Photo Analysis

The above picture was posted by Examiner.com accompanying an article on childhood obesity. This picture has a center point, and it is the baby. The small child is is reaching for the chicken nuggets, and grabbing for the french fries. Behind him/her is a large fountain drink. The proportion of the child to the parents is dramatic. 

It appears by the facial expression of the small child it almost seems like the child was having a fit before the parents gave him/her the french fries. The body language of the parents further clarifies it. The assumed father looks like he is just handing over the french fries as quickly as possible, and the mother has her hands clasped like she didn't know how else to calm the child. It appears the parents are both workers. The father appears to be in a suit, and the mother in a dress in heels while the baby is only in a diaper and bib. This could mean that when they pick up their child they are wanting to quickly get food for him/her because they do not feel like cooking. 

The large soda, fries and nuggets proportion to the child makes me believe that those are the kinds of food the child eats. The red color makes me think of McDonald's, and with the $1.00 any size soda, makes me think they got the larger soda because it is a "deal."

This can help strengthen my research question because although the media advertises the large portion sizes, the parents are the ones choosing to give their child the large portions, and unhealthy meal. When a child is that small they cannot make certain choices for themselves, and it is part of the parent's responsibility to teach them how to make good food choices. If I'd let my daughter choose her meals everyday it would consist of candy, cookies, juice and pancakes. I however as a parent have been teaching her that those goodies are okay every once in a while, but not every day. As she has gotten older she now almost always eats her fruits and vegetables first, and when I ask her what she wants for a snack she'll say an apple, or grapes, or other nutritious snacks.


Works Cited:
Untitled. Photograph. ExaminerWeb. 16 Oct 2013. <http://www.examiner.com/article/childhood-obesity-junk-food-commercials-are-stealing-out-children>.

Research Question

My research question is:
With childhood obesity at an all-time high and blame placed upon the media, are parents really to blame for their children's health?

Based on my current knowledge of childhood obesity I believe it is the parents’ fault that their child is overweight. I am a mother of a two year old, and I have worked in a child care center for four years. I have witnessed many different parenting techniques as well as different income levels. Every family is different, but health is something that every family faces regardless of income or education. I do believe media has some play into the crisis, but ultimately it is the job of a parent to make decisions for their child regarding their health and well-being.

Some responses to my research question might be that people think the media has a huge part of the obesity of children, others might say there can be other lying health conditions that have been passed from generation to generation that might be the culprit, some might even believe there is an income barrier that prevents low-income families the resources and income to make healthy decisions, and others might agree thinking parents are to blame.

To gain credibility as well as strengthen my argument, I want to find out statistics of childhood obesity and the sources in which can lead to childhood obesity. Long-term affects might be able to help strengthen my argument, but depending on the content I find may dilute my purpose. I want to explore other opposing viewpoints and figure out what they believe is the main source. Another area that can help is learning what the average child at each stage in development needs nutrition wise. I would also like to read about research that has been conducted regarding the obesity and find correlating links of why it is still growing after the release of many educational programs have been released. Finally, I think it would be beneficial to "people-watch" and see what kind of food choices parents are making for their children, although I do not know if it would be considered credible since it will be me witnessing the behavior.

Introduction

My name is, Brittany, and I am a mother and soon-to-be wife (in a week!). I am an observer, so I evaluate every interaction and situation before I fully am able to open-up. I currently work in school-age child care where I get to be a part of over fifty families' lives. I have been working with children since I began babysitting when I was 12, and have worked in a formal center for four years now. I currently work at a low-income school where I see many different cultural and behavioral differences. Although I have dedicated many years to working with children, I am actually studying to be an accountant. I am excited to start exploring and learning about childhood obesity, and the causes. I have been a witness to so many children and the struggles they face being over-weight, and I hope to create a passionate argumentative paper over it. I hope you all enjoy this journey with me.

Brittany