Targeting Children in Advertising

Hannah Brown, Emma Clothier, Laura Nolt
Ms. Dellinger
APLang, Period 5
17 December 2013

Congress should ban all advertisements aimed at children that promote foods high in fat and sugar because it creates bad habits at early ages, causes child obesity, and targets naive children.

Fast Food Ads Are Creating Bad Habits in Children

"Potential weight gain is just one consequence of eating out often. Fast and restaurant foods are often heavy on fat and sugar, both of which can lead to the development of chronic disease when consumed in large quantities." (Godman 1)

 

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Childhood Obesity

"How the commercial advertising of foods contributes to the epidemic of obesity among children and adolescents is still an ongoing debate. There is widespread speculation that the exposure to food advertising may contribute to unhealthy food choices and weight gain"(Chou, Rashad, and Grossman).

"A recent study by half a dozen researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that the rate of American obesity was increasing in every state and among both sexes, regardless of age, race, or educational level. In 1991, only four states had obesity rates of 15 percent or higher; today at least thirty-seven states do" (Schlosser 240).

Ads Target Naive Children

"The Little Caesars slogan "Big! Big!" now applies not just to the industry's portions, but to its customers" (Schlosser 241).

Counterargument

"The first step toward meaningful change is by far the easiest: stop buying it" (Schlosser 269).

"...Then place your order. Or turn and walk out the door. It's not too late. Even in this fast food nation, you can still have it your way" (Schlosser 270).

Works Cited

Godman, Heidi . "Think Fast When Kids Want Fast Food." Harvard Health Blog . N.p., 13 Jan.              2013.  Web.12 Dec. 2013. <http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/think-fast-when-kids-want-                  fast-food-201301315846>.

Marchione, Marilynn. "Children’s Physical Fitness Declines Around World." The Boston Globe. N.p.,        20 Nov. 2013. Web. 16 Dec. 2013. <http://www.bostonglobe.com/news/nation/2013/11/20/med-          kids-declining-fitness-writethru/H5sgXsrxAE6Ilr3TqLR3yH/story.html>.

"Newswise." Study Links Youth Obesity to TV Fast Food Advertising. N.p., 23 Oct. 2013. Web.                16 Dec.  2013. <http://www.newswise.com/articles/norris-cotton-cancer-center-study-links-youth-       obesity-to-tv-fast-food-advertising>.

Schlosser, Eric. Fast Food Nation: the Dark Side of the All-American Meal. Boston: Houghton                   Mifflin, 2001. Print.