I believe that cartoons shouldn’t be used to promote unhealthy foods.

People wouldn’t think that those harmless cartoon characters could connect to the high percentage of obese children in the U.S. However, everyday all over the U.S., children under the age of 12 are being persuaded to eat certain foods by advertising companies sponsoring cartoon characters.

Because the cartoon characters show up repeatedly on commercials during children’s shows, children are influenced to persuade their parents into buying these unhealthy products. According to online resources, 24 percent of the population ages 2-17 in the U.S. are obese. That’s almost 14 million people. A high percentage of these children end up growing into obese adults. In Maine alone, 21.3 percent of adults are obese.

Let’s say during Saturday cartoons there is a food commercial every 15 minutes. I don’t know about you, but whenever a cookie commercial comes on it makes me want to go and eat one. It’s the same thing for these kids because the characters draw them in and make them want to eat the food. If you notice that in cereal commercials, such as Trix, the rabbit never gets the cereal because “Trix are for kids.” The way I see it, children assume that since Trix are for kids, their parents should be buying it for them.

It is our responsibility to bring this matter to our Congress’ attention. It is our duty to stop these commercials because it is affecting the health of American children.

Haley McConnell