Marketing and Advertisement is a major leading cause for childhood obesity.

1. Brittany Dang
The Politics of Food SSC.356
18 April 2020

2. § “Obesity is an abnormal
accumulation of body fat
to the extent that it may
have an adverse effect on
health” (Agha and Agha,
2017)
§ There has been a high
prevalence of children
being overweight and
obese in European
countries, especially the
UK.

3. Biological
Factors and
Genetics
Poor Diet and
Exercise
Environmental
Factors
Family
Background
and Upbringing
Socioeconomic
Status
Marketing and
Advertisement

4. This rising issue has a strong correlation
with many chronic diseases such as
“Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, asthma,
and an increased risk for cardiovascular
issues” (Tilenius)
If left untreated, this can directly lead to
more medical issues further into
adulthood or be life-long.

5. WHO IS
INVOLVED?
Committee of Advertising
Practice (CAP)
Obesity Health Alliance
Cancer Research UK
(CRUK)
UK Political Leaders
(Boseley, 2016)

6. § Food companies and
their marketing
strategies are winning in
this critical health crisis.
§ “Researchers say they
believe that by using
celebrities, bright colors
and funny voices,
advertisements are able
to attract children and
influence their eating
habits” (Boseley, 2016)
https://youtu.be/Y1xwbZuGq20

7. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ze5mVUtAqa4

8. § Boy from Oxfordshire in year 4:“With the [take-away pizza] advert, like they’re just so
cool and they’re so yum” ,We always have to go and get it because I can’t resist not
going without [pizza] when I see the advert… At the end he like smashes… the [pizza]
on the screen and you feel like you’re just going to lick the screen”
§ Boy from Northamptonshire in year 6:“You might be eating a piece of fruit, you might
see the advert and you might just throw it in the bin and ask your mum for money and
leg it to the shop”
§ Girl from North Lanarkshire in year 5:“It makes you feel as if you’re happy and excited,
and it feels like you want to try it because the guy’s dancing in it because he’s eaten it
and it tastes good”
§ Boy from Hertfordshire in year 4:“I saw this sweet cake I’d like… and my mum was
sitting next to me, and I was like: ’You’ve got to buy that by tomorrow,’”
(Boseley, 2016)

9. § UK leaders announced the “removal of the display
of candy and other sweets near the checkout lanes
in supermarkets” (Cohen, 2018)
§Committee of Advertising Practice (CAP) new
policy:“Ban the advertising of food or drink high in
fat, salt or sugar (HFSS) across all non-broadcast
media targeted at under-16s” (Clarke, 2017)

10. POSSIBLE
SOLUTIONS
§ Promote and advertise about eating
healthy, and about topics such as Health
and Wellness throughout TV, social
media, and other forms of media and
entertainment.
§ Educate, expose, and incorporate more
real and natural foods to children’s diet.

11. WHAT IS AT
STAKE?
§ The health of millions of children and adults
§ The prevalence of chronic illnesses
§ Public Health

12. Sources
§ Agha, Maliha, and Riaz Agha. "The rising prevalence of obesity: art A: impact on public health." US National Library of Medicine National
Institutes of Health, 22 June 2017. Accessed 1 Mar. 2020.
§ Boseley, Sarah, editor. "Junk food TV ads make children hungry and tempted, charity finds." The Guardian, 4 July 2016. Accessed 1 Mar.
2020.
§ Cohen, Deborah A. "Why 'Guilt-Free' Lanes at the Supermarket Could Help Fight Obesity." RAND Corporation, 5 July 2018. Accessed 1 Mar.
2020.
§ Tilenius, Heinz. "Childhood Obesity: A Challenge for Primary Care Teams." British Journal of General Practice, 2018. Accessed 1 Mar. 2020.
§ Clarke, Josie. "Ban on Junk Food Advertising Aimed at Children Extended to Online and Social Media." Independent, 8 Dec. 2016. Accessed
1 Mar. 2020.
Images andVideos
§ Lardieri, Alexa. "Childhood Obesity on the Rise." U.S. News, 26 Feb. 2018, www.usnews.com/news/healthiest-communities/articles/2018-
02-26/study-childhood-obesity-on-the-rise. Accessed 18 Apr. 2020.
§ The Simpsons - UK Domino's Advert. 2006.
§ McDonalds Pokemon Commercial. 2018.