Every nation in the world now faces one of the most
dangerous epidemics of all time. It is obesity and it is causing major
financial and health problems. Today’s cultural media and advertising are a
large factor in the increasing rates of obesity. We are all eating ourselves to
death and our new culture supports these eating disorders. All this happens
because we are all slaves to what is called ad which is adding to our troubles
in life unconsciously.
One
major cause of the rise in obesity is false advertising. We are all
continuously bombarded by all kinds of subtle and blunt advertisement from all
sides. It comes in the forms of slogans, notices, trademarks, logos, and what
not. We see it on the book cover, on movie screens, TV, in cultural shows,
public places etc. we are surrounded by it everywhere and we do not realize its
hidden implications. Not only commercial products, but also persons and our
very thoughts are products of advertisement. Hence it is absolutely essential
to be aware of its ill effects on our life.
Advertisement
is a systematic effort to influence our opinions, to win us over to a certain
point of view. It has nothing to do with truth or falsehood. It simply wants us
to believe the messages conveyed. Often it uses subtle deceptions to influence
our views. All the advertisements succeed because they appeal to our emotions
and not to the intellect. It is hard and difficult to resist temptations and to
think boldly and draw our own conclusions. It is comfortable to let others
think for us and do for us. These are days when ignorance is bliss.
Obesity
in schoolchildren has increased in the last decade. The impact of obesity is
that more children are now with lifestyle diabetes as a result of their diets
and less exercise. This is a worldwide problem that is not to be overlooked
because diabetes and obesity are two of the leading risk factors of heart
diseases.
High-calorie,
high-fat and ready-made foods are easily available and children, even adults,
love them. Fast foods and processed snacks like potato chips and biscuits can
be addictive once children’s palates get used to them. TVs, and home computers
hooked to the internet are filled with this kind of ads that drive them to go
for the type of food that will make them pot bellied and obese .Studies have
shown a strong link between overweight and the time spent in front of the TV
and the computer. Subliminal advertising Messages are carried by the
commercials of fast foods, sugar-loaded drinks and candies. Children as well as
grownups bombarded by these advertisements develop an unhealthy desire for
unhealthy foods.
Over-emphasis
on School Grades - Concerns about doing well in school have led to parents and
children becoming more prone to believing in these ads. They start using these
advertised products -usually foods of little or no nutritional value, and foods
that are simply unhealthy.
Experts
admit that toddler years are very crucial in shaping physical growth as well as
forming food habits and preferences. As children approach late childhood,
between 7 and 10, it becomes more difficult to change their eating habits or
reduce the unwanted kilos.
It
is during these early years that eating attitudes develop, including the
type of foods considered ‘normal’ and whether meal time should be regarded as
a side-activity while watching television when they get loaded with ideas of
becoming smart and intelligent through the words of their icons in life
who unfortunately appear in all these ads as propagandists. It is time we
realized why these people do as they do and stopped believing in their words
and started using our own intellect in choosing the right types of food for
kids and ourselves for a better and happy and healthy life.
