Junk Food for Australian Children - MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about theJunk Foodfor Australian Children and Solutions. Answer: Introduction The advertisement of junk food on Australian advertising platforms like TV stations, newspapers and other platforms have increased over the last five years. An example of a company that advertises its junk food for children is the McDonalds brand. This brand is the largest hamburger fast food selling company in the world. It sells many types of fast food staffs mostly the junk foods which includes hamburgers, salads, chicken, soft drinks and French fries among others. To increases, its sells, the McDonalds brand have taken the step of advertising its products and mostly targeting the children in Australia (Roberts, et.al 2007). Over the past years, the research done by the Australian Cancer researchers have indicated that the rise of consumption of junk food by teenagers has increased up to 62 percent. Furthermore, the McDonald brand has also indicated an increase in the sales of its products. Ten years down the line and the history of Australia on food consumption indicate that most of the societies did not consume the junk food because of the side effects this food had. This has changed due to the advertisements being made of TVs, newspapers, and magazines thus making a large number of people to consume mostly the kids. This report will discuss the negative effects of junk food advertisement on Australian children and solution. Effects of Junk Food The Australian teenagers consumes enormous quantities of junk food (fast food) such as pizza, beverages, hamburger and salad. This affects their health and education performance. This food increases the risk of blood pressure which facilitates hypertension disease. The diseases results due to the elements that are used in the preparation of this food for example pizza and salad which have a significant content of sodium (Halford, et.al 2008). This thus weakens the circulatory system which will lead to the development of hypertension disease. Its evidenced in the records that the ministry of health released which indicate that the hypertension disease within the kids has increased from 6 percent in 2000 to 22 percent. Example of food include pizza, salad and French fries. In addition to that, the risk of high pressure in the body also can result in kidney diseases. The increases in pressure affect the function of the kidney; this can lead to kidney failure. An example of junk food that can facilitate his impact is soft drinks and sodium related food like salad. Consequently, beverages can as well increase the risk of diabetes. Drinks like soda and colas being sold and advertised by McDonald's brand contain a lot of sugars. This large amount of sugars causes diabetes in kids because if affects the functioning of the insulin. Another impact of the junk food on the Australian children is obesity. Obesity results due to excess accumulation of fats in the body. This fat comes from the artificial fats being used in flavoring and seasoning of the junk foods. When a kid consumes this food regularly, this fat will then accumulate in the body thus causing obesity. Obesity among the children in Australia has increased as research from nutritionist indicates that it has grown from 6 percent to 32 percent over the last five years (Cairns, et.al 2008). An example of junk food that leads to obesity include; hamburger, salad, chicken and French fries among other food sold in McDonalds Company. In addition to that, it also increases the risk of cancer diseases. This is because this food has some traces of chemicals which are being added to reservations. This is evidenced with the number of increased cases in most of the hospitals in Australia of cancer among the teenagers and kids (Bowman, et.al 2004). From 80 cases to around 500 cases all over the nation. For example, the hamburger is added preservatives to increases their shelf life. Cancer is evidenced by increases in some kids having developed cancer disease recorded in most hospitals in Australia. Consequently, obesity can increase the risk of heart disease because fats which will be deposited in the blood vessels causing heart diseases. Solution to the Effects Since the advertising of this junk food by the McDonalds brands increases the consumption by the Australian kids, to reduce the effects it has, the Australian government should restrict the advertisement of junk food (Swinburn, 2008). This will help and keep the children out of this foods thus reducing the effects that are related to this junk foods. Another way of solving this problem is by encouraging and promoting the natural foods. This will lessen the consumption of junk foods. The natural food should be advertised the same way as junk food and this will increase the consumption of natural based food (Neville, et.al 2005). It will help in the reduction of consumption of junk food hence avoiding diseases related to this food by kids. References Halford, J. C., Boyland, E. J., Hughes, G. M., Stacey, L., McKean, S., Dovey, T. M. (2008). Beyond-brand effect of television food advertisements on food choice in children: the effects of weight status. Public health nutrition, 11(09), 897-904. Roberts, M., Pettigrew, S. (2007). A thematic content analysis of childrens food advertising. International Journal of Advertising, 26(3), 357-367. https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=effects+of+junk+food+advertising+in+AustraliabtnG=hl=enas_sdt=0%2C5 Bowman, S. A., Gortmaker, S. L., Ebbeling, C. B., Pereira, M. A., Ludwig, D. S. (2004). Effects of fast-food consumption on energy intake and diet quality among children in a national household survey. Pediatrics, 113(1), 112-118. https://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=effects+of+junk+food+on+children+btnG=hl=enas_sdt=0%2C5 Cairns, G., Angus, K., Hastings, G. (2009). The extent, nature and effects of food promotion to children: a review of the evidence to December 2008. Geneva: World Health Organization. Swinburn, B. A. (2008). Obesity prevention: the role of policies, laws and regulations. Australia and New Zealand health policy, 5(1), 12. Neville, L., Thomas, M., Bauman, A. (2005). Food advertising on Australian television: the extent of children's exposure. Health Promotion International, 20(2), 105-112. https://academic.oup.com/heapro/article/20/2/105/827431/Food-advertising-on-Australian-television-the