Advertising to Children: Helpful or Corrupting

First, I will briefly describe the definition of fast food and the negative effects of advertising fast food to children under the age of 12. They are considered harmful to children, encouraging long term unhealthy diets for children, which lead children to obesity. I will give examples of some countries that already ban fast food advertising during children’s programming and state some simple solutions to solve the problems. The definition of fast food is convenient food which is prepared and served quickly at a fast food restaurant. It is easily nearby anywhere and customers can take home with drive-thru pick up in order to save time.

Consumers and health organizations have sought to acknowledge the accumulating problem of childhood obesity in the United States. This research will provide evidence that television advertisements influences food preferences, and is associated with the increased epidemic of obesity among children. I will be talking about food advertisement and its effects on children. Today food companies have make children their biggest targets. A food marketer is interested in youths as consumers because of their purchasing power and their influence over their spending habit.

Advertising to children rarely receives a good press, and it remains a controversial topic in the wider domain. Advertisements from Major companies target children on their ads for a variety of reasons. Children are more likely to be swindled by the ads for sugary foods endorsed by athletes. By pro athletes being role models to kids companies hire them to sell their products. Children being influenced by these ads convince their parents to buy them these foods.

Help Guide, 10 Sep. 2010. Web. 9 May 2011. Ruskin, Gary. “The Fast Food Trap: How Commercialism Creates Overweight Children.” Commercialalert.org.

This is dirty trick ads use to make food look good, we as adults have to teach our children that most of the time ads are fake. Something you have to teach your children since first day is that they must know that the main job of an ad is sell a product (Knorr par. 10). It’s a fact that most of the time children buy products that they don’t even want or like just because they saw that product on a television ad. In conclusion, advertisements are a bad influence to children, especially to those age 8 or younger, because they are not ready to understand the real meaning of ads.

Some argue that fast food is responsible and that fast food advertisements are targeting children and others argue that fast food restaurants are not responsible what so ever, such as that arguments that it is a child dietary habits surrounding the meals. What is the relationship between fast food and the increasing rate of childhood obesity in the United States? Many health professionals believe that fast food restaurants are a major factor in increasing childhood obesity in America. Their belief is that advertisements produced by fast food restaurants are targeting children as their audience. Schools are now also contributing to f... ... middle of paper ... ...children's diet.

Schools need to focus on producing not only smart kids, but healthy ones as well. Kids rely on their schools to provide them with a nutritional meal, but often times are given unhealthy meals that lead to the obesity epidemic. Therefore, junk food should be banned in schools. There is no avoiding junk food advertisements because it shows up on social media, TVs, radios, vending machines, billboards, logos, etc. Companies spend on average $148 million a year on advertising in schools in commercials, equipment, vending machines, and rewards programs.

He further explains how fast food restaurants like McDonalds targets mainly children by having hundreds of advertisements mainly targeting children every year. Children convince their parents to take them to the places advertised, the parents take them to keep their children happy. The children end up enjoying these unhealthy foods causing health issues because these additives causes obesity, diabetes and even brain damage. Amy M. Bernhardt emphasizes that 79% of 25,000 fast food advertisements aired on just four channel... ... middle of paper ... ...-. N.p., n.d.

Many health professionals believe that fast food restaurants are a major factor in increasing childhood obesity in America. Their belief is that advertisements produced by fast food restaurants are targeting children as their audience. Health professionals believe that children of a young age are very easily persuaded by fast food advertisements, which creates more demand for their product resulting in an increased rate of childhood obesity. The American Psychological Association (APA) state on their website that, "Research has found strong associations between increases in advertising for non-nutritious foods and rates of childhood obesity" (The Impact of Food Advertising…). This research is what has sparked this belief of fast food restaurant's detrimental effects on childhood health.

“Many researchers have theorized that media use by children, excessive snacking during media use, food-marketing practices in food advertisements, cross promotions, food away from home, supersizing and increased portion sizes can all contribute to childhood obesity” (Kavas). Due to the epidemic rise in obesity, and for the safety of children’s health now and in the future, the NEH needs to fund education regarding the link between portion sizes and obesity. Obesity is a disease where there is an excessive or abnormal build up of body fat. It is a terrible illness and difficult to overcome. Obesity was once only a problem in high-income countries, but percentages have also risen dramatically in low to middle income countries.