Who is to Blame for Childhood Obesity?

Many parents claim that the fast food company's targets children with fast food commercials and junk food ads. Unfortunately, these fast food and junk food ads have created a hot button issue or controversy with lawmakers and parents. According to Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2010), Childhood obesity has tripled in the last thirty years percent in children, who are ages 6-11.

Parents Blame Mass Media

A child is impressionable and unable to make informed decisions about their daily diet, because they will go for the doughnut rather than the carrot stick. Nevertheless, parents claim that junk food ads target their children during their favorite television shows. According to University of Sydney (2010), states that 40 percent of ads that are shown during a child favorite shows are food ads.

Media Mass Blames Parents

The advertising company believes that the parents should take responsibility for their child's diet. However, parents claim that advertisers are targeting children with their advertising. According to ANI (2010), the junk food advertisers states that the commercials are meant for adults not children. Most advertisers believe that parents don't have to buy the products that they see on television.

Banning Fast Food Ads

Many lawmakers are discussing placing a ban on fast food advertising, in order to stop the obesity epidemic in the United States of America. In addition, the same lawmakers are requesting that the toy to be sold separate from the child's meal unless it is considered a healthy for children. According to University of Sydney (2010), the United Kingdom is asking lawmakers to ban fast food commercials, since the amount of obese children have doubled in the last 20 years.

Why Separate Families?

Unfortunately, doctors are contacting Social Services about children who are considered morbidly obese. According to George (2009), a child's parent may also be obese and follow a poor diet regimen. Some experts believe that a child should be removed from homes where parents are not trying to help their child lose weight. This type of answer is detrimental to the entire family, which may affect the child in the future.

Conclusion

Unfortunately, childhood obesity is becoming a serious epidemic in several countries, which has alarmed lawmakers. However, the media and the parent are placing blame on each other. Fast food advertising is targeting children, but ultimately parents have the right to structure their diet. Therefore, each party carries some of the blame, so they should work together to serve healthier options for children.

References

ANI (2010) Advertisers say children's junk food ads 'made for adults'
Retrieved from the World Wide Web on November 16, 2010
http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/health/advertisers-say-childrens-junk-food-ads-made-for-adults_100453049.html

Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2010) Childhood Obesity
Retrieved from the World Wide Web on November 16, 2010
http://www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/obesity/

George, C. (2009) Do Parents with Obese Children Deserve to Lose Custody?
Retrieved from the World Wide Web on November 16, 2010
http://www.executivehm.com/news/obese-children-/

University of Sydney (2008) Junk Food Ads Target Kids
Retrieved from the World Wide Web on November 16, 2010
http://www.sciencealert.com.au/news/20081209-17941-2.html