WORLD
Fast Food Restaurants Not Fighting Child Obesity
Baku, August 13 (AZERTAC). In a perfect world, American families would gather each night for a healthy, home-cooked meal. For many, dinner means fast food. Three years ago, the big chains promised to fight childhood obesity. A report out Monday suggests they`ve done the opposite.
The report is the most comprehensive study ever into fast food nutrition and marketing. It shows that out of more than 3,000 possible kids` meal combinations at the major chains, only 12 meet nutritional guidelines for pre-schoolers.
Last year, children ages 6 to 11 saw 26 percent more ads for McDonald`s than they did just two years earlier.
First there`s the hot new movie kids just have to see, reports CBS News correspondent Ben Tracy. Then there`s the fast food movie toy tie-in they just have to get. And with the toys come things like a Happy Meal packed with calories and fat.
"They watched the movie, they wanted the toys. And it was a plus; they get something to eat they get a toy," says a parent.
It`s of course a happy deal for marketers but an unhealthy deal for children.