Health professionals and organizations have urged the McDonald's Corp. to stop marketing junk food to kids and retire its clown mascot, Ronald McDonald. They have also asked the company to stop promoting Happy Meals and other combo packages to kids due to health reasons. Health experts believe that the company is luring the kids to eat more junk food which in turn leads to obesity.

The problem of obesity has not only increased the health care costs but has also overburdened the health care system. Obesity can lead to various health complications including heart attack, stroke and diabetes.

On Wednesday, more than 550 health professionals and institutions signed a letter to Marion Nestle, a Professor at New York University's Department of Nutrition, Food Studies and Public Health to take appropriate steps to deal with the problem of marketing of junk food to kids.

During the annual meeting to be held on Thursday, a petition signed by 20,000 parents and community members will be presented to the McDonald's executives. The petition calls on the chain to stop marketing to kids and promote healthy food to improve the health of kids.