Monday 16 April 2012

Obesity, is it being encouraged?

We have known for some time now that obesity is on the rise but who is to blame? Figures show that almost a quarter of all adults in the UK are obese which is an astonishing fact. Suggested ideas to tackle the problem include introducing a fat tax and even banning fatty foods and fast food chains from advertising on television and radio, just like smoking brands. All these ideas may sound good in theory but will they work in practice?

Smoking is run on the fact that the adverts try to make it seem cool to smoke. It is not the most pleasant thing to do, and certainly the first time that people try a cigarette, they often cough out the smoke and find it horrid. They push through these initial obstructions because of peer pressure and advertisements. However, most people who dislike the food at a fast food restaurant tend not to keep eating there, no matter how much it is advertised unless new foods are introduced at these restaurants. It can be extremely cheap to eat at non-franchise fast food restaurants and the food at these restaurants can be very unhealthy but I do not think banning advertisements is the way forward when combating obesity.

Professor Stephenson, a spokesman for the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, has been very outspoken about the sponsorship of the 2012 London Olympics by brands such as CocaCola and McDonald's but I do not believe that the exposure of these brands in their sponsorship of the Olympics will have a great effect on obesity. He has said 'it sends the wrong message' but surely people's focus will be on the athletes and their healthy lifestyles rather than the sponsors of these games. I hope there is not an overreaction to obesity, whilst it is a big problem, especially for the NHS's budget, it is not one that can be fixed by prohibiting brands from advertising rather than encouraging a more balanced diet and exercise regime through schools and maybe even employers.

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