Saturday 2 May 2009

Rapid economy development enforced people to have busy lives in all around the world. As a result, people became to prefer simple and easy life-style in various ways especially with their meals. Since then, there have been dramatic increase number of fast food industries and these the idea of "fast-foods" attract people in many ways because they are convenient. Despite the advantages of fast-food, they cause serious effect on our health. In some countries, obesity is already a major issue in society so in order to reduce obesity epidemic, governments and several health organisations works hard onto it. Recently, this obesity is not the issue just for adults, it also became one of the serious concerns for children as well.

According to Centres for Disease Control (CDC) in West Virginia, a quarter of the state’s children are obese, and the sum of obese rates (both adults and children), its nearly 35% of population. Those 35% of population are suffering from obesity and high blood pressure disease. Also, based on CDC's research, obesity epidemic is rising throughout the world and now it affects at least 300 million people in America (
UK guardian news). Increased in obesity is based on their meals. In West Virginia, people prefer to eat fast-foods because they are fast and convenient, so most of them tend to have fast-food everyday without any physical exercise. Nowadays, researcher found the fact that in America, there are three most obese states where obesity rate highly increased. These states are Alabama, Mississippi and West Virginia (UK guardian news). CDC also found that there is a strong link between obesity and poverty; in fact, these three states are poorest states in America. Indeed, wealthy states such as New York or Washington, people are care about their health and they prefer to eat healthy food rather than fast-food. As they try to find healthy foods, obviously it cost much more than buying fast-foods even if it’s just same for a one meal in a day. This fact supports the result of CDC investigation through as people get a higher income; they spend more on luxurious foods and goods.

This issue is raised not only in America. In many Europe countries, the obesity also became red alert throughout the nations. Generally, people are well known that in Greece, Italy or Spain, they eat such a healthy food and have well organized diet and lifestyle. Actually, they were Mediterranean; which means eat low animal fat food and eat high in fruit, vegetables or olive oils. They shows low obesity rate and remains healthy life-style for past years. However, recently their healthy diet habit got broken due to fast-foods. In Europe, obesity epidemic increased and this is evidenced by UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation called FAO by investigated figure in Greece (NZ herald news).

As fast-food industry developed rapidly, it does not only affect on adult. As I mentioned, it also cause damage to children as their tastes get used to fast-food rather than health meals. Due to this, Debra Shipley who works in a labour MP said that “fast-food industry advertises of high fat, high sugar and high salt content food and drink during pre-school children’s television”(UK guardian news). She strongly disagree with fast-food chains advertisement in school as she think young children have no understanding of the nature of advertising which object is just for a marketing and profit. Young children get addicted to the fast foods as they look delicious and this cause serious obesity issue for young. For example, in McDonald, in past, they offered a 10cent discount for petrol when customer purchases foods. They attracts customer’s attention by promoting discount voucher and for the consequences, people purchase more fast-foods than they normally bought (NZ herald news). This is an example for real advertisement strategy in cooperation’s point of view, which only concerned in profit making rather than considering customers.
Many health organisations and government now suggest various solutions to decrease obesity. Peter Wilson, senior director of Kraft foods made the challenge such as rid the recipe of trans-fat acids when manufacturing products. Also, a food and drug administration (FDA) introduced the rule that all packaged food require to attach nutrition labels. They made this regulation to avoid use of trans-fat oils, so national could reduce intake of trans-fats (US Times). In addition, Angela Sarkis, National secretary of YMCA England, she suggested that we must work with parents and teachers to create a culture of health awareness in schools and homes. Steven Walker, Anglia Ruskin University’s programmer leader said “The government must do more to extend and improve the accessibility of child and adolescent mental health services as a vital part of the response to the obesity crisis”(UK guardian news).
In conclusion, as people tend to live simple life, they are getting less concentrate on importance of health then in the past. Obviously, there are some benefits of unhealthy foods; they are fast, convenience and tasty. However in meanwhile it also could be a poison for us. Now, obesity epidemic is global warning issue and in many countries, also it affects to children seriously. There are many suggestions to reduce obesity issue and I believe we should try to think about it at least once before go to purchase McDonald’s The Boss burger combo!?!

6 comments:

  1. The obesity epidemic you have discussed is a vital issue and should be dealt with properly.

    I consider that the youngsters tend to consume more junk food than the elders. During the exam period, they would prefer consuming the fast and easy-to-get food than doing their own cooking. Apart from that, there are many advertisements of fast food restaurants on TV lately. As the loyal viewers of TV, children tend to eat unhealthy food more often than not under the influence of the advertisements. In order to tackle the healthy problems triggered by the obesity, parents should force their children to do some physical exercises in a day for at least fifteen minutes.

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  2. Your article is so true.I have even found myself getting sucked into the fast food black hole of consumtion over the last few years.
    i think the government of new zealand is doing a reasonable job to try to combat obesity in New Zealand.However i think when it comes to child obesity it all comes down to how responsable the parents are. I often see over weight parents with over weight children by their side.
    I think eventually the Health system wont be able to soak up all the obesity cases that require medical attention.
    Private isurance companies may even screen overweight people soon ,perhaps they already do?.
    I myself have found that healthier food is cheaper .
    Its all about bieng responsible for yourself.
    But we will most probably have to see some more goverment legistation to battle this growing problem.
    It may take some time when you consider all the big companies who have alot to loose if we all get to a healthy weight.
    Fast food chains ,drug companies have alot to loose.
    Your article focuses on a very interesting topic and i think it will concern everybody eventually when all our taxes are raised to cover the healthcare of the growing obese population.
    Great article.

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  3. I apologize but the person in the photo you have attached to your discussion is really horrible… I wonder how could people tolerate their obesity. By the way my own self is too skinny too but at least I think it is a little better than those people who have ended up with serious diseases. Myself, the reason why I am obese I know it is not only because of heredity. Also, I usually pick out the food that I do not like…though I can eat a lot if I like the food especially sweets. I have never think about the first reason you have listed. I have never thought that busy could be one of the “good reasons” why the American’s obesity rate is that high. Children might think the government is cruel for not allowing fast food chain operating too near the school, but I think this should be a good idea since now the children will have time to do some running! However adults still a problem…

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  4. Yes,,, The problem is that, due to the very hectic schedules of people at present, people tend to choose speed and convenience over nutrition and safe. The unhealth content of fast food increase the risk of people to certain disease and conditions such as diabetes.This disease is actually an indirect effect of obesity.Since i came to New Zealand, i have prefered to eat fast food cause i am being lazy and busy to study,,and in here, fast food restaurants are anywhere..
    I think, the increasing child obsity is the government and parents responsibility, greater attention is needed form them to prevent child obsity..

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  5. I can see that you have done a lot of research on this topic. The information is based on several texts and you also put the links for the reference in the sentence. It is a reliable text and also it is easier to read.

    In addition, it would be better if you put more pictures in your text to make it more interesting. Also when you talk about the numbers and parcentages, it will be easier to read if you add some graphs between the sentences.

    Overall, I think your text is very persuasive and well done.

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  6. i really enjoyed reading your blog.
    i have seen the movie and it was a real shock!
    Fast food has become such a big part of daily life because it is so conveniant and well fast. I think there should more more healthy options out there so if you are having a busy day you dont have to resort to fast food. I thik it so discusting that parents are letting there kids eat so much fast food and really should open there eyes to the fact that they are damaging there kids bodys!

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