Griffith
ENGL 1113
31 March 2014
Food Advertising and Child Obesity
There are rising rates in the number of obese children, which has caused many to blame unhealthy food advertising because the intense increase in advertising to children. There has been much research on the causes of child obesity. Many researchers believe that the government could do more despite the organizations that are created to help mandate food advertising. Although there is speculation on whether or not advertising effects children, unhealthy food advertising causes child obesity because marketers target young children, widely advertise unhealthy food, and the government does not adequately intervene.
Some people believe food advertising has nothing to do with child obesity and theorize that including food in children’s toys does not affect children and eating. I have heard people say that it is just play so children can pretend to be adults. Additionally, the idea that food advertising is everywhere, can be viewed as just a way for food companies to market and are not completely directed towards kids. There are defenders of food advertising that have said that the government has intervened in food advertising and it is the parent’s fault if their child becomes overweight. Fast food industries do have healthier food options, later …show more content…
There is research that shows that this is not a myth. There are studies that have been done on children that prove that the obesity rate has increased and is correlated with food advertising. If the government was intervening enough, there would be less of a child obesity problem, which is proved in looking at countries with tighter government control. The children of America will face many battles if nothing is changed. It is no secret that toys advertise food, food advertising is in a child’s life every day, and it is obvious that the government is not doing