Do we need health warning pictures of obese children on fast food?

Jo Hartley
March 17, 2015
The Age
REPRINTS & PERMISSIONS

A mock-up of what the health warning could look like was posted to health advocacy group, Game Changer’s Facebook page and has since gone viral. Photo: Facebook
If you are anything like me, and a bit addicted to social media then you will most likely have seen a mock up Big Mac image doing the rounds in the last few days.
The image depicting two overweight children on the box reads ‘Big Macs make big children’, and is being advocated by some as the way forward when it comes to health warnings on fast foods.
But would it really be effective?

Photo: Facebook
The general concensus from parents seems to be a resounding no.
“I don’t like it and don’t think that fat shaming kids is appropriate,” says Liz, mum to three. “Most kids brought up on a regular diet of fast food are doing so because of their parents bad choices, not theirs.”
“I also think you’re on a slippery slope by holding up the “fat kids” as a subject of ridicule. Some kids are large due to genetics or other health issues. Why make a point of how undesirable that body shape is to little kids who have no hope of discerning between the difference?”
Megan, mum to two, agrees and says, “I think pictures of kids looking like that is missing the point. I’m all for people knowing what’s in their food though, so maybe more labelling in an informative way – not scare tactics – would be a good thing.”
Louise, a mum to one, says a focus on health is preferable to a focus on body size.
However, some people believe that, much like cigarette warnings, this kind of visual may be effective.
They advocate that it may make people stop and think about what their children are eating and the subsequent impacts on their health.
But the truth is that junk food is far more wide reaching than McDonalds, and for many children it’s only a ‘treat’ food on rare occasions anyhow.
So this begs the question of how far we would have to go in applying these warnings.
“These kind of warnings would need to be on all poppa boxes, ‘healthy’ muesli bars and most other processed food items to stay consistent,” says Lisa, mum of two. “There are a lot of food items worse than a Big Mac out there!”
Mum of two, Virginia, echoes this sentiment. “McDonald’s is one of many foods out there that, if eaten irresponsibly, would cause a multitude of severe health issues. Why not slap a picture of insulin on every chocolate bar? Why don’t we rally to stop school canteens from selling finger buns and pop tops? And sausage rolls. And bread. A bread loaf has a ton of sugar in it. Do we really need to go on?”
Louise echoes this sentiment, and questions, “Why not talk about what is healthy and what kids SHOULD be eating, rather than what they shouldn’t?”
Liz agrees and says it’s not about the food but rather the way that people use it.
Fiona Sutherland, Accredited Practising Dietitian at Body Positive Australia says that this kind of packaging would be both upsetting, and ineffective.
“We know – and have known for a very long time – that bringing awareness to someone’s weight in a deliberately shaming way is a very poor way to motivate people to engage in health behaviours, whether that is food, exercise or self care,” she says.
Sutherland says that obesity is stigmatized as a condition that is changeable and controllable by each individual, and many people still perpetuate the assumption that overweight people are impulsive, lazy, and less likeable overall.
“This kind of packaging could absolutely raise stigma amongst parents and children, as these kids are portrayed as “children no-one wants to be like.”
Sutherland says that parents are exposed to such mixed and conflicting message about health, that more education is needed.
“There are strong beliefs that health has a direct correlation with weight, therefore anyone of a larger size is unhealthy, and anyone of small or moderate size is healthy despite the behaviours they may or may not be doing. This is simply not true.”
Sutherland states that optimal health “looks” different for everyone, and comes in a variety of sizes.
“Certainly improving the quality of the foods – and eating less of the poor quality foods – we are eating is a great start towards better health,” she says. “But we don’t need to “quit” anything in particular to be our most healthy, nor do we need to shame people into adopting healthier behaviours.”
Dr Marny Lishman, clinical psychologist, says that education and early intervention is key to stopping obesity and encouraging healthy eating.
“Healthy lifestyle choices need to be put as a priority as early as possible,” she says. “They need to be as important as Maths & English at schools.”
In addition, Lishman says there are a number of other reasons why people engage in unhealthy eating.
“I just think the issue is bigger than just an individual choice. We need to look at the wider societal issues,” she concludes.