Childhood Obesity: A Demographic Study

The main purpose of this study is to inform the readers of how these companies try to persuade not only adults but as well as young children to eat at their restaurants. It is a hidden epidemic that influences any type of people poor or rich to get them at their industries. The increase of the growth of many of these retailers have the same connection of the problems that they are causing. My purpose is to basically keep you aware of the actions and methods that they are using to keep you in arm’s length away.

There is something that many fast food companies are doing to each of one of us, it’s a serious matter that effects our health. In 2014, these companies have spent more than $4.6 billion in total of advertisements to influence
all of society to eat at their restaurants. These billion dollar industries are aiming their propaganda right at the teenagers and children. My goal is to inform you on how these fast food restaurants manipulate their marketing techniques to influence the rest of society, how these companies target those in the poverty line. Most importantly the negative effect that these foods have on your physical appearance as well as your mental stability. Obesity remains alarmingly high in the United States, with most of the epidemic increasing in the poverty line. According to Baker et. al., recent findings indicate that rates of obesity are higher among some racial and ethnic minority groups as well as among lower income groups. For example, thirty-eight percent of African Americans are obese, compared with twenty-seven percent of Hispanics and twenty-one percent of the entire U.S. population. Several studies have been explored the data of how environmental influences between the fast food locations and the intake of various foods. A worldwide map shows low-income families and as well the obesity epidemic has a correlation with one another. These techniques that these food industries use towards those in poverty are very successful. According this article “Poverty and Obesity: Breaking the Link” states that the lack of these low-income families lack the right sources to get the necessary vitamins for their body that they need in to ingest in their everyday lives. Unlike the groups higher in the socioeconomic status the population are more likely to eat less junk food, due to their easy accessibility to much more healthier food. Food industries target these populations lower in the socioeconomic status because they know that these populations have more accessibility to these fast food companies than healthier foods. One study revealed that one-third of adults who earned less than $15,000 annually were obese, than twenty-five percent who earn more than fifty thousand dollars a year. Center for Disease of Control has recorded the obesity ratings that are distributed across the United States of time lapse maps in the U.S. This chart shows how low income families are struggling with obesity especially in the South. This report suggested that fast food restaurants are located between six to two miles away from home, depending where you live as soon as you step outside of your home, these companies have a chance to increase your chances of picking unhealthy food rather than healthy food. The companies often place their stores in predominantly black neighborhoods, with about 2.4 fast food restaurants per square miles compared to 1.5 restaurants in the white neighborhoods.
This is a problem since its true that healthier food is costlier than the unhealthy food. It is much difficult to find supermarkets with fresh foods available, instead these fast food companies hit these areas due to the fact they know they are likely to attract more people. This exposure leads to an increase an unhealthy habit, as well give these retailers a chance to expand their work through the city or even nationwide! University of North Carolina’s Gilling’s School of Global Public Health, found that among 21 different studies that analyzed the relationship between fast food restaurant locations and socioeconomic factors, seventy-six percent of them determined that fast food restaurants were predominantly placed in low-income neighborhoods. They also found ten through twelve studies that analyzed fast food locations and race determined that fast food restaurants were more prevalent in neighborhoods with larger populations of minority residents.
This either indicates that fast food corporations are targeting low income minorities, or perhaps it is a
coincidence. This problem only gets worse when the supply is cheaper, for an example going to Mc Donald’s, a salad is around $4.99 while a burger and French fries is equal or even less. I have even witnessed these acts like “buy one get one free” or “buy the bigger size, you get the combo.” These at times have changed my mind of what I should eat instead. In 1938 CEO of Taco Bell wanted more customers, at that time met Elliott Bloom, who was good with marketing. So, they lowered their prices, and it worked almost immediately. By the late ‘80s almost all fast food places started cutting prices to bring more profit in. One third of adults are obese, comparing this to the youth it’s much higher with about seventeen as their percentage between the year of 2009 and 2010.
A report done by () found a strong correlation between an increase of advertisements and the increase of the obesity rate in the younger generation. The power of the media has a significant impact on the society particularly on the youth. These fast food companies use different types of tactics including toys, other kids, music and cartoons to manipulate and influence the children’s decision and even thoughts. Mc Donald’s an infamous top fast food seller had roughly ninety-nine ads through 2009 and 2010, and about out of that percentage two-thirds of all ads were aimed for children. Television in this generation is easy accessible, you can watch using internet, basic cable and even going out with your friends. Children especially have a greater chance, they are more likely to watch
television