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