Death of a Generation
Today the media controls and shapes the minds of Americans, especially children. Fast Food restaurants and commercials for ice cream, cookies and candy are constantly on the TV, radio and in magazines. It is no wonder that children have become so addicted to these unhealthy foods. Americans fast paced lifestyle often results in unhealthy meals and snack foods. It is much easier to drive through a McDonalds than to spend the time walking through the grocery store. These short cuts however are having serious and sometimes deathly consequences on our young generation. Obesity is quickly becoming the most widespread health concern in the United States. Children are susceptible to all types of influence from society. This includes the media, family members and the education system. Parents and society as a whole need to take a closer look at what children are eating. If people do not take the time to make children a fresh healthy meal or snack and teach them healthy eating habits obesity is going to be the death of a generation. Solutions to childhood obesity do not come quickly, but if people worked together to limit the media’s influence, set a positive example within families and improved school lunches it could make all the difference.
A majority of blame for childhood obesity can certainly be placed on the media that influences children. Fast food companies use marketing directed specifically at children to entice their fatty and unhealthy food. McDonalds created the Happy Meal and now kids meals come with a small toy. Commercials for fast food companies depict happy little boys and girls getting ‘delicious’ hamburgers and chicken nuggets from a happy clown or giant talking burger. The industry knows exactly how to market and to get children to beg their parents to go through the drive through at the first sight of a fast food location. In 2004 fast food companies spent an estimated $10 billion dollars marketing food, drinks, and meals...