Many people are now claiming that advertising can lead to obesity and health problems, especially in children. I'd have to agree with this statement, for a plain and simple reason: I can relate. The whole point of advertising is to convince (or mislead!) the viewer that they want/need/must have the item being displayed. Highlighting the benefits to using this product (ex. showing people enjoying a McDonald's hamburger) will lead people to think, 'I want that too'. And the reason why I can relate to this is because I also experience this feeling when I'm seeing an ad on TV, in a magazine, or on a billboard for something I like. Seeing a close-up of a Coke being poured into a glass, or a hamburger steaming fresh out of the box makes me crave those foods. It's a smart marketing ploy – but also a dangerous one.
Despite these marketing ploys, ultimately it is up to the person themselves to make an educated decision as to what they should and shouldn't buy and eat, all based on their economic status, health, the benefits of that product, and any other rational thought a regular human being would have. We can blame advertising for our obesity, however, it's not McDonald's who are non-consensually shoving hamburgers down your throat.
I do however feel that parents should limit the amount of advertisements (and TV in general) that they let their children watch. Kids are much more easily swayed by commercials and advertising. In order to beat childhood obesity, the parents themselves must take action. Monitor what kind of commercials are being shown to your child and also how much television your child really watches. Inactivity can also lead to a longer term unhealthy lifestyle. Many people today wonder why the new generation is 'obese' and 'unhealthy', but the simple answer is that it lies within us, adults of today, to stop this from happening.
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