ipl-logo

Fast Food Chains: Obesity In Australia And New Zealand

1220 Words5 Pages

HPE Assignment
Harry Bligh
Australian and New Zealand obesity rates are climbing more rapidly than any other western country. Strategies to combat this national health crisis must be implemented. Fast food outlets such as Mc Donald’s are considered to be a major contributor to obesity in our society, but without health warnings consumers are unable to make informed decisions. The introduction of plain packaging within the tobacco industry has proven to be an effective tool in reducing the number of smokers. Fast food chains should be subject to similar disclosure regulations with respect to consumption. Junk food has been proven to have similar addictive effects as drugs and tobacco yet it is not subject to similar regulation. The fast food …show more content…

Most industries within our modern day society are required to fully inform consumers of associated risks and warnings on products have recently proven to be successful. Given research has established a correlation between junk food, obesity and poor health fast food distribution should be subject to similar information disclosure requirements. Despite the rapidly climbing obesity figures, fast food chains continue to sell “meals” that have been linked to serious health risks including diabetes, high blood pressure, gout and heart disease. Powerfully crafted advertising campaigns render fast food more appealing and even healthy. In a time poor society where fast food is a necessary commodity these ads appeal to consumers by emphasising the benefits of convenience and disguising adverse health risks. These ads are not required to state calorie or nutritional information. Readily available, cheap food and frequent deals entice customers to make poor food choices and the industry is not held accountable for the impact their product has on health. Fast food chains need to be made to be responsible for their products and packaging regulation would help achieve this. In a separate study published in 2012, researchers assessed ads against advertising regulations. During the 8 weeks of data gathering, there were a total of 951 breaches of combined regulations. More than 80 per cent of all food and beverage ads were for items classified as ''extras'' in the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating. Two of the five biggest advertisers, Simplot and McDonald's, were signatories to voluntary regulations. The public health advocate and the director of the Public Health Advocacy Institute in Western Australia, Mike Daube, said he was ''profoundly pessimistic'' that governments would be heavy handed with food manufacturers. ''The food industry

Show More
Related
232 Words | 1 Pages

In the article "Don’t blame the eater" written by Zinczenko, he argues that fast food is the main reason why so many teenagers are suffering from obesity in United States. He explains that many companies will use advertisements to deceive customers. For example, a company’s website offers a chicken salad with less than four hundred calories per serving; however, they don’t label everything that the salad has In the first label. They will use separate labels in the products that the salad has on it, so the costumer gets confused and thinks that he is actually eating a four hundred calories salad that is "healthy". However, he is actually eating a seven or more hundred calories meal.

Read More
1404 Words | 6 Pages

Along with television came advertisements. Advertisements began targeting children and more junk food was being promoted than healthy food. Children with diabetes has become more common and childhood obesity has increased drastically. If we are so big on ending obesity, why is it we still see so many McDonald’s commercials or other fast food commercials? Patel goes on later to talk about the amount of time spent cooking and eating and how it has fallen dramatically.

Read More
1078 Words | 5 Pages

“The general public apparently believes subliminal advertising exists” (Broyles 393) however, what effects, if any, are there to the people that view them? There is a belief that companies can influence our behavior in life to the extent where they can, in part, remove the consumers ' choice in their purchases. The idea of advertising firms crafting advertisements with hidden messages that influence the audience to shop at stores, buy a certain product or even which foods we ingest is common in contemporary culture. David Zinczenko addresses many concerns about the marketing and health impacts of the fast food industry in his article, “Don’t Blame the Eater”. Zinczenko says is directly, “Fast-Food companies are marketing to children a product

Read More
444 Words | 2 Pages

The amount of unhealthy food consumed in America goes well beyond McDonalds. In fact, you have to go no farther than your local grocery store to find equally as terrible food choices. For example, in recent years the government has put out warnings against eating fat in excess, which lead many big food companies, from yogurt to Wheat Thins, to send out new products with “less fat”. However, products with “less fat” actually have nearly twice as much sugar. Many studies have shown that sugar in excess is much worse than fat.

Read More
811 Words | 4 Pages

The central issue with consumers gaining weight is fast food industries, and the fact that fast food industries withhold information about what a consumer’s food contains. This leads these industries to increase their food portion sizes then later sell it for a cheap price, and surround many communities with fast food restaurants. The majority of industries do not label their products for the reason that, consumers will think twice and no longer buy their products. Furthermore, food industries unreasonably increase their food portions because they know it will attract consumers. Among it all, many fast food restaurants are placed in low socioeconomic communities to design an approachable way to get a hold of a meal.

Read More
1020 Words | 5 Pages

Junk food is responsible for the growing rate of obesity. This is outlined by David freedman in his article of “How junk food can end obesity.” David Freedman has credited the “health-food” motion, and followers of it along with Michel Pollan. Freedman claims that if the America desires to stop the obesity epidemic, or at least reduce its effects, they must shift to the fast meals and processed meals enterprise for assist, now not the “health-food” movement.

Read More
1123 Words | 5 Pages

He does not ignore the opposing views one might take to his claim, but instead acknowledges them and provides a counter for why he believes his case is worth considering. Furthermore, he declares that this topic concerns everyone, as there is proof that there is a correlation between rising health care costs and the fast-food market. These conclusions, which Zinczenko discusses in his essay, add weight to the argument that checks need to be put in place on the fast-food industry in terms of marketing and advertising to make sure that customers know what they are consuming and to lower health care costs and increase the general health of society. Some action must be taken against the fast-food industries, such as limiting their advertising or enforcing rules on more easily accessible and conspicuous nutrition facts on the products consumers are purchasing, as has been done since the time of this

Read More
199 Words | 1 Pages

“Advertisement doesn't carry warning labels the way tobacco do” even tobacco ads gives a warning then why not the food companies? “And I’d say the industry is vulnerable. Fast-food companies are marketing

Read More
1463 Words | 6 Pages

When the FDA issued a report about the excessive amounts of salt found in the food at fast food restaurants, health officials took action. The FDA or the Food and Drug Administration, demanded fast food chains take steps to inform the consumer. When the consumer has a better idea of what they are eating they can make healthier choices. " As required by statute, FDA’s final rule for nutrition labeling in chain restaurants and similar retail food establishments will provide consumers with clear and consistent nutrition information in a direct and accessible manner for the foods they eat and buy for their families", (Food , 2015).

Read More
722 Words | 3 Pages

Around ⅕ of the advertisements directed at children are on the topic of food, while only around ⅛ of adult advertisements are about food (Source A). As such, the influence of marketing unhealthy foods and eating habits is much more extreme for children than their adult counterparts. This disparity in advertisement coupled with the fact that very young children are “unable to evaluate advertising claims” causes harm when the advertisements are not positive (Source C). Companies advertising junk food can then easily influence the choices children make in a negative way, “[distorting] their view of the world” (Source C). Clearly, negative advertising is a problem, but not one that isn’t solvable.

Read More
1540 Words | 7 Pages

I acknowledge that fast food industries should be regulated by the government, but ultimately, Americans should be

Read More
750 Words | 3 Pages

However, people’s action to sue fast food companies seems hardly sensible, because their foods are not poisoned, spoilt, or molded. Although their foods are far from healthy and their advertising tactics are extremely cunning, fast food restaurants are not the only one to blame for today’s rocketing rates of obesity-related health problems. It is entirely a person’s decision whether or not he or she chooses to eat fast foods. It is largely known that fast foods are junks for the body, yet people still buy them wanting a quick fix for their rumbling stomach. People can always avoid fast foods and make healthier options if they want to, and suing the fast food restaurants will not make them lose any weight or fat they have in their body.

Read More
5785 Words | 24 Pages

Concerns have been voiced that food advertisements are partly to blame for children being overweight and

Read More
434 Words | 2 Pages

While researching information on this project, the information I found included many things the fast food industry keeps from us that we often do even think about. For example, a food product can be labeled as “sugar free” but can be substituted with other things such as, agave which is often worse due to its high concentration in fructose syrup. Another example would be that, Gerber uses fruit pictures to claim its Gerber’s are made from real fruit when in reality they are filled with corn syrup, syrup and grape juice concentrate. These are known as “calorie distracters” and work really well on people who refuse to give up eating fast food. Whether they know that fast and processed foods are unhealthy or not, they are satisfied by knowing that a label says “sugar free” and therefore it is okay for them to consume it.

Read More
1528 Words | 7 Pages

In a 1988 act, cigarette companies were required to put warning labels on their products. This proves that putting warning labels on fast food is certainly possible, the same needs to be done to all fast-foods so that all customers will be aware of the hazards of fast-food. Fast food warning labels will make it more convenient to know about your food; it will benefit companies; and finally, it will help reduce obesity, obesity-related illnesses, and medical costs. In Conclusion, it’s time for warning labels to be put on fast food

Read More

More about Fast Food Chains: Obesity In Australia And New Zealand

Related Topics

Open Document