Argument Essay

Fast Food

            The fast food industry is targeting young children.  They are spending millions of dollars advertising to children. They are using flashy ads, and popular toys to reel children in.  With little regard to the health risk that is associated with a diet high in fast food.

            The fast food industry has discovered that young children have buying power.  Armed with that information the fast food industry has directed their advertising towards children.  They place ads where they know young children will see them.  The fast food industry spends millions of dollars on television ads.  These ads run during prime viewing times for children.  They also make sure their products are strategically placed where children will see them.  The fast food industry spends millions on product placement.  They are making sure that they children see their favorite actors or sports figure endorsing their product.  (NCBI)

            Another way the fast food industry is targeting young children is by having that cute little toy in the box.  They put that cute little toy in the box to encourage brand loyalty.  It is not a coincidence that the week the new Toy Story movie comes out you can find Buzz and Woody in the kid’s meal box.  The fast food industry has learned to get the children when they are young.  “Research has shown that brand loyalty begins in children as young as two years old”(mediaawareness).  They know if they can hook a child at two years old that will result in a customer for life. 

            A diet high in fats food can lead to many health risks.  Fast food does not provide the essential vitamins and minerals a body needs to develop.  Children’s bones and muscles are in an important stage of growth, and having a diet high in fast foods will have a negative effect on their growth and development.  (livestrong)

            An extremely important fact to point out is childhood obesity is directly linked to consuming too much fast food.  One cheeseburger has about 500 calories, and then add an order of french fries that has about another 500 calories.  An active five year old child should consume around 1600 calories per day, so that 1000 calories worth of burgers and fries is more than half the calories they should have in a day.  (NCBI)

            Obesity increases the odds of being inflicted with other health problems.  There is a direct link between diabetes and obesity.  The more you weigh the greater your risk of type 2 diabetes.  Obesity also puts you at greater risk of developing certain kinds of cancer.  The odds of developing heart disease, asthma, and depression also increase with every extra pound.  To compound the situation the more obese you are the less active you become making it that much harder to burn off the extra empty calories you consumed. (livestrong)

            The fast food industry has tried to make some small improvements in their menu selection.  Now with the kid’s meal you have a choice of milk and apples instead of soda and fries.  Are those changes enough for the fast food industry to get away with?  Should the industry be held to a higher standard? 

Children depend on their parents to guide them, and look out for them.  Children aren’t able to make an informed decision about what this food is doing to their bodies.  They only know that they like the food and they want the toy that comes with it.

Parents want their children to grow up happy and healthy.  With that being said if you knew there was a way to keep your children healthier why wouldn’t you do it?  I’m not saying to never let your children eat fast food again.  Fast food just like everything else is fine in moderation. 

I feel that the parents should always have the right to choose what is best for their child. I don’t think that the government should be making laws in regards to the fast food industry.  For example California banded toys in kid’s meals. I do feel the fast food industry should be making an effort to improve the quality of the food they are offering.  I also feel the industry should limit how they market to children.

Works Cited

“Food Advertising and Marketing Directed at Children.” NCBI. 10 Feb 2004. Web. 10 May 2012.

“Health Risks Involved When Eating Fast Food.” Livestrong. Web. 15 May 2012.

 “Home Cooking.” USA Today. Web. 02 May 2012.

Kail, Robert. “Children and Their Development.” Boston: Pearson Education Inc.(2012): 120-27.  Print.

McNeal, James. “The Kids Market.” 1999. Web. 05 May 2012.