junk food's popularity relies on marketing
Answers
Junk food popularity relies on marketing
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. Obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cholesterol imbalance, headaches, depression, dental problems, etc, never ever abounded as much before the advent of junk foods as they do now.
The only advantages of fast food are to the manufacturers. Such foods are devoid of essential nutritional value. This poor nutritional food fraught with calories may lead to poor health, and weight gain. Lab tests have confirmed fast food is quite detrimental to health. Some of the health risks triggered by fast food are overweight and other variety of chronic health problems such as heart disease, diabetes, and stroke.
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 in most of cases of unhealthy products, plays a key role in encouraging unhealthy eating habits among 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 use of sports stars and other celebrities to promote unhealthy products, such as Virat Kohli advertising Pepsi, Sachin Tendulkar promoting Coca-cola, further does 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!