Accessibility to Fast Food Outlets as a Factor to Gain Weight

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Children living near food fast food outlets are more predisposed to weight gain than those living farther away. Most of the article’s information center on research performed by the University of the West of England which tracked the weight of approximately 1000 primary schools pupils in the age bracket 4-11. The research found out that children living near fast food outlets were more likely to add weight during their primary school education years. The newspaper article is credible because it draws evidence from a study that merited to be published in the Journal of Public health.
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In addition, the research is the first to unveil the connection between the accessibility of fast foods and the rate of childhood obesity over a certain period. The study raises critical questions on the influence of local food environment on the young children’s diet. Obesity results from various factors and the article contributes more information by adding that the neighborhood environment plays a significant role in childhood obesity.

Accessibility of fast foods among children is an important factor in childhood obesity. Hence, the article helps in advancing the argument that availability and accessibility of fast foods have contributed to the high rate of childhood obesity in the U.S. The algorithm used in the study makes it unique in unraveling the connection between availability and accessibility of fast foods and the rate of childhood obesity. Each child was assigned a fast food accessibility score based on the number of outlets within a mile from their home.

Jamie Oliver works as a chef and television presenter. He talks about the importance of food education to children. Jamie begins by presenting two sets of statistics that 66 percent of his audience is either obese or overweight and that 25 percent of all deaths result from cardiovascular diseases. In addition, he talks about the experiences of his visit to West Virginia which happens to be the most overweight town in the U.S. Jamie concludes that the only effective way to fight childhood obesity is to inspire families to cook and educate people about the condition.
The credibility of Jamie’s talk is evident in various ways. First, Jamie uses real video clips to point out his concern that unhealthy food served at home and restaurants has made children ignorant of healthy meals offered in other outlets. For instance, one of the clips shows some children confusing cauliflower for broccoli and turnips for onions. Second, Jamie’s stories about personal experiences are real because they expose the lifestyle of young children in most American households. In one of the stories, Jamie notes that all his friend’s children were obese, lacked information about healthy foods, and frequented fast food restaurants within a mile from their home.
One of the causes of childhood obesity is that parents and their children are ignorant that unhealthy foods served in fast food chains lead to overweight. Therefore, Jamie’s TED video helps to advance the argument that fast food outlets have contributed to the high rate of childhood obesity in the U.S. Most people are unaware that fast foods cause obesity and overweight, and the continued consumption worsens the situation.
Fast food has led to the rising rates of childhood obesity. New research suggests that fast food is one of the diet problems alongside eating habits that begin at home. The study gathered data among 4,466 children between 2007 and 2018 under the age bracket 2-18. The data includes questions on dietary intake and the point of food purchase. The researcher intended to determine the risk factors related to obesity. The research indicated that fast food consumers were more obese than non-consumers. Also, one in three obese children admitted being a high fast food consumer. The credibility of the YouTube video stems from its overall conclusion of the relationship between fast foods and childhood obesity. It states that one in three obese children admitted being high consumers of fast foods. This data is consistent with findings of the previous two sources, and there is no justification to discredit it.
Furthermore, the conclusion that one in three obese children was a fast food consumer is consistent with data from healthypeople.com which is one of the most credible websites in the U.S. One of the ways of advancing the argument that the availability and accessibility of fast food outlets have contributed to the high rate of childhood obesity in the U.S is providing credible statistics. Therefore, the video provides substantial statistics to prove that fast food consumption is a precursor to childhood obesity. For instance, the statistic ‘one in three obese children admitted to being high consumers of fast foods’ is significant to indicate the connection between fast food consumption and the rate of childhood obesity.
Although not all fast foods are junk, the majority fall into this category. The article estimates the effect of junk food availability on Basal Metabolic Indices (BMI) and obesity in a sample of fifth-grade pupils. The uniqueness of the study centers on the endogeneity of the school food environment by narrowing children’s BMI during entry. The main finding of the article is that junk food availability significantly increases the BMI and the likelihood of obesity among fifth graders. Lastly, the article recommends that school administrators convene efforts to reduce junk food availability in their institutions.
The findings of the article are credible in two ways. First, the researchers undertook an empirical approach to process the collected data and to determine the link between junk food availability and children’s BMI and obesity in fifth graders. The researchers employed a complex but credible linear regression model to make conclusions. Second, the researchers related their methods and findings to that of 52 other similar studies for uniformity and credibility purposes. A credible article is one whose methodology or findings are either related or similar to that of other studies.
Fast foods are not only available in their respective outlets but also at home and school. Therefore, the argument that the availability and accessibility of fast food outlets have contributed to the high rate of childhood obesity in the U.S. cannot be well-advanced by limiting research to one source. As such, it is more practical to explore other sources of fast food and explain whether their availability and accessibility contribute to the high rate of childhood obesity in the U.S. In addition, BMI is an important factor in determining childhood obesity. Therefore, its inclusion in the paper will provide more information on the effects of fast food on childhood obesity.
Works Cited

Datar, Ashlesha, and Nancy Nicosia. “Junk Food in Schools and Childhood Obesity.” National Center for Biotechnology Information, 2018, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3667628/. Accessed 27 Feb 2018.
Oliver, Jamie. “Jamie Oliver’s TED Prize Wish: Teach Every Child about Food.” TED Summaries, 2018, https://tedsummaries.com/2014/01/28/jamie-olivers-ted-prize-wish-teach every-child-about-food/. Accessed 27 Feb 2018.
Slawson, Nicola. “Children Living Near Fast Food Outlets More Likely To Gain Weight – Study.” The Guardian Newspaper, 2017, p. 34, https://www.theguardian.com/society/2017/sep/11/children-living-near-fast-food-outlets more-likely-gain-weight-study. Accessed 27 Feb 2018.
YouTube Video. “Fast Food and Childhood Obesity.” YouTube, 2018, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrJ8IQwtLoE. Accessed 27 Feb 2018.

Dewey Mccoy

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