Community report: Fast food can harm your children

Diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol are a few chronic diseases which were believed to be restricted only to the "older community" just a few decades ago.

But shockingly, its frequency is quite high among children these days. Blindly pointing the blame to one's heredity or genes is not right, because its contribution to our health is limited.

While obesity in children can be attributed generally to a sedentary lifestyle, I think it also particularly has to do with multiplying fast-food counters at every nook and cranny of the city!

A consequence of the evolving business tricks employed by many fast-food outlets is the attractive and hunger-inducing advertisements left at our doorsteps regularly.

Their huge success lies in the fact that children and teenagers especially find it impossible to turn a blind eye toward these irresistible offers.

Hence, their weekend is habitually marked by bingeing at the food courts.

I certainly do not imply that we must demand for the closure of fast-food outlets. However, through this community report, I intend to raise awareness among parents who, due to stiff schedules, often find fast-food to be a boon and resort to providing children with such meals every now and then.

Eating out at fast-food corners with friends and family is the best way to socialise, when done occasionally. But when this is turned into a habit, it can risk the life of the growing community, who become innocent victims of chronic illness at an early age.

The reader is a grade 12 pupil of Our Own English High School, in Dubai.

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