Persuasive Essay About Childhood Obesity

Thesis

Childhood obesity is one of the serious public health problems. Even though childhood obesity rates are at high record, companies are still marketing junk foods for children to gain a large profit. United States, Australia and South Korea are suffering from Children’s exposure to junk food marketing. If this matter gets worse, it will lead to serious consequences in future. So, effective solutions are needed to prevent the junk food marketing problems.

Global Perspective Childhood obesity is severe problem in United States. Over the last decade, 17%, of children and teenagers in US, which is 12.7 million, were obese ("Childhood Obesity Facts”, n.p.). The main cause of childhood obesity is consuming junk foods that contribute kids to unhealthy weight gain. According to a study published in “Pediatrics”, children who consume junk foods are well

In Australia, food companies promote their brands and products to children by using internet ("Position Statement - Food Marketing to Children.", n.p.). It is very effective way to advertise because 74% of children in Australia spent 1 hour and 17 minutes per day on the internet activities (Rhonda, n.p.). According to National Cancer Control Policy, “Analysis of food company websites popular with Australian children shows that 79% of websites used 'advercation', where information about the company or its foods is presented as educational material, and 28% used 'advergames', where branded products and characters are embedded in interactive computer games.” For advergames, children who are in high spirits while playing games may also get a good feeling about that brand. It leads them to choose an unhealthy junk food that was once advertised in the games ("Position Statement - Food Marketing to Children."