Media Factor

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Media groups also play an important role in contributing to the problem of childhood obesity. Many believe the fast-food market is at fault when it comes to people being overweight. The food is unhealthy, frozen, and full of fat; it makes sense that people would hold this industry responsible. Although the dangers of eating unhealthy fast-food have been brought to light more and more into the public eye, it is not deterring people away from regularly consuming it. For example, “Fast-food restaurants have increased their sales by 200 percent during the last 20 years” (Greenblatt). It is confusing as to why sales have increased for fast-food chains although the public has become more aware of the fattening foods that restaurants are distributing to consumers.  The quickness and ease of fast-food seems to be out-weighing the dangers of eating unhealthy and results in an increase in childhood obesity

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            Many believe that the startling increase in childhood obesity is mostly due to the amount of advertising that is done to attract the public, especially children, to the fast-food market. (Crouse) Fast-food and snacking industries spend a large sum of money on television advertising. This not only includes commercials, but online games and promotional toys where marketing is unregulated (Greenblatt).  Much of this advertising is aimed directly at children. Janice Crouse claims that, “The advertising Coalition reports that $10 billion to $15 billion is spent annually on food advertising targeting children.” With that much money spent on advertisements it is obvious fast-food chains are being heard loud and clear. It seems that as the amount of money spent on fast-food marketing increases, so does the growing rate of childhood obesity.