Childhood Obesity Research Paper

DeVirgilis1

Lily DeVirgilis
Professor Blazer
ENC 1101 15
9 December 2013
Fast­Food & Childhood Obesity
According to a recent study, “nearly 15 percent of U.S. youngsters… are obese”
(Holguin). Heavily influenced by our society, childhood obesity in the United States is becoming a widespread and growing epidemic. Somewhere alongside almost all obese cases though, one can usually find a trail of unhealthy eating patterns. But what exactly are the causes for kids developing these unhealthy eating patterns? The answer to that question can be summed up in two words: Fast­Food. Through numerous, falsely advertised, colorful and clever made advertisements, to adding a “must have” toy to a happy meal, all the way to preconceiving the
Overall, the researchers saw, “2,613 ads featuring food and drinks that targeted children and teens and of food ads aimed at children, 34 percent were for candy and snacks, 29 percent for cereal, 10 percent for beverages, 10 percent for fast food…” (Cosgrove­Mather) Just to put it into further perspective, that means when you are watching television the commercials you see will be 44 percent on junk food. This meaning children see way more food ads than anything important such as public service announcements..etc. Senator Tom Harkin, hoping to help a new
Federal Communications Commission task force examining the impact of the media on childhood obesity rates stated that, "The 'childhood obesity epidemic ' isn 't just a catch phrase. It 's a real public health crisis" (Cosgrove­Mather).
Most of us have heard of the saying, “it’s so close I could almost taste it”. Well for most kids in school, thats how it is when it comes to fast­food. “The high number of fast food and takeaway outlets near schools in inner cities is contributing to obesity in children”, suggests a study of schoolchildren 's weight and food consumption. (“Child Obesity linked to”,
Overall, students that have fast­food restaurants within a mile of their school tend to consume less fruits and vegetables, consume more soda, and are more likely to be overweight or obese (Davis). With fast food outlets so close to each of the schools, the obesity growth in the student body is practically inevitable.
A girl flashes across the screen with a big,white smile, probably weighing altogether a total of 90 pounds with a ginormous Big Mac in her hand. Anything wrong with that picture?
Yes, it is called false advertising, bringing us to our last topic. Rarely, if ever, do you see a 400 pound man/woman wobbling across the screen from having too many Big Mac’s or with stained teeth from all the soda drinking. It doesn’t happen because they want their product to look glamourous and that if you eat their food then you won’t ever turn into that fat person with stained teeth­­ the only problem with that is, you will. Fortunately, most adults can probably use their intelligence to understand what would happen if they kept eating fast­food, but unfortunately kids do not have that same intuition. When a kid for instance sees that person,