Fast food companies, who strategically promote junk foods on social media platforms targeting
poor and low income countries, could lead to bigger health problems in these countries later. A
study conducted by Dr Omni Cassidy, assistant professor of Population Health at New York
University’s Grossman School of Medicine, and her collaborators found that fast food companies
typically focus on low-income countries pushing junk foods using attractive advertisement
campaigns and price points targeting young consumers. The findings of the research, published
in BMJ Nutrition Prevention and Health, observed that the marketing practices of the
companies such as McDonald’s, are specifically focussed on the younger population in order to
promote junk food that is rich in fat, sugar and salt, which are known to be linked to poor diet
and health, but at the same time healthcare systems in developing countries are mostly
inadequate to treat the diseases developing from junk food addiction. The report highlighted
that more sensitization is needed to educate young consumers on the serious ill effects of the
same.