Obese Children

The number of obese children has increased rapidly worldwide. The lack of proper child nutrition has contributed greatly to this. Most normal weight people are unhealthy as well because of a poor diet. Economics is largely responsible for this, as we are constantly bombarded by commercial messages to eat more of the worst type of foods.

The insanity of this becomes evident when we realize that powerful interest groups representing a trillion dollar industry are more concerned about bottom line profits than the health of our children. Some of the best and brightest minds in the world are employed by the packaged food industry to calculate market penetration. This includes an in depth study of demographics and psychology.

The Gift of Awareness

Becoming aware of this state of affairs is critical in order to improve health, overall well being, and to reduce the number of obese children in society. One of the tactics used by these companies is to determine what types of foods to sell to an existing customer, because it is more expensive to acquire a new customer who has never used the product before. More than 90% of product sales are made to less than 10% of their customers.

This 10% is their target market. Much money is spent on focus groups to determine buying preferences and ideal advertising. Celebrities are used in commercials, and a certain look and feel is presented that most appeals to this target market. No expense is spared to get this message just right. The target market doesn’t have a chance to resist.

Much deceptive marketing was previously restricted to the tobacco industry, but not so anymore. When legislation curbed some of the tactics used by tobacco companies like promoting cigarettes to children, they immediately countered by buying up major brands of addictive foods. For example, in 2001 Philip Morris acquired Life Savers, Oreo Cookies, and Ritz Crackers.

This is such a ruthless process that many of the executives in charge of this marketing find it difficult to implement these strategies, and actually some refuse to attend focus groups where they would need to confront actual consumers face to face knowing what they know. Making bonuses on increased sales of detrimental foods is easier for them to digest in the quiet confines of their offices while consuming a healthy diet, rather than confronting obese children face to face.

A promoter of junk food, who personally avoids the very products they are advocating, certainly qualifies as a model of insanity. Many mental and emotional challenges, including a child behavior problem, can most certainly be traced back to unhealthy food choices. Of course, we are not informed that diet sodas increase the risk of diabetes, and a diet change can lower the risk of heart disease by 81%.

Obese children and adults deserve to understand that they have healthy options. Leading a healthy lifestyle that eliminates not only obesity, but many other health challenges, is obtainable for everyone given the correct guidance and information. Granted many folks have genetic predispositions toward certain diseases, but recent research and discoveries in epigenetics indicate that these conditions require physical and energetic triggers to manifest (See the “Transform” section of this website under the title of “Epigenetics” for more in depth information). Click here for the Transforming Child Behavior Home Page.

When done reviewing Obese Children, click here to return to The Models of Insanity page.

SBI!