Annotated Biblography

1. Increasing obesity in children and adolescents: An alarming epidemic
Kimberly M Wilkinson. JAAPA : Journal of the American Academy of Physician Assistants. Montvale: Dec 2008. Vol. 21, Iss. 12; pg. 31, 7 pgs

Abstract (Summary)
Currently, adolescents have an increased intake of sweetened beverages, French fries, pizza, and fast food entrees, and a consequent inadequate intake of recommended fruits, vegetables, dairy foods, whole grains, lean meats, and fish.11 School lunch programs are also to blame for the rise in the numbers of overweight children. Behavior targets include increasing consumption of fruits, vegetables, and fiber-containing grain products, switching from full-fat to 1% or fat-free dairy products after age 2 years, preparing and eating family meals at home, increasing daily physical activity, and limiting sedentary time.8 Interventions that include changes to classroom and physical education curricula and after-school programs as well as dietary modifications in school meals and vending machine products, can improve dietary patterns and increase physical activity.

Annotation: Since my paper is pertaining to fast food and nutrition, this information is important since it talks about fast food entrees.

2. Fatty meals, advertising linked to youth obesity
Anonymous. The Nation's Health. Washington: Apr 2004. Vol. 34, Iss. 3; pg. 7, 1 pgs

Abstract (Summary)
Food advertising and marketing aimed at children as well as fat-laden restaurant meals are two recent targets of public health advocates seeking to stem skyrocketing childhood obesity rates. To counteract the problem, Center for Science in the Public Interest called for nutrition labeling on restaurant menus. Legislation that would require all chain restaurants to print nutritional information such as calories, fat and sodium on menus is pending in five states, the District of Columbia and Congress.

Annotation: The fast food industry is advertising to the younger generations and those are this is the generation which is increasing in obesity.

3. the fast track to fat
Mary Ellen Strote. Shape. Woodland Hills: Jun 2005. Vol. 24, Iss. 10; pg. 104, 1 pgs

Abstract (Summary)
Researchers tracked the fast-food habits of more than 3,000 healthy men and women ages 18-30. After 15 years, people who had frequented fast-food restaurants more than twice a week gained ten pounds more than those who went less than once weekly.
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Copyright American Media, Inc. Jun 2005
If you eat fast food often and are a young adult, you may be more likely to enter middle age fatter and at greater risk for insulin resistance (a risk factor for diabetes) than your peers who forgo the drive-through. Researchers tracked the fast-food habits of more than 3,000 healthy men and women ages 18-30. After 15 years, people who had frequented fast-food restaurants more than twice a week gained 10 pounds more than those who went less than once weekly. They also had double the increase in insulin resistance, a risk factor for adult-onset diabetes, says Gina Wei, M.D., project officer of the study. If you must eat fast food, Wei suggests you look up your meal's nutritional content before ordering. - Mary Ellen Strote Jafe

Annotation: I was informed that research has proven that those who eat at a fast food restaurant more than 2 times a week gained 10 pounds more than those who went less than once. To me this correlates obesity and fast food.

4. Fast Food Really Can Be Unhealthy...
Anonymous. Child Health Alert. Newton Highlands: Mar 2005. Vol. 23 pg. 3, 1 pgs

Abstract (Summary)
Obesity is widely recognized as a major public health problem in the US, and health experts are particularly concerned about the dramatic increases in obesity among children. Two major causes are lack of exercise and diet; when it comes to diet, many have blamed fast food. In a study, researchers have found out that the more people ate fast food, the more their body weight increased.
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Copyright Child Health Alert Inc. Mar 2005
Obesity is widely recognized as a major public health problem in the U.S., and health experts are particularly concerned about the dramatic increases in obesity among children. Two major causes are lack of exercise and diet; when it comes to diet, many have blamed fast food. Though it is surprising, there have been few scientific studies that have actually considered the impact of fast-food on body weight. To fill that gap, researchers reviewed data on over 3,000 young white and black adults who took part in a 15-year follow-up study of cardiovascular risk factors. The authors studied how often the subjects ate at fast-food restaurants over the 15-year period and they measured changes in bodyweight over that time.

Annotation: There are more than one cause to obesity yet fast food is the one that contributes to the majority of obesity.

5. Compensation for Energy Intake From Fast Food Among Overweight and Lean Adolescents
Cara B Ebbeling, Kelly B Sinclair, Mark A Pereira, Erica Garcia-Lago, et al. JAMA. Chicago: Jun 16, 2004. Vol. 291, Iss. 23; pg. 2828, 6 pgs

Abstract (Summary)
Fast food consumption has increased greatly among children in recent years, in tandem with the obesity epidemic. Fast food tends to promote a positive energy balance and, for this reason, may result in weight gain. Ebbeling et al test the hypothesis that overweight adolescents are more susceptible to the adverse effects of fast food than lean adolescents.

Annotation: The consumption of fast food in the adolescence time frame greatly deals with the obesity rates. Since fast food restaurants promote to adolescence it makes sense to me to why that is where the majority of obesity comes from.

6. Governing childhood obesity: Framing regulation of fast food advertising in the Australian print media
Julie Henderson, John Coveney, Paul Ward, Anne Taylor. Social Science & Medicine. Oxford: Nov 2009. Vol. 69, Iss. 9; pg. 1402

Abstract (Summary)
Childhood obesity is widely constructed as reaching epidemic proportions with consumption of fast food viewed as a contributing factor. This paper analyses media reporting of the regulation of fast food consumption to children. A media search of five Australian newspapers for the period January 2006 to June 2008 elicited 100 articles relating to the regulation of fast food advertising to children. Content and thematic analysis of the articles reveal conflicting perspectives on the role of the state; the level of accountability of the food and advertising industries; and responsibilities of parents for regulating fast food consumption in children. The Federal Government, food and advertising industries and free to air broadcasters favor industry self-regulation and personal responsibility for fast food consumption while the proponents of government regulation include consumer groups, state government health ministers, nutrition and public health academics and medical and health foundations. The regulation of fast food advertising to children is discussed in relation to ideas about governance and the public health strategies which follow from these ideas. The paper argues that all proposed solutions are indicative of a neoliberal approach to the governance of health insofar as the responsibility for regulation of food marketing is viewed as lying with industry and the regulation of lifestyle risk is viewed as an individual responsibility. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]

Annotation: Fast food is viewed as a contributing factor to obesity and the fast food consumption with children is majorly increasing. The fast food industry is most advertised to children with children’s meals and including a toy with them.