There are only two choices in this scenario: A fast-food cheeseburger and fries for $5 or a regular salad for $8.99. For most modern Americans, there is an obvious answer for which meal to choose when it comes to spending money. This is what influential marketing is all about. The reason for price differences are due to the cost of actual food production, but the preference for the fast-food combo is due to the glorification of junk food. If advertisements would provide nutritional facts about how fast-food affects an individual’s body, modern society would not be as willing to consume those types of meals as often as we do today. Unfortunately for America, that is not the case. Children, having not fully matured in general and not obtaining enough education on nutrition, are targets for companies that sell unhealthy food. Childhood obesity rates are skyrocketing through the roof, and to diminish this phenomenon, advertising needs to be regulated.

Obesity can be a tricky subject to measure due to the immense diversity among human appearance. According to the American Heart Association, the most useful tool for measuring obesity is Body Mass Index, which refers to weight in relevance to height. The BMI scale also considers age, gender, and a spectrum of other characteristics that are relevant to health. Millions of American children do not meet the requirement for a healthy Body Mass Index status. “Today, about one in three American kids and teens is overweight or obese (American Heart Association).” This means those millions of children are suffering from added on problems with their weight. The problem does not end at just obesity. Obesity leads the way to many health problems, both short-term and long-term; both mental and physical. Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are abundant among the modern population due to this obesity problem. In addition to diabetes, correlations with obesity apply to depression, cardiovascular diseases, strokes, and even shorter-life expectancy (American Heart Association). 

Every problem has a source, or multiple sources, that causes the original problem. With the childhood obesity epidemic, the main source is the strategy of junk food being marketed to children and adolescents. Many modern advertisements are glorifying junk food to make unhealthy eating seem like the better choice as compared to healthy foods. Unhealthy foods are defined as meals that do not meet the healthy criteria for nutrition. These types of meals are made more accessible and are advertised as cheap alternatives, therefore pushing for unhealthy eating. Children and adolescents that watch television are shown to have reduced time for physical activities as well as reduced consumption of fruits and vegetables (Pediatrics). Television is a leisure activity that is often spent up to several hours, usually while sitting. Some arguments have claimed that television is not the cause for rising rates in obesity, but that it is the unhealthy bunch of children and adolescents that spend more time watching television or spending a great amount of their day on social media. Although this theory could be true in some cases, overall, Pediatrics’ claims that studies show “increasing physical activity, decreasing media time, and improving nutritional practices have been shown to prevent the onset of obesity, if not decrease existing obesity as well.”

Millions, if not billions, of dollars are poured into advertisements that American society sees on a daily basis. This also means that marketing teams are putting a lot of effort into exposing children to junk food as much as possible. Consider this question: How many unhealthy fast-food restaurants can be counted off the top of one’s head as compared to healthy dining places? Fast-food restaurants have wormed their way into modern American culture over the past several decades, and not in a safe way. According to Statista, there had been 14,146 McDonald’s in the United States by 2016. Providing more opportunities for children and adolescents to stuff their bodies full of empty calories is creating a danger for future generations. Childhood obesity is merely a chance to pile health risks on an individual. Not only does being overweight cause physical impairment, but according to Neighmond, children who are obese face much more discrimination and bullying than kids who are not obese. She also concluded that “discrimination against overweight individuals has increased 66 percent over the past decade despite the fact that more adults are becoming overweight.” With regulating how much exposure children have to the marketing world, as well as junk food advertisements being limited, these types of rates can be heavily reduced. Depression rates are already high enough as it is, and with obesity on the rise, problems are only doubling. An obese America can lead to a mentally America. 

Although studies have been conducted to show evidence of the influence of marketing on this current epidemic, other arguments claim that there are other sources that are major causes of childhood obesity. Julia Hartley-Brewer, and English broadcaster, introduces the idea that parents are the number one cause for obesity in children. She states that parents of overweight children are “selfish and lazy” and that they are “100 percent to blame for what goes into their mouths.” Sure, parents and guardians have a responsibility to make sure their children eat well, but claiming that they control “100 percent” of what goes in their child’s mouth is naïve. Other institutions factor into the diet and lifestyle of every child and adolescent. For example, school lunches and vending machines. Schools are also institutions that obtain sponsors for a variety of events. Companies, many of which have to do with food, have the opportunity to sell themselves to children at school. This includes advertisements seen during class time, sporting events, or miscellaneous events that schools will put on. Sporting events are especially prominent in showing advertisements due to the impact of sponsors. In America, athletics are a big deal in the education system and in general. Sponsorship has good intentions, being a way for the school to obtain the finances needed to put on activities, but has hidden negative effects. Growing up with the desire for junk food over nutritious food is implemented through influential environmental factors, and that desire follows individuals into adulthood. Childhood desire for sweets and other unhealthy snacks is a major reason that adult obesity rates continue to rise even more, despite adults being more mature and understanding of the detrimental effects of unhealthy dieting. Almost every common institution that a child or adolescent takes part in circles back to the influential culture of junk-food. 

The childhood obesity epidemic has formerly been proclaimed as a total myth. Paul Campos, a law professor, detest government agencies for showing unrealistic statistics of rising obesity rates in modern society. Childhood obesity, according to Campos, only has an imaginary definition. As stated earlier, obesity is a tricky subject to measure, but not improbable. Obesity can be estimated through observation and measured through Body Mass Index, commonly called BMI. The problem with Campos’ point of view is that he takes no regard for the countless research done by scientific and health science authorities that provide sound statistics that agree on the widespread epidemic of childhood obesity. A study done in 2011 shows that “the market is failing children” (The Lancet). Scientists concluded that children are a targeted group, due to their naïve nature and immaturity that results in more unhealthy eating. Advertising and marketing should have limits on what they are allowed to portray in order to keep the vulnerable youth from succumbing to the childhood obesity epidemic. Although some may argue that widespread obesity in children and adolescents seems unrealistic, scientific studies prove otherwise.

Unhealthy marketing and childhood obesity is an ongoing war that can be prevented. The culture of junk food glorification is threatening for the future of America. Obesity is not only a problem in itself, but also adds on risks beyond obesity that can lead to an assortment of health problems. Without change, obesity rates will continue to rise and cause problems within American society. The marketing and advertising business is monopolizing the culture of America in a way that pushes for an unhealthy population. With regulation and limitations on advertising, as well as more education on nutrition for children, the obesity rates can be reduced. 
