Fighting Fast Food Marketing in the Battle against Childhood Obesity

In a battle against childhood obesity, The Center for Science in the Public Interest has informed McDonald’s of its intent to sue for using toys to promote their kid’s meals. It is their standpoint that the promotions violate consumer laws in several states, including New Jersey.

However the case turns out, the fact stands that marketing to small children with promises of toys is definitely unethical. Our little ones have no sense of what or how to eat to keep them healthy and growing. It is our job as parents to teach them how to walk the right dietary path.

My McDonald’s Story

15 years ago when my oldest daughter was 5, I picked her and her friend up from school. I offered to take them to get something to eat. The friend yelled "Let's go to McDonalds" my daughter did not miss a beat and replied "You don't want to eat there; they have to bribe you with toys to eat their food".

I had conditioned her well at that point not that she did not rebel later, but now she attends Montclair State and is dietetics major and wants to work with kids to combat juvenile diabetes.

Effects of Fast Food Eating

Childhood obesity is no insignificant problem. According to the Center for National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion:

• Childhood obesity has more than tripled in the past 30 years.
• The prevalence of obesity among children aged 6 to 11 years increased from 6.5% in 1980 to 19.6% in 2008.
• The prevalence of obesity among adolescents aged 12 to 19 years increased from 5.0% to 18.1%.
• Obesity is the result of caloric imbalance (too few calories expended for the amount of calories consumed) and is mediated by genetic, behavioral, and environmental factors.
• Childhood obesity has both immediate and long-term health impacts:
• Obese youth are more likely to have risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as high cholesterol or high blood pressure. In a population-based sample of 5- to 17-year-olds, 70% of obese youth had at least one risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
• Children and adolescents who are obese are at greater risk for bone and joint problems, sleep apnea, and social and psychological problems such as stigmatization and poor self-esteem.
• Obese youth are more likely than youth of normal weight to become overweight or obese adults, and therefore more at risk for associated adult health problems, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, several types of cancer, and osteoarthritis.

Fight the Stats

What can we do as parents? In a society where kids between the ages of 2-7 spend 32 or more hours in front of the television each week, the chances of kids becoming brand aware of fast-food restaurants like McDonald’s is almost guaranteed during their formative years.

We need to take action to fight these kid-targeted and deceptive forms of advertising, and teach our kids, from a very young age, the importance of avoiding processed fast foods.

Offer Alternatives

Keep you fridge stocked with fruits and veggies, yogurt, hummus and other wholesome options. Talk to them about how whole and organic foods feed their bodies. Even if they may not completely understand, you’re laying the groundwork for their future food choices.

Make Eating Interactive

To really drive home the importance of healthy eating, show your kids how their fruits and veggies are grown by visiting a local farm or join the local 4H or Community Supported Agriculture, CSA, organization. Seeing how their food is grown can have a strong effect on the choices they make.

Everything in Moderation

When your kids get a hankering for fast food, consider companies like Pizza Fusion. They support sustainable living with their food, build and delivery. Find one near you at www.pizzafusion.com.

Do you have any good ideas about healthier options for families on the go when fast food seems to be the only choice around?