Not a Very Happy Meal
We are not surprised about the results of a study on the consumption of fast food among California’s 2 to 5 year olds, published last month by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research.
But we are extremely concerned because of its findings.
Almost two-thirds of children of those ages eat some type of fast food at least once a week; for 10% of them, that happens three or more times a week. The percentage of Latino children who eat fast food at least once a week is higheran alarming 70%.
Even worse, the study found a direct relationship between consuming fast food and drinking sodas, although in general, the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages among kids has declined in recent years.
This combination of processed foods that are high in fat, sodium and carbohydrates with sweetened drinks sold conveniently packaged for little ones with the horrible nickname of “happy meal”helps establish a pattern that leads to early obesity. We know that he long term consequences of childhood obesity are rarely happy.
The UCLA study was conducted for First 5 California, a state commission that was created precisely to stimulate healthy food habits during the first five years of life.
Public policies can certainly help create positive changes in this area. However, we believe that these policies must take into account the social conditions of the groups with not-so-healthy lifestyles.
This study also found that parents in the poorest homes have less control over what their children eat. Blogger Linda Tirado talks about this in an essay that has gone viral, about how for a woman with two jobs and two kids to take care of, fast food is a relief and at times even a consolation.
