Advertisement influences the food style
Answers
- The popularity of fast food has been due to the rampant advertising by chains like McDonald's, Burger King, etc.
- Branding of these food items also encourages one to go here. Advertising has an important role to play in branding.
- Advertisements also makes one aware of one's options. With international cuisines opening up near us, coupled with the advertising, makes one curious to try these, thus influencing our eating habits.
- Advertisements by apps like Zomato and Swiggy, gives one a different sort of comfort of eating outside food at home. This is again a change in the food habit.
Advertising influence our food choices
Undoubtedly, advertising influences our food habits quite predominately. Robert Atkins, the famous American physician and cardiologist said, “Everyone would be healthier if they didn't eat junk food.” The tsunami of junk food has struck the entire world. It has wreaked havoc on the health of people, especially of children. Health issues such as obesity, diabetes, heart diseases, cholesterol imbalance, headaches, depression, dental problems, etc, never ever as high before the advent of junk foods as they do now.
Now the question arises, how have they become so popular? Well, we must thank the media for this favour to mankind. Junk food advertising and marketing have done the miracle! Children are constantly bombarded with junk food marketing, both through traditional forms of advertising such as television and billboards, along with new techniques such as internet, sponsorship and in-store promotion.
Food advertising and marketing, which is almost always for unhealthy products, plays an important role in encouraging unhealthy eating habits in children, which are likely to continue into adulthood. According to a report by Compass, 70% of three year olds recognise the McDonalds symbol but only half of them know their own surname. In addition, some advertisers take advantage of children's fears, for example by implying that they will be more popular, sporty or happier if they consume the advertised products. The endorsement of sports stars to promote unhealthy products, such as Virat Kohli advertising Pepsi, Sachin Tendulkar promoting Coca-cola, further do the damage.
The only solution to the problem is strict rules and regulations concerning advertisement and marketing of junk food items. The government must not allow the rich companies to play with the health of the future of the world, our children!