| A United States research, published in Dec | | | | after their children had outpatient visits. |
| 2006's issue of Pediatrics, suggested that | | | | They are Children's Memorial; Ronald McDonald |
| having fast-food restaurants in children's | | | | Children's Hospital in Maywood, which use |
| hospitals may encourage young patients' | | | | McDonald's branding but has no McDonald's |
| families to eat fast food and to think that | | | | restaurant; and the University of Chicago's |
| it is relatively healthy. | | | | children hospital, which has no McDonald's |
| | | | restaurant or branding on site. |
| Parents of children who received outpatient | | | | |
| treatment at Children's Memorial were much | | | | The study found that 56 percent of |
| more likely to buy McDonald's food on the day | | | | participants at Children's Memorial had fast |
| their youngsters were treated than parents of | | | | food on the survey day, compared with 29 |
| children treated at Chicago-area hospitals | | | | percent at Ronald McDonald Children's |
| without McDonald's. | | | | Hospital and 33 percent at the University of |
| | | | Chicago Hospital. Most of those at all 3 |
| Parents of children treated at Children's | | | | hospitals who had fast food that day chose |
| Memorial also were twice as likely to rate | | | | McDonald's. |
| McDonald's food as a relatively healthy | | | | |
| choice than those whose children were treated | | | | Nevertheless, some health professionals do |
| elsewhere. | | | | feel that occasional use of fast food to |
| | | | treat sick children going through difficult |
| In view of the prevailing concerns about the | | | | treatment is not really a big issue. If one |
| childhood obesity, this may be a troubling | | | | chooses wisely, fast food needs not be an |
| phenomenon. About 17 percent of US children | | | | unhealthy choice, according to a dietitian. |
| are considered as obese. Heavy consumption of | | | | |
| calorie-laden, fatty fast food is quoted as | | | | As what a dietitian suggests, one should keep |
| one of the possible causes. | | | | portion sizes small and limit eating |
| | | | hamburgers to only once a week. A hamburger |
| Obesity is a risk factor for health problems | | | | and orange juice give 350 kcal and 10g of |
| such as diabetes, hypertension, stroke, high | | | | fat, of which 3g is made up of saturated fat. |
| blood cholesterol, etc., which will | | | | |
| ultimately lead to development of heart | | | | 2 years ago, doctors at Cleveland Clinic, |
| disease. | | | | known for heart disease research tried to |
| | | | remove McDonald's from the hospital. Thought |
| Data collected showed that at least 59 of the | | | | the restaurant is still there, it began |
| United States' 250 children's hospitals have | | | | offering healthy alternatives to Big Macs and |
| fast-food restaurants. This may give 2 | | | | French fries after discussion with clinic |
| different messages: as health-care profession | | | | officials. |
| promoting health and saying obesity is a huge | | | | |
| medical problem..., and then implicitly | | | | It is more important for doctors and nurses |
| encouraging it. | | | | to continue to talk to parents about what |
| | | | constitutes a healthy diet for kids, and to |
| The researchers surveyed 386 parents and | | | | teach the kids to choose healthier options |
| other adults leaving 3 Chicago-area hospitals | | | | when eating out. |