Impact of Fast Food on Children

The fast food industry is targeting young children. They are spending millions of dollars advertising and using flashy ads, and popular toys to reel them in. Companies are going along with their businesses with little regard to the health risk that is associated with a diet high in fast food. In a society filled with corporations aiming to kids as their prime future consumers, parents should guide them away from that way of life and that type of diet.

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