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The article discusses childhood obesity in New Zealand. It notes that children are being drawn to junk foods high in sugar, salt, and fat due to targeted marketing and the biologically rewarding tastes. This is contributing to rising childhood obesity rates and related health issues, putting this generation at risk of living shorter lives than their parents. The article is concerned about this problem and its implications for the future survival of the human race if not addressed.

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19 views5 pages

Summary Writing Process

The article discusses childhood obesity in New Zealand. It notes that children are being drawn to junk foods high in sugar, salt, and fat due to targeted marketing and the biologically rewarding tastes. This is contributing to rising childhood obesity rates and related health issues, putting this generation at risk of living shorter lives than their parents. The article is concerned about this problem and its implications for the future survival of the human race if not addressed.

Uploaded by

Cecilia
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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SUMMARY SKILLS

This is an article from the New Zealand Herald. It was originally published on 19th May 2014 and
details some of the factors that contribute to childhood obesity. It also outlines the health implications
that childhood obesity can have…

An evolving health crisis of childhood obesity is upon us. Is this the generation where children are
condemned to live shorter lives than their parents? Dave Shaw investigates.

Countless factors have led us here, with nutrition playing a major role. Many foods now advertised to
kids are higher in sugar, salt and fat than those targeted at young generations before. Children are
hardwired to fall for these flavours. The food industry is arguably exploiting the biology – and
psychology – of children.

They aren’t just providing a source of calories and nutrients for a child, they’re impacting their health
in a way that could warrant future legal action. Many children are growing up believing food should be
served deep-fried and sugar-coated. Is this ethical? If other countries were causing havoc on our
children’s health like this, then we’d put a stop to it.

A film shedding light on this topic is Fed Up which may be the most important documentary in recent
times. The film essentially says we have a problem, a problem that many vested interests have no
intention of solving and a problem that must be dealt with if we’re interested in our survival.

In the food industry’s defence, they are giving us what we want and if we ask for healthier foods, they
will provide. But in the end, profits come first.

Here’s a heads up about some food industry insights that may be affecting you and your
family.

The bliss point: This is the perfect amount of sugar – of salt and fat – that allows a food to become
highly salient1. When these tastes combine, they provide a dopamine-fuelled rush driving us to eat
more. It’s no surprise children want to eat more of the food that tastes good. Unfortunately, the high
consumption of sugary, salty and fatty foods can lead to obesity, metabolic syndrome, diabetes or
much worse.

Hyper processed food: there are many heavy hitting facts about the harms of eating too much
sugary and other hyper processed foods, yet many of us continue to buy, serve and eat them every
day. There is no difference between some processed food and sugar itself. Saying you can eat a bowl
of cornflakes with no added sugar or a bowl of sugar with no added cornflakes can be essentially the
same thing.

‘Eater’-tainment: The food industry has learned what humans want and is only too happy to oblige.
At every eating opportunity or on every street corner awaits a sugary or salty snack made to satisfy
our craving. It’s what people of all ages gorge on to feel good for a few moments or to relax. Who
doesn’t want to get on this ride, right? And when we do, we are only more than tempted to ride it
again and again.

Marketing: The marketing of children’s food is a controversial topic, with many companies under
siege for how they promote their food to youngsters. Children often don’t know the difference between
:

good and bad food and have to rely on others to tell them – usually their parents. But when they see
the Golden Arches2 or colourful packages covered in cartoons they immediately connect with a
product. After tasting the addictive combination of sugar, salt and fat, the marketing image is
permanently engraved on their mind. Suddenly they want more.

Maternal disempowerment: What does a mother do when she has the difficult choice of giving her
child what they want or giving them what’s the best for their health? This is a common struggle
against an overwhelming tide of marketing and, possibly, addiction. Sometimes even the parents
don’t know what’s best, so who’s left to pick up the reins? Parents, and their children, need to be
educated on what are the healthier options, and the healthier choice must become the easier choice.

Public misperception: A fast food diet should not be socially accepted, but it is. So, the real goal is
to change how we view food. The government has a role to play, but if we look at the great public
health successes, they come from changes in how we perceive a product. Smoking for example is
now seen as deadly and disgusting, when it was once sexy. If you look at something and say, “that’s
horrible, I’d rather have something else,” you’re not going to feel drawn to eat it. We can apply this
learning to how we eat. We need to take the power out of certain foods: from there saying “no” to
eating junk is easy.
Answer Evidence

Who is the article Children


details some of the factors
talking about?
that contribute to childhood
obesity. It also outlines the
health implications that
childhood obesity can have

What is the Children being drawn to junk foods and


problem? childhood obesity rates and health issues An evolving health crisis
increasing as a result of childhood obesity is
upon us. Is this the
generation where
children are condemned
to live shorter lives than
their parents?
When is this article The article is set on 19th May 2014
It was originally published
set?
on 19th May 2014

Where is this article New Zealand Herald


This is an article from the
from?
New Zealand Herald

Why should we do We should do something to ensure the


something? survival of the human race in the future The film essentially says
we have a problem, a
problem that many vested
interests have no intention
of solving and a problem
that must be dealt with if
we’re interested in our
survival

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