Childhood Obesity: the Responsibility of Parents
Childhood Obesity: The Responsibility of Parents Although obesity is a very sensitive topic, it is a pressing issue in modern culture, and it is something we cannot ignore. Who is responsible for the health of America? Is it parents, teachers, or is it the responsibility of fast food marketers to properly inform their audience? Often the blame is shifted to other people and to other influences like billboards and commercials, but rarely is the individual held responsible for their health. Lawsuits and legal action try to shift the blame onto fast food restaurants and school cafeterias. Most people feel better if they can blame their poor health on anything other than themselves. Evidence shows that one’s childhood years have a huge impact on the health of the rest of their life, and usually the parents of overweight children are the most eager to shift blame onto fast food, school lunches, or marketing aimed at their children. The reality is that parents are responsible for educating their children on a healthy lifestyle and for showing them how to make the right choices.
In his article Fast Food: Oppression Through Poor Nutrition, Andrea Freeman states that government support for fast food is to blame for America’s obesity problem. He also claims that we must recognize “food oppression as a form of institutionalized inequality that must be acknowledged, addressed, and eradicated” (Freeman 2224). Another source on this topic, The Role of Schools in Obesity Prevention by Mary Story, Karen M. Kaphingst, and Simone French, states that schools aren’t doing enough to educate their students about healthy eating and activity, and that schools could be making their lunches healthier without effecting their budget. Lastly, the article Children as Consumers: Advertising and Marketing, by Sandra L. Calvert, claims that children, particularly those under 8 years of age, are especially vulnerable to deceptive marketing because they lack the cognitive skills to
In his article Fast Food: Oppression Through Poor Nutrition, Andrea Freeman states that government support for fast food is to blame for America’s obesity problem. He also claims that we must recognize “food oppression as a form of institutionalized inequality that must be acknowledged, addressed, and eradicated” (Freeman 2224). Another source on this topic, The Role of Schools in Obesity Prevention by Mary Story, Karen M. Kaphingst, and Simone French, states that schools aren’t doing enough to educate their students about healthy eating and activity, and that schools could be making their lunches healthier without effecting their budget. Lastly, the article Children as Consumers: Advertising and Marketing, by Sandra L. Calvert, claims that children, particularly those under 8 years of age, are especially vulnerable to deceptive marketing because they lack the cognitive skills to
Cited: Calvert, Sandra L. “Children as Consumers: Advertising and Marketing” The Future of Children 18.1 (2008): 205-234. Web. Freeman, Andrea. “Fast Food: Oppression Through Poor Nutrition.” California Law Review 95.6 (2007): 2221-2259. Print. Story, Mary, Karen M. Kaphingst, and Simone French. “The Role of Schools in Obesity Prevention.” The Future of Children 16.1 (2006): 109-142. Print.