Improper parenting & advertisements fuelling fast food consumption among children: experts
Wednesday, 26 July 2023 | PNS | DEHRADUN
A combination of factors like taste enhancers, advertisements and improper parenting are encouraging children to consume fast food. Experts point out that eating fast food has increased the risk of obesity among children. Improper parenting and misleading advertisements on social media have increased the consumption of fast food among children. Hormonal imbalance is another adverse effect faced especially by girls due to the overconsumption of fast food in their daily life, the experts said.
Commenting on the increased consumption of fast food, dietician Renu Jain said, “Fast food has emerged as a major challenge for the health of the young generation. The consumption of fast food has increased the risk of obesity among children. I have encountered children who are dealing with juvenile diabetes in the city. Overweight, physical and mental ailments along with diabetes are the common effects of consumption of fast food which are seen among children these days.”
She further said that parents are responsible for giving children access to fast food. Apart from this, advertisements on TV and the internet indirectly influence children to consume fast food. She said that she would request the younger generation to control the consumption of fast food. She also appealed that the parents must ensure that their children eat healthful food items instead of fast food.
Another dietician Richa Kukreti said, “Children in the age group of 13-14 years are experiencing hormonal imbalance due to the overconsumption of fast food in their daily life. PCOS and PCOD are the two ailments faced by half of the girls in the city due to the consumption of fast food. Obesity is a major side effect faced by the young generation. Improper parenting is also a major factor which influences children to consume fast food.”
She further stated that parents must ensure that their children should consume 80 per cent of healthful food in their daily life. Controlling the consumption of fast food will affect the immune system of children in a positive way, she added.
