Healthy Choices for Better Living

Children born in the generation of mass advertising and overconsumption of foods are constantly being exposed to unhealthy foods. Mass advertising is one of the factors contributing to the obesity epidemic. Social, environmental and individual factors may further be influencing the rising rates of childhood obesity. Within this paper, I will provide a literature review about how television food advertising has played a role in the growth of childhood obesity and then discuss by what means the food advertising on television impacts childhood obesity. I will argue that watching television and the presence of food advertisement contribute the growing childhood obesity epidemic by advertising unhealthy food choices, by stimulating increased snacking and by displacing time that could be used for physical activity for television A number of studies discuss the growing rates of childhood obesity.

Koukourikos, K., M. Lavdaniti, and M. Avramika. "An overview on childhood obesity." Progress in Health Sciences 3.1 (2013): 128+. Academic OneFile. Web.

Communities across the country, recognizing obesity as an issue of serious public health concern, are looking for innovative ways to halt the increasing rate of obesity (Davis 260). The rising prevalence of childhood and adult obesity can be explained in part by changes in our environment over the last 30 years; in particular, the unlimited supply of convenient, highly palatable and energy-dense foods, coupled with a lifestyle typified by low physical activity (Farooqui 5-7). Childhood obesity in America is a growing epidemic--because of advertisement of fast food, lack of physical activities, and parental control--that has lasting psychological effects. As a little enlightenment on obesity, overweight and obesity result from an imbalance involving excessive calorie consumption and/or inadequate physical activity (Buchholz 5). The increases in overweight and obesity cut across all ages, racial and ethnic groups, and both genders.

How does advertising affect childhood obesity? First, let’s define advertising. Advertising is a way for one to call public attention to a product, service, or need. When advertising a product, the idea is to create an interest or need in the consumer, to purchase the product. Recently, obesity has been hitting the United States in great numbers.

21 Oct. 2006. Web. 23 Feb. 2011. Kavas Aysel. “Global trends, food industry and marketing practices and their impact on childhood obesity.” European Journal of Management Spring 2009: 135.

Increased mortality and heart attacks, blood pressure and another kind of illness could let kids to dissatisfactory life. An obesity range in Kazakhstan has increased from 0.09 to 0.61% (Watson, K., & Roberts, B., 2012). It is analyzed that children obesity has several causes, especially food advertising, which is the most influential. In the present paper, the children obesity in Kazakhstan and the influence of advertising in food marketing will be presented. According to the experts it is possible to stop obesity or prevent obesity by controlling what do your children watch and where do your children eat.

From “our big fat fear: Americas obesity pidemic goes hand in hand with fat Phobia.” SF Gate 8 Apr. 2008. Opposing Viewpoints in context. Source citation: Nestle, Marion. “school Nutrition Campaign is pushing the food industry to Adapt.” Should junk food be sold in schools?

Family Influence can cause obesity in children by not eating healthy. If a parent themselves are obese or if the genes run in the family than most likely the child will be as well. ‘Fat cells are not the only obesity related story out there today; Scientist found a common genetic variant that increases the risk of obesity in its carriers. Melanocortin-4 receptor or MC4F is involved in controlling appetite and metabolism. 81% of people carry at least one risky variant of either FTO or MC4R’ (Loos).

Food policy 2007; 32: 624-39. Smith, E. (2008). “Healthy lifestyles: childhood obesity: an alarming trend.” Healthy lifestyles. International Journal of childbirth education. Van Itallie, T., (2005).

Hellmich, Nanci, “Report maps out solutions to child obesity.” USA Today n.d.: MAS ULTRA-School Edition. Web. 6 May 2012. Holden, Diana. "Fact Check: The Cost of Obesity."