in one of the adverts an obese boy turns to his mother to ask her why he is fat

A tough new campaign to deal with childhood obesity in America is using hard hitting advertisements which it is hoped will make parents think more carefully about what they feed their children.

The adverts which are part of the Stop Child Obesity health campaign have plenty of uncomfortable messages such as pointing out that overweight children might not live as long as their parents. In another one of the adverts an obese boy turns to his mother to ask her why he is fat.

However, not everybody is too happy about these advertisements, with some people saying that they will make it even harder for very overweight children to fit in with their peers.  They argue that highlighting obesity as a problem makes overweight children feel ostracized and different which can result in low self esteem and social development problems.

In fact, if you think about it these adverts are not aimed at children but are really designed to target their parents. At the end of the day the responsibility for what the child eats falls on the home and so parents need to be reminded that the buck stops with them.

Unfortunately, it is not that easy for parents to change the eating habits of their children especially when they themselves have a weight problem. At Ukmedix News we have written often enough about the dangers of fast food advertising being directed at children which makes life extremely difficult for those parents who are trying to promote healthy eating messages.

If the American government could make it simpler for parents to be healthy role models they would have much more success. It is no good pointing the finger at parents if the government are not prepared to do their own bit by legislating against fast food companies that promote unhealthy eating to young and impressionable minds. Fast food advertising should be prohibited in the same way that smoking advertising is banned.

Come on America...Walk your talk!