Negative Effects Of Food Marketing

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The current obesity epidemic has skyrocketed in the last couple of decades, and because of this obesity has become a norm. In 1997 the obesity rate for people twenty and older was 19.4% and then shot up to 28.9% in 2012. Obesity is a disorder in which a person has excess body fat, causing further health risks such as diabetes, heart disease and even cancer. Rosalyn Carson-DeWitt editor-in-chief for two multivolume Macmillan encyclopedias mentions, “Obesity can severely interfere with one 's daily functions, and it is associated with increased risk of illness, disability, and even death.” According to Carson-DeWitt, being overweight can cause obesity and many other health risks. The four leading causes of obesity are eating disorders, easy access …show more content…

Food marketing uses objects such as animated characters, sexy men/women, catchy songs and even celebrities to manipulate people into buying food. Ronit Devon, radiology associate of the Main Line Imaging, observes how food marketing affects a person’s health in a negative way. According to Devon, “Obesity is a growing concern at national and international levels, and it is increasingly recognized that the industry has a role in and hence needs to be involved in halting the obesity epidemic.” Devon explains how industries have a big role in what people choose to eat. Marion Nestle, professor of nutrition, food studies, and public health at New York University, believes food marketing targets children the most because they are easy to impress. According to Nestle, “Food marketing, the IOM says, intentionally targets children who are too young to distinguish advertising from truth and induces them to eat high-calorie, low-nutrient (but highly profitable) (junk) foods; companies succeed so well in this effort that business-as-usual cannot be allowed to continue.” Food marketing is focused on pushing people to buy food they do not need, which can make their chances of becoming obese

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