“Fast food chains must take some of the blame for the action burden problem” (Goode 427). Corporations are not the cause of the growing obesity epidemic among children, caused by irresponsible parents who do not properly care for their children, not by corporations trying to succeed. Companies are not at fault because a parent voluntarily decided to purchase an unhealthy meal for their child. Fast food companies initially offer larger portions for adults, then trickle down to children's meals. These companies have reduced the price of meals to accommodate more people and acquire more customers. They advertise to announce new products to the public. These companies frequently open locations to become more available and win more business. They offer a variety of choices to accommodate any customer with special tastes or needs. Companies don't bully people into buying their products, it's entirely the consumer's choice and the company's actions reflect that. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay The growing epidemic of childhood obesity may be caused by the increased portions that fast food restaurants offer today. Erica Goode describes the problem in her article “The Gorge-Yourself Environment.” “From giant sodas to supersized burgers to all-you-can-eat buffets, the American approach to food can be summed up in one word: Big” (Goode 427). Americans pride themselves on having an excess of everything, whether it be food, cars, or other materials. This results in Americans looking for the biggest, tastiest meals. For some, it's about the challenge of consuming the heaviest burger, while for others it's about getting the most, "for the best bang for your buck." A McDonald's advertisement shows the mentality of getting more for less, as the advertisement tries to sell the supersize option as having more food at a higher value. McDonald's was a pioneer of larger portions with oversized meals that Americans loved because they felt it was a good deal. As a result, children are affected by larger portion sizes, as evident by the childhood obesity epidemic ravaging the United States. “In 2012, as many as 18 percent of children ages 6 to 11 were considered obese, up from 7 percent in 1980” (Kaplan). This statistic simply shows how staggering the epidemic is and how vulnerable children are becoming to obesity over time. If parents do not make an effort to provide properly proportioned meals to their children, the percentage of obese children will increase. With larger portions, it would be obvious that prices would increase; however, prices have reduced over time. The prices of fast food meals have gradually decreased to attract low-income customers. For example, there is currently a special offer at McDonald's on a 50-piece Chicken McNugget meal for ten dollars. This deal appeals to low-income families as it can feed a family on just ten dollars. This places low-income children at greater risk of developing childhood obesity. According to Goode, “price has a powerful influence” (Goode 428). This is true as a parent would rather purchase the 50 piece Chicken McNugget offering as it is cheaper and easier than cooking a healthy meal for their children at home. Also in every happy meal you can purchase there is a toy included in the happy meal. This toy can entertain your child for at least a couple of hours. This seems like a great deal for any parent as they can feed their child and distract them for a whileat a relatively cheap price. While it's somewhat of a relief to have the ability to distract a child for a while so a parent can have a chance to rest, it's irresponsible to frequently feed your child fast food. The child may beg and plead for the meal, but ultimately it is up to the parent to purchase it and feed it to their child. Price has a huge influence on fast food consumption. However, meal advertising is what informs the public about the offers and what further entices them to go to the local fast food restaurant. Fast food restaurants have created very effective advertisements aimed at children and show them on all children's television channels. An excerpt from the article “The Gorge-Yourself Environment” perfectly describes human nature when informed about free food. “Keep the office table stocked with cookies and candy, and people will nibble throughout the workday, even if they're not hungry” (Goode 427). When someone knows that there is free or cheap food within their reach, they will get it just because it is free or cheap, even if it is unhealthy. Another way fast food companies advertise their meals is not to talk about the meal directly but to include it in a restaurant advertisement. For example, McDonald's and Burger King usually keep children entertained in their "play places", eating their happy meals and playing with the toys they receive. These ads show a happy, playful environment that makes kids beg their parents to stop at the local fast food restaurant. Another way fast food restaurants advertise their products is by including a well-known celebrity or athlete. According to TIME magazine, “there is more evidence of how powerful a celebrity, especially a professional athlete, can be in influencing children's behavior.” This can greatly influence children as they see athletes as role models and will want to imitate them. This leads them to visit the fast food restaurant as their role model does. A good example of this is a Burger King ad where David Beckham endorses one of their milkshakes. Some ads do not advertise a specific product, but advertise the opening of a new location. The availability of fast food restaurants in the United States is comparable to any other country. Fast food restaurants are within reach in every city. Companies locate their restaurants in highly populated centers such as shopping malls or near schools. As evident in an academic study, “In our sample. . . high school students were disproportionately exposed to both FFRs [Fast Food Restaurants] and TOs near schools” (D'Angelo p. 1561). These locations are positioned near schools to target students looking for a cheap meal after school. These restaurants are also prioritizing placing locations near low-income families. It's the parents' job to show their children that there are better options to satisfy their after-school hunger. However, it is natural for someone to take advantage of what is available and this is highlighted by a study contained in Erica Goode's article. “When the candy was in plain sight on the workers' desks, they ate an average of nine pieces each” (Goode 428). These workers would consume more candy the more readily available it was to them. This is caused by the reasoning that there is no direct consequence to eating the food since it is free and requires little to no work to obtain. In a Mcdonald's advertisement there is a clock that says 2:04 am and it says that Mcdonald's is still open and this shows how easy it is to visit Mcdonald's regardless of the time. As more fast food restaurants are created, they become more.