Obesity Related to Junk Food and Advertising
Zach, Doug, and Dominick
Obesity rates have been sky rocketing in the past 40 years. Some of the factors in this topic are bad foods, less exercising, new technology (video games) and more television viewing. In 2007 about 30.0% of children from 6-11 are overweight and about 15.3% are obese. In teens about 33.4% of kids are overweight and 15.5% are obese. Since 1967 the obesity rate has been multiplied by 3 so over 10% more children are suffering from obesity. This is related to television viewing because most of the ads on children’s networks are for junk food or just simply watching to much television with no exercise can cause obesity. Most children that watch television see ads with some of their favorite cartoon characters or people that they idolize and if they buy that product they can think that they will be like them. With kids favorite cartoon characters on the boxes, growth in unhealthy food products keep increasing from 52 ads in 1994 to 500 ads in 2006 according to the National Institute on Media.
Wally Snyder the CEO of American Advertising Federation said industries are responding by making food healthier or and telling buyers what food is healthier in an interview with MSNBC. He also said that no body sees these types of things and they aren't told to everybody in articles whereas junk food is. Another argument that Wally Snyder had was that the lack of exercise creates obesity and that companies are involved in programs to educate parents about nutrition and exercise.
People are saying that the government should use tax breaks to encourage the shift away from junk food, and if this doesn't happen Congress should mandate it because of all the health risks it is causing. Obesity in children from ages 6-19 increases the risks of having type II diabetes, heart disease, and many more serious health conditions. So obesity is causing many problems and it can be stopped if some people make a stand.
220 Amherst Avenue
Sheboygan Falls, WI 53085
29 May 2007
Letter to the Editor
Sheboygan Press
Sheboygan, WI 53085
Editor:
Every year the numbers for obese people in America go up and it is ruining their lives. Being a child with obesity it is even harder because of all the teasing you might receive or all the judgmental stares and careless whispers. Well Mannie Maas of Wisconsin has been suffering from this since he was a little child and had grown to his peek of 649 pounds and here is when he decided he had to change.
The one solution he turned to that he thought was a last resort was a Gastric bypass surgery that could be done at any top of the line medical centers in Wisconsin. This was his only choice or he would probably die soon so he stepped up and chose to do the surgery. After the surgery Mannie ended up losing 67 pounds and now he is on his way to develop a better and healthier lifestyle.
This surgery in the past few years has been a lifesaver to many. With the numbers of obese people still going up like crazy, people are starting to use this surgery as a ticket to get out of that lifestyle. I think it is almost getting out of hand, trying to help people with this surgery and I feel people are taking it for granted.
So everybody try and keep a healthy lifestyle and don't let yourself go over the edge. Someday if you don't you could become one of these people.
Zach and Doug
Comments (1)
ms hogue said
at 9:20 am on May 31, 2007
Hi,
Who is this guy that you write about in your letter? Create link to the source or make mention of it in your text. Also, refer to some of your own research, articles you read, etc.
Ms Hogue
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