Both private and publicly owned institutions that have not kept the public sufficiently educated on the dangers of eating the products they serve or produce; these companies have made millions of dollars on the sales of fast food, junk food, and sugar drinks. As a nation we should be stressing physical activity in home and at school, however, recess is being systematically eliminated, while games and sports equipment is being sacrificed for other costs. The fast food industry has done a wonderful job in making children want fast food and convincing parents that fast food meals are a nutritious alternative to cooking meals at home and they are quick, easy, and affordable. “Advertisements often portray unhealthy eating messages to children. As many commercials are for fast food, soft drinks, and cereals sweetened with sugar, one could argue that children are encouraged by the media to consume high fat, energy dense food” (Ebbeling, Pawlak, & Ludwig, 2002).
Americans are spending more on fast food than higher education, computers, and new cars. 96% of American children could recognize Ronald McDonald; the only fictional character of higher degree is Santa Claus. Many kids watch a McDonald’s commercial and beg their parents to take them there.the author uses statements from restaurant owners, employees, and customers. He also uses surveys. in the chapter “your trusted friends” he talks about kids recognizing Ronald McDonald.
Consuming Kids. After watching “Consuming Kids,” and hearing the various insights of many industry professionals, it is no doubt in my mind that mass media creates a social reality, and a backwards one. This commercialization of childhood is a lot more than selling just products and services, it’s a society issue which has direct impacts on human development and relationship. This commercialization of childhood involves marketers and advertisers doing everything they can to influence the 52 million kids under 12 that hold a buying power totaling $42 billion dollars a year. The mass media aims and is successful in getting a brand in front of a child’s face 24-7, whether it be through brand licensing, product placement, viral marketing internet, videogames or many other ways.
Oscar Gamino AP English and Comp. Period 2 Affluenza Many American children have expensive video games, top-of-the-line electronics, and high priced sneakers, and requests for the newest and the best are ongoing. Everyday children are influenced to buy more, spend more, and have more. As parents work hard to earn a good living, they find it rewarding to provide their children with many indulgences. Although Americans are twice as rich as they were 30 years ago, depression, anxiety, and substance abuse among children and adolescents have increased l00 to 200%.
One of the parts of the American culture that are affected by the fast food industry, the idea of raising our children comes to mind. According to the book the fast food industry looks at our children as a means of making money, and companies provide ‘“Cradle-to-grave’” strategies to attract young customers (Schlosser 5). The effects of McDonalds and other fast food chains affect children for life. For example, “a survey of American schoolchildren found that 96 percent could identify Ronald McDonald, the only fictional character with a higher degree of recognition is Santa Claus. The impact of McDonald’s
Scott Roberts ENGL 1010-021 27 January 2015 Is This Where the Deep Pockets Get Fried? David Zinczenko in “Don’t Blame the Eater” argues that the fast food industry is the cause for “portly” children and not the lack of “personal responsibility”. He advocates for the overweight children because he was one; citing that fast food chains like “Burger King” and “Pizza Hut” were a household staple because of the bargain price. Zinczenko wrote how he was lucky to change his life by joining the Navy Reserve and became involved with a health magazine, both of which helped to change his lifestyle. He demonstrates his case by showing the growing trend in childhood obesity and health related expenses as a way to show the implications for a lack of
In “Kid Kustomers” a selection from Eric Schlosser’s best-selling book, Fast Food Nation, he explains the increase in children’s advertising and states that advertising aimed at small children attempts “to increase not just current, but also future, consumption.” Throughout this text Schlosser gives many examples of how children’s advertising is effective and why it began. The reasoning behind this new increase in advertising aimed at children is because all of the companies noticed the potential amount of profit they could make off of this change. Adding children to their advertising aim was supported by companies because they want to create lifelong relationships with their customers, put pressure on future consumption of their product early,
Carillo (2000) identifies these outside influences or structure as “the institutions, culture, and social practice that constrain an individual to keep within certain normative roles”. As an example fast food outlets are commonly advertised and endorsed by popular sports players and role models. These campaigns, which are common practice in most Western countries, inform children and adults alike that eating high-sugar content food that is also high in saturated fat is acceptable, and maybe even good for you because the person in the advertisement is in great shape and performs well on the sports field. The average child views 10,000 advertisements every year and a great deal of that advertising is fast food promotion (Super Size Me, 2004). The overwhelming questions are, should an individual be responsible for making their own choices about their own lifestyle and take complete responsibility for their
America has increased in childhood obesity. By minimizing fast foods restaurants such as McDonald’s, Burger King and Taco Bell and enforcing physical activity on a day to day basis such as running and working out, obesity can come to an end. Decreasing childhood obesity means providing a healthier life style for kids, whether food wise or physically active. Providing is giving, maintaining and making life genetically and environmentally better for children. Children in America have bad habits and food choices, which are influenced by their parents hereditarily and environmentally such as my little cousin Grecia.
The easy way out to being healthy and eating right for ones body, fast food has plagued the nation especially with diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and even strokes or heart attacks. A question is now posed of whether or not fast foods should be fed to children, in substitute of their regular lunches at school. These kids are what seem like innocent victims because of their naivety towards the real problems with fast food. The problems with this quick fix in school cafeterias are that students would become obese, they would develop bad habits, and that the school would be advertising for these companies. “More than 70 percent of obese adolescents retain their overweight and obese condition even during their adulthood” (What Are Children Munching On?).