Advertisements and Obesity

Advertisements and Obesity

Food advertisements are made to encourage the public to buy their company product. Since young children and teenagers are easily influenced by the media and their peers, they are persuaded into believing certain foods are cool and they do not realize the non nutritional value of the food they are consuming. ( Food advertising, 1). More than 60 percent of adults over the age of 20 are overweight, and one quarter are obese. Eleven percent of children are obese in the USA. These statistics show that people are not educated enough on the value of a nutritional diet. Because it is unrealistic to change or stop the advertising industry from promoting appetizing commercials and advertisements about food, we should educate the public about the dangers of obesity and the health risks that come along with eating unhealthy foods on a regular basis.

In our society, children view more than 100, 000 commercials that pertain to food each year. Television advertises a huge selection of sugar loaded snacks, cereals and other junk food for example, McDonald’s, Taco Bell, and Burger King. It is obvious that, “The overall nutritional impact of television is not positive” (Bryan J, Zillion). Kids who watch Television tend to eat more snacks between mealtimes and participate in less cardiovascular activity. The public does not realize the health risks because the people pictured in the advertisements are appealing and make the food seem harmless. (Bryan J, Zillion)

Advertisements are found everywhere they are not only on TV. There are McDonalds and Burger King coupons advertised right out of the UD Field House. This is where Division I athletes are found working hard on their fit bodies trying to become CAA champions in many different sports. Because advertisers pay so much money to get their products out there athletes that don’t know much about nutrition, may misconstrue an advertisement placement such as this and overlook the fact that the food is unhealthy. McDonalds and Burger King have become a quick source of food and energy when on the run. Athletes are especially affected by this because these places are advertised, fast, cheap, and convenient to stop at when traveling. In Delaware alone there is at least one McDonalds in each of 26 cities. (“McDonalds Calories”)

The food that comes from these fast food restaurants is loaded with fat, saturated fat, carbs, sugar, and cholesterol. The advertisements promote their product to look attractive and nutritious at the same time. Often, commercials and ads will advertise slogans such as, Ѕ the fat, 1g of carbs, or 100% sugar free, forgetting to mention the rest of the non nutritional facts. This suggestive advertising is deceiving because these companies are leaving out other excessive ingredients that are put in as a substitute for what is taken out. This leaves people in the dark about the food they are actually consuming.

The word obesity is used to describe a range of body fat that are higher than what is considered healthy for a given height. “The terms also identify ranges of weight that have been shown to increase the likelihood of certain diseases and other health problems” (CDCP, “Defining Obesity”). Obesity is an epidemic in the US and a chronic condition caused by overeating and an excessive amount of calories without a healthy amount of exercise. (CDCP, Obesity contributing factors) More than 60 percent of adults over the age of 20 are overweight, and one quarter are obese. Eleven percent of children are obese in the USA.

Obesity is a result of an energy imbalance which