables. These influences shape children’s nutritional knowledge, eating practices and weight status. All in all television exposure is linked to diet misconceptions. The misconceptions have a domino effect on children’s food preference and choices which then poorly effects children’s unhealthy weight status.

Elaine Kolish, Vice President of the Council of Better Business Bureaus (BBB), discusses the Children’s Food and Beverage Advertising Initiative (CFBAI) that was launched between the bureau and ten leading food companies in the United States. The goal of the initiative is not to eliminate food advertising to children, primarily under the age of twelve, but to advertise products that are more nutrient dense and lower in calories, sugars, sodium, and fats. The CFBAI evaluates how and if such commercials are intended for children in addition to setting criteria as for how to limit these factors. The CFBAI is making efforts to promote and recruit more companies and agencies into exercising their ideas and changing nutrition regulation within the

While the fast food is really harmful after an excessive amount, fast food chains and their advertisements are often blamed too harshly. Advertising is not the main cause and blame for childhood obesity. Ads simply promote one brand name over another. They do not persuade people to do things they are not already doing (Moerdyk, 2008). They already drink cold drinks, eat food, drive cars, and buy groceries. The advertising tries to get people who already drink cold drinks to try theirs, drive their cars, and buy at their store. “The reason we have so many fat, unhealthy kids who get involved in drugs and all sorts of other bad habits has got little to do with advertising and a lot to do with parents who don't give a darn what programs their kids watch on TV or what movies they go to” (Moerdyk, 2008).

This article is well written and helps support my argument that there are many more factors influencing childhood obesity, not just marketing. Significant data was provided in this article, specifically the fact that the advertisement rates at which children see food advertisements has actually decreased by percentage since 1977 to 2004. Other equally significant points are made concerning the role of parents as the gatekeepers of product purchases as well as industry self-regulation.

Fast food companies do not hold back, and they take full advantage of this by advertising their fattening food products that appeal to the children. The American Psychological Association website explains that “Research has found strong associations between increases in advertising for non-nutritious foods and rates of childhood obesity” (“The Impact of Food Advertising on Childhood Obesity”). This direct relationship shows the harboring effect that advertisements have on childhood obesity. This also affects the child psychologically. “Most children under age 6 cannot distinguish between programming and advertising and children under age 8 do not understand the persuasive intent of advertising” (“The Impact of Food Advertising on Childhood Obesity”). Without even realizing it, children are channeling in on these persuasive and luxurious looking advertisements. One tactic that some fast food restaurants use is the inclusion of a free toy with a kid’s meal. “For more than 30 years, McDonald’s has included toys alongside children’s Happy Meals. And for more than 30 years, the rates of diabetes and obesity in children have steadily increased” (“Childhood Lost”). By promoting their business with bribes like this, unhealthy eating habits form, which can result in obesity problems. The fast food industries know that children are vulnerable, so they target them with these bribes. “Happy Meals are marketed as explicitly for children, and then children are rewarded with toys for consuming the high amounts of fat and sodium” (“Childhood Lost”). This is a crafty technique that some fast food restaurants use to sell off their products. Children are too young to realize the effect the advertisements have on them and the long term consequences that may come with

A rise in obesity has been observed in the United States in the last two decades. Obesity is one problem that gives birth to numerous fatal diseases, including but not limited to cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and depression. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) conducted a survey and found that, “More than one-third of U.S. adults (35.7%) and approximately 17% (or 12.5 million) of children and adolescents aged 2-19 years are obese” (Ogden, Carroll). One of the main reasons behind obesity is the American’s love for fast food. Fast food contains only a small proportion of essential nutrients, and is loaded with unhealthy and non-essential nutrients which do nothing but

According to a news report on MSNBC “TV ads contribute to childhood obesity” by News Correspondent Tracie Potts (2005), “the Institute of Medicine said television advertising strongly influences what children under 12 eat”. This quote suggests that children are easily influence by what they see on television and it reflects in what they eat. Animated characters that all children readily know are used to promote unhealthy food choices, such as junk food or fast food. It has become the norm for fast food companies to advertise to the younger crowd promoting toys in kids' meals or bigger portions for the teenage population. Kids are more concerned with getting a toy than they are at eating a healthy meal full of fruits and vegetables that their growing bodies’ need. Parents are giving into their children about fast food or junk food, because they don't want to seem like bad parents or have their children throwing a fit in public; so instead of cooking a meal at home that is healthy and nutrition packed, they settle for the quick option of fast food or junk food which is loaded up on fats and sugars. Many parents as well do not know the food pyramid and what exactly their children are to be eating on a daily basis, and this result has caused our nation to be on the rise with children who are considered obese, not only due to their weight, but mainly due to their BMI. Body

Advertisements for calorie-packed nutrient poor food floods T.V. stations around America. Childhood obesity in the United States is a burgeoning issue with the health care cost and adolescents’ physical and mental health. Exposure to these damaging advertisements creates lifelong poor eating behaviors and health issues. Food company’s state that adverting simply encourages children to prefer one brand over another brand and hence do not contribute to the exceedingly high rates of childhood obesity. Ninety-eight percent of food ads watched by adolescent promote products high in fat, sugar, and sodium. (Harris & Graff, 2013).Promoted brands increase children’s preferences for those advertised brands at the same time even more so choices of specific items after advertisement exposure. Marketing can even affect how much children like the taste of advertised foods: Preschoolers indicated that snack foods

In conclusion, TV advertisements obviously play a vital part in childhood obesity. Unhealthy foods that have been advertised on television truly affect a child. Children will learn anything that shows on TV. Most of the researches prove that children that spend less time on television have a lower possibility to become overweight and obese compared to children who spend more time on television. Research shows that food advertising affect children’s food selections and food purchases of parents.

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