Download Childhood Obesity: Factors, Impact, and Solutions and more Study notes Communication in PDF only on Docsity! AGCJ 404: Communicating Agricultural Information to the Public Fact Sheet Assignment Fall Semester 2007 Additional information about this Fact Sheet may be obtained from: Brittney Dawn Feltmann Felt2@neo.tamu.edu or (979) xxx-xxx Source: http://clipart.disneysites.com/imgFullSize2.php?linkID =687 Childhood Obesity: Who’s to Blame? How serious has childhood obesity become? Childhood obesity is a serious health issue our nation is facing. It has more than doubled in the past three decades among children ages 6 to 11 and more than tripled among 12 to 19 year olds. What factors affect childhood obesity? • Genetic • Physiological • Psychological • Metabolic • Environmental How is marketing a factor in childhood obesity? Many companies target young children in their marketing tactics. Children have a significant influence on what is bought in a household. Companies have found that sticking cartoons, movie characters, and athletes on the covers of their products attracts kids. In turn, the child begs their parents to buy the item. This puts the parent in a compromising situation and makes it difficult for them to tell the child no. What is being done to combat marketing tactics? Companies like Kellogg’s and Viacom have been sued for promoting junk food to children. In response to the recent lawsuits, the companies are taking action by fortifying their “junk foods” with whole grains and adding real fruit. Source: http://www2.kelloggs.com/ What is a parent’s role in fighting childhood obesity? Parents who are actively involved in their child’s life can make sure their child maintains a healthy weight through diet and exercise. Studies show too much television and computer time is a huge factor in childhood obesity. Parents should limit the amount of time children can watch TV or play on the computer. Breastfeeding was also found to contribute to a child’s risk of obesity. If a child was breastfed the risk decreases, while children who were fed formula had a higher risk of obesity. Food should also only be used for nourishment and not for a reward. When food is used as a reward, it can confuse the child when it is hungry.
