Television and Health
Dear Dr. Steven Gortmaker,
As I have researched the topic of how the mass media impacts obesity your article, “Twin child scourges: obesity and television,” stood out to me. As obesity continues to rise, it is important to determine solutions that will result in an end to the spread of the epidemic. I understand that you serve on the Advisory Committee of the United Way of Massachusetts Bay Nutrient and Fitness Initiative. I am also aware that most of your research aims to address and solve the issue of malnutrition, especially among children. It is clear that you are very invested in this topic and, as this issue affects my personal life, I am also invested and devoted to finding a solution.
In your article, you begin by comparing today’s children to children of the past. You mention that today’s children are spending more time watching television as compared to children of the past. You also noted that, as obesity has significantly increased throughout the years, parents are still not aware of the negative effects that the increase in television watching has caused. You back this claim by including the role of the food industry in television watching asserting that, “On average a child watching TV sees a commercial from the food industry every five minutes” (Gortmaker par.7). You stress the fact that these food advertisements typically promote junk food or food low in nutrition and high in fat. After depicting the positive correlation between television watching and obesity, you claim that parents have not changed their habits in order to protect the well-being of their children. You suggest that this is because they feel their parenting skills are being called into question. You support your claim by including a national study showing that the majority of parents do not care how much television their children watch. You conclude by suggesting solutions that parents can take to protect their children as well as the shared responsibility with large organizations that can create and encourage physical activity. Your main suggestion for parents is to limit the amount of television that their children watch and to serve as role models by depicting a healthy diet and exercise routine.
After researching this topic, it is clear that children’s diets are negatively affected by television viewing. I agree that many changes need to be made to end the obesity epidemic, a disease that should be prevalent. It is also evident that television advertisements promote different types of junk foods that are likely to negatively impact children’s diet. Likewise, the act of watching television is a sedentary activity that decreases the time spent playing outside or doing other types of physical activity. I strongly agree that a child’s health should not be the responsibility of the parent alone. Large organizations should have a role in ending and preventing the increase of the obesity epidemic as well.
While I recognize and agree with your concern of childhood obesity, I am not sure that the solution is as much of the responsibility of the parents as you leave your audience to believe. It is true that today’s children watch more television than children of the past, but according to a National Science Foundation study reporting on data recorded in 1977, on average, children of the 1970s saw 7 percent more paid advertisements than children of the 21st century. These findings indicate that the solution may be more complex than limiting television time due to food advertisements. It is true that there is a connection between television and obesity, but you claim that parents have remained unresponsive to the issue. According to Traci Baker, president of Bariatric Life Coach Association, most parents are constantly struggling to ensure the well-being and overall happiness of their children. Baker points out that the government and the public tend to judge a person’s parenting skills based on their child’s physical appearance alone. While some individuals in society conclude that obese children have neglectful parents or, in your case Mr. Gortmaker, parents that are unwilling to change their habits and behaviors, Baker’s experience indicates that most parents constantly change their habits and behaviors to ensure their child’s well-being. As the mother of an obese child, Baker has reached out for help. However, the responses are usually the same; most people blame her for her son’s weight suggesting that she needs to teach her child better habits when, in reality, Baker’s son lives an active lifestyle and eats healthy food.
Another claim that you make is, “Parents of various socio-economic backgrounds and ethnicities are reluctant to acknowledge the problem because they often feel that their parenting skills are being called into question” (Gortmaker Par. 9). Your comment implies that parents care more about their status than they do their child’s health. Unfortunately, the solution is more complex than decreasing parental stubbornness. Studies show that Latino and African American families are more likely to live in poorer communities lacking safe public spaces and affordable fresh produce. Statistics indicate that the government needs to take a more prominent role in decreasing the obesity epidemic because most parents have limited powers when it comes to their child’s diet and physical activity.
After reading your article, I understand the association between television and obesity more clearly. Your article has allowed me to better appreciate new perspectives. While I feel that you have overgeneralized some of your main claims, we can agree that appropriate governmental steps must be put forward to terminate this epidemic that has lasted far too long. I hope that you are able to consider and appreciate my perspective. We can both agree that a resolution is needed, and I hope that our suggestions along with the suggestions of others leads to an effective solution.
Sincerely,
Jernelle John