Fast food adverts - Destroying our future...

All that seems to be on TV ad breaks lately is fast food adverts. If anyone has spoken to me or saw a thread of mine recently I've been eating healthy. I'm not fat at all (before any of you start) I just want to tone up as I'm tired of being skinny, lol.

As a lot of you have already said it's willpower not going out there and buying it, but it's just tempting. And for a-lot of people they give into that temptation. Not because they're fat, but because some people don't have a strong willed mind and are constantly being brain washed by these adverts with 'cheap' prices for foods which are practically killing them.

Cigarette adverts have been banned and alcohol adverts have recently been cut (not shown as much) because of obvious reasons... they don't want to promote these things as it's unhealthy for you. Did you know last year over 30,000 people died due to obesity. I know obesity can be a medical condition but I'm guessing a huge proportion of these are food related and these sorts of adverts surely aren't helping the problem.

I just think that these adverts aren't helping obesity issues at all, they're making them worse. I know these places are businesses and need to make money and this is the way they make money by advertising on TV.
This article is really interesting and it's titled, "Half of UK obese by 2030". I've linked it for you to read: http://www.nhs.uk/news/2011/08August/Pages/half-of-uk-predicted-to-be-obese-by-2030.aspx
What's your view on this 'issue', if you think it's an issue? Or do you believe that this is perfectly okay? I'd like to know what you guys think.

EDIT: Here's just something I said earlier what I'll edit into the post as it's more of my opinion

I don't think you're seeing the point. I'm not saying "YES Let's 100% ban ALL fast food adverts tomorrow". It DOES come down to willpower and consumer choice I'm just stating the fact that obesity is a huge problem especially in America and Europe and it's affecting a huge number of peoples lives.

I just think the government could do something to help the situation. Yes you say the government can't run our lives but they can guide people and give them better options than are already out there.

As someone said previously it helps the economy enormously but surely there's other ways... I mean they haven't totally banned cigarretes because tax is so high on them that they simply can't ban them as the UK government , especially the NHS wouldn't survive.

I'm simply suggesting that this issue perhaps needs a bit more looking into and some people need guidance. You can't just say the government can't control our lives and people need willpower because it's not all about that. The government is a strong figure and can help tremendously. When they made the cigarrette ban in public places it was a great idea and because of that thousands more people decided to stop smoking. I'm just saying why can't something similar be implemented (IM NOT SAYING BAN) to help people out, because this is clearly an issue and is getting to the stage of it being an "addiction". Not in the sense that the brain and body requires it but the fact that it's totally acceptable for some people to have 3 fast food meals a day because it's deemed 'okay' in society now as fast food is being promoted so damn much.

 

I don't think the adverts are bad, it's the way parents bring up their children. I was brought up eating healthily and I was tought that fast food is very bad for you. So naturally I gew up not wanting any, even if I saw it on TV.
Even now I hate fast food. Don't get me wrong, I will go to a chip shop every now and then (once a month maybe) but that's not because of advertisements, it's because of convenience, after a hard day of work I sometimes can't be bothered cooking, so I'll get some fast food.

Also, parents these days (not all) let their kids sit around on the computer all day so if they do eat a lot they are for sure going to get fat.
In my opinion there is nothing wrong with adverts, just peoples life styles.

 

You brought up some points there I've not considered mate I do agree with you to some extent about parents bringing up their children with the correct mind set, and yeah it's sometimes easy to grab something fast. But if that's the case why ban Cigarette adverts and alcohol adverts? They're bad for you just like fast food but fast food adverts are still allowed.

I wouldn't be too bothered if it was the occasional advert but it seems to be dominating TV time. Advertising fatty foods and I would imagine some kids would crave fast food and beg their parents. As you said it does come down to the upbringing a person had, but not solely based on that...

I'm probably the opposite to you. I would love to eat something from let's say KFC because I really enjoy it. I was brought up correctly being aware that it's unhealthy but all these adverts just make me hungry! And fair enough you don't like some fast food, but that's not really down to your upbringing it;s just down to the fact that you dislike them. Some people aren't as strong willed to not go out there and buy something and parents can't always be the blame, as you said "(not all)".

I just think that if these adverts were cut back, or replaced with a 2 minute advert on how to cook something healthy and tasty then we would be in a lot better place than we are at the moment. It's like these adverts are poisoning kids minds to a certain extent (I know poison is a strong word but couldn't think of anything else).

We share some of same opinions but not all kids are brought up knowing that fast food is bad and I don't necessarily blame parents for that. I think these adverts play a big part in this... I mean I haven't touched fast food for a few months now and I feel proud of that. But some people may not be so strong minded or willed and will give in. These adverts can set off a thought in a persons mind to crave these things I believe.

Really, I just think these adverts could be replaced with other adverts to stimulate people's minds instead of advertising fatty foods 24/7.
I could be wrong as it's just my opinion

 

You spend three hours watching television each day and you're blaming obesity on advertising? I think advertisers are scum, but come on now, at some point people have to stop whining and pushing legislation and take responsibility for sedentary lifestyles.

 

Honestly, do you know which advertisements piss me off the most?

ANTI-Drug Campaign Commercials

Yes, I know that they're trying to raise awareness that if you smoke Marijuana - you'll deflate and sink into your couch and not talk to anyone but honestly, does anyone care or listen? Do they honestly believe that the viewer will sit there and take the information to heart? No.


If anything the decent ones are the ones that encourage you to go outside and get some sun. (Physical Fitness Commercials)

In the end though, commercials are just annoying in general due to their meaninglessness, loudness, and disruptive announcements/information.

 

If you ban or limit fast food advertisements you are also going to have to also ban or limit every other type of advertisement, why not ban toy advertisements because it causes children to throw fits? Or video game advertisements because video games are addictive and indirectly are causing obesity? It comes down to personal choice. It isn't McDonalds making you fat (in a figurative sense) it is your choices as a consumer. Or at least that is my opinion. If someone doesn't have the willpower to fight an urge brought on by a commercial then there is something wrong honestly. As I said no one is making you go out and buy it.

I know they have banned advertisements on cigarettes on TV and I think that is wrong. If they can advertise beer or liquor that kills more innocent bystanders than cigarettes do every year, then why can't they advertise cigarettes? Honestly it is senseless. Advertisements are a facet and a reflection of society as a whole. It reveals a lot about us.

 

I have to admit, you had a compelling title and a compelling theme, but I had to stop reading your post after the first sentence. I agree with Tyro; it's hard to blame the fast food companies when people seem to not give a damn about their health anyway. Maybe if the arguments/lawsuits against fast food were, "I was riding my bike and the large concentration of McDonald's billboards disturbed me," maybe then will the argument have traction. But seriously, in my opinion it's the three-to-twenty hours a day people spend sitting, watching television that is destroying our waistlines (as well as our literacy and high school completion rates). McDonald's can stay; IMO television sets should be the object that the government is restricting.

I'm sorry, but three hours of television is just too much. I'd rather eat three big macs than watch three hours of television every day. At least one big mac is less "time wasted," since you can burn off the calories in a Big Mac with less than one hour of running.

 

People always ask me how I am so skinny, I usually say because I no matter how much I eat I always burn it all off in the day. Physical labor job + active lifestyle means I can eat whatever the fuck I want although I really rarely ever eat at fast food joints.

Banning advertisements is actually a legitimate idea because advertisements for fast food places usually are targeted towards children anyways because they are extremely susceptible to their impulses, and planting even a small seed like that will likely make them go there.

 

That's just silly... there's a reason why every single advert 'could' be banned. I'm talking about a serious problem that's affecting a huge proportion of the population. Specifically in America and Europe. I don't think kids throwing a tantrum is exactly life threatening...

And yes I think they should be limited, I didn't say ban (at least I didn't mean to any way).

3 hours of TV is too much? not really... I watch it for the news in the morning. Then watch the news again later on when I get home from college... so that's like an hour already, and then I like to watch some comedy series and films? 3 hours is nothing...

And I do work out, I go to college come home work out then watch some TV to wind down, there's nothing wrong with that at all

I was simply arising the point that if other adverts which have been banned because they are bad for our health then these adverts should be at least limited.

Also, you said you'd rather eat THREE big macs than watch three hours of television? That's ridiculous... you still burn calories doing nothing, but you don't burn any by eating 3 big macs. Do you know how many calories is in three big macs? If not i'll tell you; it's 1500 calories, and that's JUST the burger. If you're adding in drinks and fries that's around 3,000 calories.

To burn of that amount you'd be hitting cardio for hours.

 

if you cant control yourself and run out and buy a big mac cause of an ad on tv doesnt mean they should be banned. We have to stop banning everything because some people cant control themselfs. Its ridiculous. We have freewill. Why ban fast food ads just because some people abuse fast food. They will do it either way. I like to know whats new at some of those places when i go, which it not every often. Instead of asking or sitting looking up at the menu for 10 minutes while 5 people are behind me ill know whats new because i would have seen it on T.V and save myself time as well as the people behind me.


People jump off bridges everyday. Lets Ban bridges.
LETS NERF THE WORD.
Anyone who wants to ban anything because its a health risk or they don't agree with it is a total idiot who cant make choices for themselves, and needs the government to tell them what is good and bad for them. That person in my mind is pretty fucking sad.

 

I don't really appreciate you calling me an idiot and 'fucking sad' because I think they should be cut. As you said what happened to free will which is also freedom of speech. Don't criticize others having an opinion...
In that case everyone who banned Smoking adverts is an 'idiot', in your words... I think it's a great idea and a few people I know have either cut down smoking or have quit altogether largely based on the fact they're not plastered on TV every single time they watch it. True story.

And I'm not speaking from personal experience saying every time I see something on TV I go out and buy it because I don't, if you decided to read the thread properly you'd know that. I'm just saying it's not helping the situation and every time there's an ad break there shouldn't be 3 fast food adverts... advertise better stuff than that shit. That's what I'm saying.

That's just an idiotic statement altogether. You criticize my opinion so I will yours. A lot of people believe it or not need HELP with their problems. Just think if the government didn't help people quit smoking, help people quit drinking, help them with classes on how to curb their issues then there would be thousands more people with bad habits; may I add life threatening habits. I don't know about in Canada, but in England the government helps with all these issues and is very successful at doing so. So why stop now? Why not try to help others lead a healthy life style and keep fit.

Did you know the NHS Smoking service last year alone help 337,000 people stop smoking. That's an insane amount and that's probably saved half of their lives from cancer or other illness smoking related. If you were to look into obesity you would see that it's a huge problem. I'd rather see adverts on TV for weight control classes or advertising diet/fitness equipment. Believe me I've seen an increase in it on TV in the past year or so and It's great to see.

You're 100% right. That's not the reason they should be banned. The reason they should be 'cut down' is the fact that obesity is a growing problem and I've pretty much explained myself above anyway.

 

Personally I think it this discussion boils down to two things. Health and Business. Many businesses such as McDonalds are not even batting an eye at the fact that they are advertising their unhealthy food. This is mainly because large corperations such as these fast food resturants are extremely business sided. It is almost to a point where the companies are saying,"yeah, we know our food is unhealthy. But, if you will keep buying it, we won't stop making it." And trust me. There will always be a demand for Fast Food, especially in a rush based country such as the USA. It is sad to see childhood obesity skyrocket. But, the advertisments are not the problem. Lack of dicipline is the problem. As a 13 yr old boy, I love to get a 12 pack of nuggets from Chick-Fil-A. But, I am diciplined and know that I need to eat other things besides fast food. But, many kids my age are not diciplined by their parents. Either their parents are too busy, stressed, or unresponsable to care or there is just a lack of healthy eating in the family. Another problem that the USA has run into is cost of Fast Food. Fast food is not only fast, but it is extrememly cheap compared to fresh farmed food. With all the families in poverty in the US and the World, fast food is the cheapest food option. I know what you are thinking now, Why can't the government just require fast food resturants to make their food healthier? Well firsty, it isn't illegal to sell fattning food and secondly, the government is going to let big corperations do what they would like. Why you ask? Because big companies such as McDonalds help the economy immensly. Not only do they create jobs, they keep the flow of money going over the entire country. As most people know, the US Gov. is not in the best of shape at the moment. 6 trillion in debt. Yeah. That's a problem... They arn't going to hurt the economy more by closing or restricting large economy boosting companies. (This is also the reason why General Moters was bailed out, because the company itself helped the economy as well as creating jobs and keeping citizens on a payroll)

Yes, these adverts could potentially be destroying our future, but it is too late to change the path we are on. The hole we are in is getting dug deeper and deeper.

Just My Opinion,
Andrew/Anet390

 

I do agree that if they are going to restrict cigarette and alcohol commercials they should go all the way and do it for everything that is bad for you.

Personally though, I have been to most European countries and a vast majority had next to none fast food commercials, so that is probably only a problem in the more developed countries. Not quite sure why that is the case!

 

The reason alcohol and cigarette commercials are banned is because of 4 main things:
1. These products effect your body almost immediatly
2. These products can affect others around you (Drunk Driving, Smoking by someone with weak lungs)
3. It is illegal for children to buy them or use them (Alcohol 21,Cigarettes 18 to buy, no age limit to smoke, but it is extremely frowned upon)
4. They are addictive (Tabacco, Alcoholics)

Fast food violates none of these statements. Fast food does not affect your body immediatly after use. It is not addictive (unless it is YOUR fault you are addicted to it. Like eating it too often. But then again you still arn't addicted, you are just craving it) Fast food is not illegal for children to buy or eat. And Fast Food does not directly affect others around you. There are also many other reasons why Alcohol and Tabacco commercials are banned, but these are the main 4. Also, if we are going to ban fast food commercials because it is unhealthy, then we must ban chocolate, candy, any unhealthy resturant, and even soda commercials. Health is only the governments responsability up to a certain point. From that point on it is the person's (or parent's) responsablity to keep themselves healthy.

 

You're blaming problems on elements that are not the problem. The choice comes down to the consumer in the end. No one is holding a gun to your head and telling you to go out and buy a Big Mac because you saw one on a commercial. You are refusing to acknowledge that consumer choice is the final choice and that no matter how many times you watch a television commercial no one is making you buy it. Then you just proved my next point - advertisement aimed at children. If a parent is any kind of parent they aren't going to constantly feed their kid fast food. If the kid throws a tantrum for it, then it isn't the end of the world. It still all comes down to consumer choice and knowing the facts.

 

I did not say that I support banning them, I do see where you're coming from about the cigarettes and alcohol though. Eventhough you can't compare a nicotine addiction to someone loving fast food, I think the latter is even more dangerous though.

Bottom line is, I think people should be able to decide for themselves and not be "protected" by the government from bad infuences. I have no idea if banning cigarettes and alcohol commercials is even a good move because children know about them anyway and if something is so "bad" it cannot even be shown on TV then the children are going to be interested even more. I also understand the drunk driving issues that is why I believe there should be ZERO tolerance for drunk driving but that is a different discussion.

 

I think this was directed towards me. Please quote my post next time. (Click the quote button below the post you want to quote)

1. Glad to see that you agree on the cigarette and alcohol commercial ban reasons. Any person who denies those are not a logical person.
2. The problem with letting people decide whether or not to be protected by the government from bad influences is that many would and many wouldn't agree to this. You can't allow only certain citizens to buy cigarettes while not letting others do the same. Like I said, the government only has the moral obligation to prevent citizens from doing things that effect other immediatly. Eating a Big Mac does not effect anyone directly accept myself. So, the government should not have to prevent me from eating my big mac. As long as I am not harming anybody else, I can make my own decisions. I mean the government can not kick down every citizens' door to check for McDonalds Meals. (This statement [in italic] is a joke, don't take it seriously, but it explains my point on government getting over involved in health decissions).
3. It isn't the commercial that affects the kid. It is the allowing of it. By publically airing a cigarette commercial, you teach kids (young ones) that cigarettes are normal and are smokers are accepted just as any other. Because to a young kid, if its on TV then its ok.
4. Yes many kids do know about Alcohol and Cigarettes, but like i said in point 3, kids will not think there is anything wrong with smoking if it is pubically accepted on TV.
5. The fact that it is bad does pursuade children to try it. I do agree. But, stressing the consequences of drinking under age will surely make them rethink trying it.
6. Glad you agree with my drunk driving statement as well. And just to throw this out there, the driving age is 16 (in most places) and the drinking age is 21. So for 5 years a kid can underage drink while driving. But is it illegal to eat Mcdonalds and drive. Nope. This is why Fast Food commercials arn't and never will be banned.

 

Until they put an age restriction on buying fast food (lol) I highly doubt they will start banning the commercials. The commercials aren't even that bad. They almost always advertise their "healthy" selections in commercials.

Will power. It is honestly not that hard compared to real addictions.

 

Your entire argument hinges on the preconceived notion that disallowing advertisements of a certain thing villianizes it and makes people not want it. Fast food is cheap and easy. Health food is incredibly expensive in comparison and of the case were the opposite then we would have healthier citizens but we are no longer an agrarian society that relies on subsistance agriculture to feed itself. That means that we heavily rely on processed food because we are all in some form or fashion live on a hectic shedule. It really is difficult to come home from an 8 - 12 hour work day and have the will to stand in the kitchen for another hour and make a healthy dinner, then you factor in the cost of fresh produce and good quality lean meats. A healthy lifestyle is difficult for the modern person. So villianizing a business for a societal flaw is wrong.

 

^
Agreed. But McDonald's could still make and effort to have healthier food in general. It would still be cheap and fast, just not a much fat.