should advertisement of junk food be banned

754 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Literature review of effects of junk food in 2018

This report aims to outline the issue of banning advertisement of junk food in Australia by providing background information to the debate and explaining its social significance. Additionally, the report will identify the participants involved, and include the viewpoints of different participants relating to the debate.

2. The Issue and Background to the Debate
A joint report by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO) summarized that heavy marketing of junk food as well as fast food has caused childhood obesity. National Preventative Health Taskforce attempted to restrict advertising and labeling of junk food. This was done by releasing the national Health Strategy Roadmap for action in June 2009 (Glasson 2010). However, even after the introduction of the Australian Food and Grocery Council’s (AFGC) self-regulatory initiative, the amount of junk food advertisement seen by the children on television remain unchanged after the blueprint was implemented (Donahoo, Stone, Maxwell, Hosking 2013)

3. The Social Significance of the Issue
Recently, Australia has come out top 4 in the OECD’s ranking of advanced nations with the largest-scale of obese citizens (28.3%), trailing after US, Mexico and New Zealand (Beck 2014). Experts believe that child-directed advertising is fuelling the obesity epidemic, with a quarter of all Australian children being either overweight or obese, and most of them will remain so as adults (Glasson 2010). Without intervention, this problem will continue to grow along with¬ the health budget. (Doggett 2012). As such, marketers stand to benefit but the nation’s health may be jeopardised.
4. The Participants
Obesity Policy Coalition, which includes Cancer Council NSW, ...

... middle of paper ...

... and “superficially conveys the impression that the government is doing something”, given that eating habits is one’s own responsibility (Christopher 2012). The Federal Government agreed “further regulation were unnecessary” as junk food advertising is a legal way to publicise the company’s product as long as it follows the FCC guidelines (The Australian 2011).
6. Conclusion
The debate of whether Australia should ban junk food advertisement has given rise to several opinions. Given the increasing pressure from public health advocates, efforts to implement increase regulatory tactics is unavoidable. Hence, by weighing the viewpoints of those for and against the issue, the government should determine whether junk food advertisement ban will provide a better environment for the children, or should the people have a freedom of choice and be responsible for themselves.

Show More
Related

  • Analyzing the Film Food Inc and the Propaganda Message for Positive Change

    1448 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...f television advertisements for junk food versus nutritious food on children's food attitudes and preferences. Social science & medicine, 65, (7), pp. 1311-1323.

    Read More

  • If You Pitch It They Will Eat Summary

    635 Words  | 2 Pages

    We must do something about fast food products, to stop from affecting children and leading them to obesity. Is what reflect David Barboza’s article “If You Pitch It, They Will Eat.” School’s, Parent’s, Policy Makers, etc… Should take the lead in this action, by reducing many unhealthy food products from school’s, store’s, and place’s close to home. There should be limit’s that stop’s food companies from promoting themselves as appealing when in reality their food products are a hazard to our bodies. As Barboza states in his article “There is a need to set specific standards on what is marketed to children…” we are in agreement that, what ever kids see on T.V. or being marketed, they want it!

    Read More

  • Radley Balko What You Eat Is Your Business Summary

    939 Words  | 2 Pages

    I think that government’s only role in the matter is to provide people with the information they need to make their health decisions. Although Balko is against federal funding for food labels, I think that it is necessary for people to know exactly what they are eating, such as how many calories, fat, protein, etc. Once people are aware of what are good and bad, the rest is up to the consumer. There is no need for prohibiting junk food because the individual knows what their actions will result in, and what someone choses to eat is no one else’s

    Read More

  • Killer at Large: Childhood Obesity in America

    1356 Words  | 3 Pages

    In the documentary Killer at Large, former Surgeon General Richard Carmona remarked that “Obesity is a terror within. It’s destroying our society from within and unless we do something about it, the magnitude of the dilemma will dwarf 9/11 or any other terrorist event that you can point out…” Carmona is indeed right, with the rapid increase of obese children, America is on the fast track to producing a generation with a life expectancy shorter than their peers. One of the main factor is the media representation of obesity (Greenstreet 2008). In today’s society parents are not only worrying about televisions influence on their kid’s behavior but their weight and health, too. According to study conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation, that researched the role of media in childhood obesity, stated the obesity increased by 2% for every hours of television in adolescent’s ages 12 to 17. The advertisement of food and beverages present a very strong influence on the children. Most of the products being advert...

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Fast Food: Oppression Through Poor Nutrition

    715 Words  | 2 Pages

    Obesity in the United States, which the media has labeled a national crisis, has also been connected to poverty rates. Big fast food industry’s target poor communities, and spend millions of dollars each year to create advertising that appeals to these specific areas. These industry’s also target naïve children when advertising because they know that eating habits developed in childhood are usually carried into adulthood. Children who are exposed to television advertisements for unhealthy food and who are not educated well enough on good nutrition will grow up and feed their families the same unhealthy foods they ate as kids. A big way fast food giants are able to make certain young people have access to unhealthy food is by strategically placing franchises in close proximity to schools. They will often place three times as many outlets within walking distance of schools than in areas where there are no schools nearby. The way fast food advertising is targeted towards children is very alarming considering how important good nutrition is for young people and how a child’s eating habits can affect their growth and

    Read More

  • Childhood Obesity Among African American Girls

    2106 Words  | 5 Pages

    Veerman, J. L., Van Beeck, E. F., Banerndregt, J. J., & Mackenbach, J. P. (2009). By how much would limiting TV food advertising reduce childhood obesity? European Journal of Public Health,, 19(4), 365-369. doi: Retrieved from

    Read More

  • Advertising and Obesity in America

    2870 Words  | 6 Pages

    ...ance, there needs to be organizations that limit food advertising; just as was done with cigarettes. Even though it is evident that fast-food companies are winning the marketing battle, their success depends solely on their returning customers. Should people stop eating the tempting fast food, and start making time in their day for exercise, not only would fast food companies suffer greatly, but we might have a chance to veer away from our heavy fates. Most importantly, media productions that educate people on the truths of the fast food industry should continue to focus on the risks and consequences of obesity, particularly on groups most susceptible to targeting from fast-food companies? marketing campaigns: minorities and children. With increased education and a pro-active stance on regular exercise, people can start to reverse the trend of obesity in America.

    Read More

  • Marketing Towards Children

    1057 Words  | 3 Pages

    Any agency that uses children for marketing schemes spends hundreds of billions of dollars each year worldwide persuading and manipulating consumer’s lifestyles that lead to overindulgence and squandering. Three articles uncover a social problem that advertising companies need to report about. In his research piece “Kid Kustomers” Eric Schlosser considers the reasons for the number of parents that allow their children to consume harmful foods such as ‘McDonalds’. McDonalds is food that is meant to be fast and not meant to be a regular diet. Advertising exploits children’s needs for the wealth of their enterprise, creating false solutions, covering facts about their food and deceiving children’s insecurities.

    Read More

  • Essay On Fast Food Nation

    830 Words  | 2 Pages

    (2012). Fast Food Advertising is linked to Rising Childhood and Teen Obesity. Opposing Viewpoints in Context. Retrieved: April 24, 2014 from http://ic.galegroup.com.ezproxy1.lib.asu.edu/ic/ovic/ViewpointsDetailsPage/ViewpointsDetailsWindow?failOverType=&query=&prodId=OVIC&windowstate=normal&contentModules=&mode=view&displayGroupName=Viewpoints&limiter=&u=asuniv&currPage=&disableHighlighting=true&displayGroups=&sortBy=&source=&search_within_results=&p=OVIC&action=e&catId=&activityType=&scanId=&documentId=GALE%...

    Read More

  • Childhood Obesity: Fast Food Companies Are To Blame

    904 Words  | 2 Pages

    According to “Burger Battles” from the Weekly Reader, obesity is defined as a person whose weight is 20 percent higher than recommended for their height (Burger Battles 1). When this condition begins to affect children lives, it is then known as childhood obesity. Within the United States of America, around 15 percent of children are considered to be obese (Holguin 3). Increasing tremendously, this outbreak has actually tripled in the amount of obese teen and doubled in children up to the age of thirteen (Burger Battles 2). One of the factors that is usually overlooked in the cause for obesity is the role of television. Not only does it reduce the amount of physical activity, the advertisements and commercials are targeting innocent viewers. In a survey completed by Gary Ruskin of Commercial Alert, the average child watches nearly 19 hours and 40 minutes of television a week (Ruskin 2). With that amount of time spent watching television, advertisements for fast food will be entering the children’s minds.

    Read More

  • Junk Food

    1307 Words  | 3 Pages

    Throughout the United States, concern of rising health issues is a popular topic. Over a progression of many years, American fast food chains and junk food companies have risen as a common means for food replacing homemade family meals. This quick and easy habit of buying cheaply made and sold foods that lack real nutritional value has been reason for increasing health issues. This habit is seen in children just the same as adults. Children eat the quickest meal with the most sugar and fat (among other unhealthy ingredients). This habit needs to be broken to take better care of the children today. Children are eating snack cakes and other junk foods at school instead of the breakfast/lunch that is offered causing bad habits and a poor diet. The children of America are suffering from the effects of malnutrition and yet, society does not help them to better understand or give higher grade options for them to choose from. Therefore, junk food should not be allowed in schools as it imposes health risks on children, lacks requirements for the nutrition contained in them, and without offering them, children would learn many morals/lessons.

    Read More

  • Advertising and its Effect on Childhood Obesity

    1245 Words  | 3 Pages

    Termini, Roseann B., Thomas A. Roberto, and Shelby G. Hostetter. "Food Advertising and Childhood Obesity: A Call to Action for Proactive Solutions." ERIC. N.p., 2012. Web. 22 Apr. 2014.

    Read More

  • Why Junk Food Ads Should Not Be Banned

    515 Words  | 2 Pages

    It is the parent’s choice if they want to but the product. “There are no true legal grounds to support it, and honestly, everyone has a right to choose. Eating junk food is a life choice and should not be ashamed. It’s also a double edged sword to put forth a ban on ads and could hurt the industry.”(Should junk food) There is no good reason to ban junk food and fast food ads. “Junk food ads should not be banned during children’s programming because it’s the parents who should regulate what their kids eat or watch, not the companies.”(Should junk food) It is also not the company’s responsibility to keep the kids healthy but it i...

    Read More

  • Fast Food and Childhood Obesity

    682 Words  | 2 Pages

    It is said that fast food advertising is linked to rising childhood and teen obesity. The childhood obesity epidemic is a serious public health problem that increases morbidity, morality, and has substantial long-term economic and social costs (opposing viewpoints). Approximately 20% of our youth are now overweight with obesity rates in preschool age children increasing at alarming speed (opposing viewpoints). U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona said, “obesity is the fastest-growing cause of illness and death in the United States.” When I read this I was shocked. This is something that can change, but its up to ourselves to make that commitment. No one else has the power to do so but us. Did you know that treating obesity-related problems cost Americans $117 billion annually, that’s $420 per person (CQ Researcher).

    Read More

  • Advertising to Children Must Be Banned

    968 Words  | 2 Pages

    As a little girl I loved watching television shows on Saturday mornings. I’d get upset when a show would proceed to commercial. That is until I watched the shiny new toy being played with by the girl my age and of course the cool new one that came into the happy meal, then I’d forget. After seeing the appealing commercial I’d run to my mom and try to slickly mention it. “You know McDonalds has a new Monster’s Inc. toy in their happy meal. Isn’t that great? “Now I realize that back then I was targeted by big companies to beg my parents for things that I didn’t need or that wasn’t good for me in order to make money. Advertising today is affecting the health of today’s children because they eat the unhealthy foods advertised to them on: television, the internet, and even at school. Therefore, an impassioned discussion of possible solutions has been brewing.

    Read More

More about should advertisement of junk food be banned

Open Document