Steve Easterbrook, chief executive of McDonald's UK, says that while "the issue of obesity is complex," videogames are at least partly to blame for Britain's overweight children.
Easterbrook observed to the TimesOnline, "there's fewer green spaces and kids are sat home playing computer games on the TV when in the past they'd have been burning off energy outside." For "energy," feel free to substitute "chicken McNuggets."
According to Easterbrook, the government, the food and drink industry, and individuals themselves make up the "three pillars" that need to work together to solving the obesity issue. For his part, Easterbrook has tried to "broaden out the menu and provide more options for people," as well as lowering the sodium, sugar, and trans fat levels in McDonald's food.
Though he didn't comment on it, one would suppose that Easterbrook would find particular fault with Burger King, who added incentive for kids to stay inside by selling 3.2 million copies of Sneak King, Big Bumpin', and *Pocketbike Racer. *Then again, he might not, since McDonald's UK has videogames of its own.
Big Macs and healthy profits [Times Online]**
