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Essays on the causes and effects of fast food consumption
Health consequences of fast food
Fast food and its effects on obesity rates worldwide
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Minorities are more likely to develop diabetes than whites when it comes to fast food. Statistics from the past and present have proved that the rate of diabetes among minorities in the United States as a result of fast food is a lot higher than that of Whites. There are many disadvantages that have caused the disparities between the racial groups. From the time of slavery until now, minorities particularly African Americans have been affected by many factors. These factors include poverty, emotional distress, poor living condition, bad health and so on. These disadvantages come as a result of the effects that past events imposed on minority communities.
Slavery ended a while ago. But the question I ask daily is, did enslaving the minds of the people really end? In the
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Immigrants also adopt these fast food habits when we settle in the States. We do because we settle amongst the minorities. A recent research by the American Heart Association 's journal circulation, found that people who consume fast food even once a week increase their risk of dying from coronary heart disease by 20 percent in comparison to people who avoid fast food (University of Minnesota Academic Health Center). This automatically places a large number of minorities (African American) at risk. We are at risk because most fast food spots are located in our communities. Our education level is still low compared to whites and therefore a large number of people still depend on these unhealthy meals. For people who eat fast food two-three times each week they face a higher risk. As a black male, what have I done to help improve my health and that of others who fall within my race? Some events became a part of us and they will forever deteriorate the black race. Education is key and therefore educating each other with the little we know will help improve our
We hear it all the time, regarding how fast food is bad for our health, and yet we continue eating it. Life doesn’t slow down and sometimes it is just much easier and better for you timewise to just go through the drive through. In the article “Fighting the Fast Food Habit: Can America Downsize?” it basically says that even though most of the fast food chains and food suppliers are trying to decrease the unhealthy options on their menus, it is too late for it because of our eating habits. We want the unhealthy food. Companies are going to market to what the consumer wants. That’s how they make their profits. To sum it all up, companies are food options it a little healthier, but not for us, they only do as much that is needed for people to keep buying it and still feel like they are eating a little healthier. (Garcia 94) Just because a company says they are making changes doesn’t mean you’re eating healthy. It simply means they are making the food and drinks people are consuming a little healthier, however, it still shouldn’t be considered healthy. They do what they have to do to make money. All in all, you should consider eating less fast food and work toward adopting some good eating
Fast food has infiltrated every nook and cranny of American society. Everywhere you turn you can see a fast food restaurant. An industry that modestly began with very few hot dog and hamburger vendors now has become a multi-international industry selling its products to paying customers. Fast food can be found anywhere imaginable. Fast food is now served at restaurants and drive-through, at stadiums, airports, schools all over the nation. Surprisingly fast food can even be found at hospital cafeterias. In the past, people in the United States used to eat healthier and prepared food with their families. Today, many young people prefer to eat fast food such as high fat hamburgers, French-fries, fried chicken, or pizza in fast
Almost everyone has eaten fast food at some point in their lives, but not everyone realizes the negative effects some fast food can have on our nutrition. My family especially is guilty of eating unhealthy fast food meals at least once a week because of our budget and very busy schedules. In Andrea Freeman’s article entitled, “Fast Food: Oppression through Poor Nutrition,” She argues that fast food has established itself as a main source of nutrition for families that live in average neighborhoods and have low-incomes. Freeman begins the article by explaining how the number of fast food outlets is beginning to grow in poor communities because of the cheap prices and quick service these restaurants are famous for. The overabundance of fast
The fast food industry is one of the largest sectors of the United States economy. Companies such as Burger King, Wendy's, Taco Bell, McDonalds and KFC have all become household names. Each of these companies operates under a similar mission statement: to serve a quick, filling meal for a very low cost. The primary marketing medium for these companies is television where via commercials, they can portray both their products and a lifestyle. Their intense advertising focus on minorities and children, however, has begun to exacerbate the epidemic of obesity that is sweeping our nation. Fast food's televised advertising is a significant contributor to obesity in today's minority youth. By promoting unhealthy tendencies and high-calorie foods as well as an attitude that promotes tolerance of diseases such as obesity, these companies are influencing people to such a degree that it is negatively affecting their health. This dangerous marketing method is not only sweeping America, but other countries as well. The emphasis on fast food companies' immoral marketing raises the question: Are people eating for hunger or because of an advertised, influenced habit? However, we must also address whether or not fast food companies are mainly responsible, or if the blame also covers their consumers.
The fast food has a negative impact on the American people. The fast food industry can be compared to that of a drug dealer pushing their product down the throats of suspecting, but ever willing customers. The community is doing nothing to stop this going industry and yet encouraging them to continue to impact the health of its customers.
In “Don’t Blame the Eater,” David Zinzcenko illustrates a very valid argument. His conflict seems to be with the food industry and its horrible variety of products. The results have been staggering to the public’s health, especially teenagers. Fast food restaurants are Zinzcenko’s primary target for causing this epidemic. Zinzcenko stated, “lunch and dinner, for me, was a daily choice between McDonald’s, Taco Bell, Kentucky Fried Chicken or Pizza Hut. Then as now, these were the only available options for an American kid to get an affordable meal” (pg.241). This statement is very true and has been for a while. Fast food is very convenient, especially for teenagers. People are reaching obesity at a very early age and remain that way throughout their lives.
We need to make people aware of the many side effects of eating fast food. They need to know what they are doing to their bodies. And if America still wants fast food, we need to have people exercise more, a lot of Americans out there eat a lot of fast food and then just don’t exercise. A lot don’t exercise at all. America is becoming obese.
Many of the low-income neighborhoods have more availability of fast food centers such as mc-Donald and Wendy’s than in wealthier areas influencing individuals to have unhealthy diets, like seen in East Harlem in New York City.
Eating habits have become a cause of obesity because most people in America decide to take the fast route. Fast food has become so prevalent in the day to day lives of so many families and individuals. The cost and convenience of fast food has led to an increase in consumption, which does not help our cause. According to Carey Polis’ article in The Huffington Post, fast food is about $550 cheaper per year than choosing the healthy option. That means people are more likely to choose a cheeseburger from McDonald’s over fresh fruit and vegetables from the produce section at the grocery store. Along with how cheap it is to get our hands on fast food, the convenience makes it even more difficult to resist. With a fast food restaurant on every corner of every block in town, it makes it much easier for someone to pick up on a meal on their daily commute rather than actually trying to cook something healthy. Choosing fast food is not the most nutritious way to go either. Fast food is filled with sugar, fats, salts, and calories. It is usually low in nutrition and high in what are considered to be “empty” calories. By definition obesity is caused by the excess in...
Many people all around the world and especially in the United States are paying money to poison their own bodies. Fast food is a major problem in the United States. Many people are attracted to fast food restaurants because of their low prices, but fast food is the cause of many health issues and is the main reason for the growing population of obese individuals in America. Although fast food can be a good option for a quick and cheap meal, fast food is very bad for the human body because it is full of questionable ingredients and can cause obesity, heart disease and raise cholesterol.
The price needs not only to be affordable, but to be worth the time and effort that goes into preparing a meal. This is why fast food prices remain so low, and accessible to all social classes. Different groups have been impacted by the formation and rapid growth of the fast food industry- altering our ever-changing relationship to the things we eat. The industry places a disproportionate burden on poor and immigrant families, who are more likely to be working for minimum wage at fast food restaurants and cannot afford healthier prepared meals. This results is a disproportionate effect on the health of low-income people. Specific social groups that are affected include immigrants, women, and low-skilled workers (Talwar, 2002, 88). Poor families are also less likely to have the time to cook meals, as they will need to work longer hours, or even multiple jobs. For these reasons, fast food becomes a main dietary component rather than a treat or supplement when in a hurry. The convenience and low cost may appear to benefit the working class, but the health effects make it clear this isn’t so. “Becoming modern, it turns out, is not simply adding on new items of behavior, and when societies change, they rarely instruct those that are changing about the things they may be losing” (Wilk, 2006,
The atmosphere of the neighborhood and household is a justification on how parents are the influence to their kids bodies. If a neighborhood is close to fast food restaurants it could lead to bad eating habits like going there everyday and buying a burger off the dollar menu. In addition, if say a family does not bring in a high-income that could cause bad eating habits also. If parents do not bring a big income and have to have a budget, fast food is the way to go. Easy, fast, and cheap. Also if a parent makes little income they might have to work overtime or have more than one job. When people work to much they tend to get tired faster and do not have the time and energy to prepare healthy meals or even an meals at all. To explain more on this issue I found an article that connected to my points citing, “Children who rely on fast food may tend to have parents who do not have the means desire or time to purchase or prepare healthy foods at home. This is what really is driving children’s obesity and what needs to be addressed in any solution” (Klausner 1). The author, Klausner drew attention that because parents are so busy and tied up with work , there is no possible way that children can stay healthy. The parents have a huge contribution to why fast food makes children obese. Today many Americans suffer in poverty. Poverty is a huge
The research found that in 1991 four states had obesity rates of 15 percent or higher. Today, there are thirty-seven states that have those significant obesity rates. “Rarely do chronic conditions such as obesity,” the CDC scientists claimed, “spread with the speed and dispersion characteristic of a communicable disease epidemic.”(CDC) Researchers also found that the rise in obesity has quite a few causes, but genetics is not one of them. “There has not been a big change in the American gene pool for a while according to the researchers.”(CDC) There has been however, a big change in the way Americans eat and live. Over the past few decades, more fast food chains have been created and so has their popularity. Researchers have found a correlation between how often consumers eat fast food and their weight. According to a 15-year study of 3,000 adults, people who ate at fast food restaurants more than twice per week gained about nine to eleven pounds more than people who ate at fast food restaurants less than once per week. (Pereira 36-42) One would assume that a person who eats fast food gains weight because it is not as healthy as other food. That is partially true. Some of the top reasons fast food causes obesity are the low quality ingredients, the
“Do you really love me?” Released from war and arriving at a train station to meet the potential love of his life; Lieutenant Blandford is about to face one of the most challenging trials of temptation life has to offer. There has always been a moral debate on whether or not looks matter in relationships. In “Appointment With Love”, a short story written by S.L. Kishor, the author explores the theme of meaningful relationships by elaborating on the genuine interactions between Lieutenant Blandford and Hollis Meynell.
It's quick, it's convenient, it's delicious. Fast food is the most popular quick-service nourishment. It plays an important roll in the lives that we humans so perfectly laid out for ourselves. Why try cooking when you can get food at a much faster rate? To most people, fast food is the answer to all of our problems. It is good in every possible way, or is it? Although some might deny the consequences, we all know there is a steep price to pay. So here by today, I am asking you to have a closer look at the hidden dangers. In my opinion, we should free the world of fast food because, not only are they adding the amount of cruelty to animals and draining money out of our pockets, they're also taking great risk of the health of billions of people.