Wait a second!
More handpicked essays just for you.
More handpicked essays just for you.
Home cooked meals vs fast food
Fast food vs junk food
Health effects of fast food consumption
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
Recommended: Home cooked meals vs fast food
Since the beginning of this great country we call the United States of America, food has been a huge part of our culture. Whether it’s at family gatherings or you’re out on the town with your friends, food always seems to be the focal point of the activity. It’s no secret that Americans love their food, but do we love it too much? Obesity has been a major issue that our country has faced in the last few years. Whether it’s children or adults, obesity can affect everyone. The question is, are fast food restaurants and junk food the cause of this problem? People tend to blame restaurants like McDonald’s and Taco Bell for their unhealthy menu options, but they don’t dig any deeper into the problem. To most, they turn a blind eye to the other …show more content…
Whether it’s the allure of the toys included in the meal or the quickness that the food is available, fast food seems like an easy choice. Since the food contains unhealthy amounts of things like sodium and fat, it’s no wonder people blame these restaurants for the obesity problems. Also, fast food restaurants make their profit from deals and promotions. The amount of advertisement focused on fast food is another reason it’s so popular. While the items at fast food restaurants contribute to our country’s obesity, that isn’t the only …show more content…
While the argument about the popularity of the fast food restaurants being the main cause of the problem is plausible, it isn’t entirely accurate. For example, people tend to think that fast food restaurants are cheaper than cooking at home, so that’s why people eat out so much. A quote from our book says this, “a typical order for a family of four-for example, two Big Macs, a cheeseburger, six chicken McNuggets, two medium and two small fries, and two medium and two small sodas-costs, at the McDonald’s a hundred steps from where I write, about $28. They went on to say, “You can serve a roasted chicken with vegetables along with a simple salad and milk for about $14, and feed four or even six people (Bittman, 660). This proves that the price of fast food isn’t economical. Also, fast food restaurants aren’t the only source of food that’s bad for the body. At every grocery store and gas station, there are processed foods that taste amazing, but can damage your body. While fast food and junk foods play a part in our weight gain, I believe that eating processed foods also contributes to our obesity. There are many things that contribute to the increasing obesity rates, and it’s going to take a united attack to stop it. With that being said, I think everyone should read the labels on their food and know what’s going into their body. One of the many ways to do this is to buy more
Common sense seems to dictate that fast food is bad for you, however, many Americans consume fast food on a monthly, weekly, or even daily basis. In “Don’t Blame the Eater,” David Zinczenko argues that fast-food companies and the food industry are to blame for America’s obesity epidemic, essentially that it is not the individuals fault for becoming obese, and that in essence, fast-food companies ought to take responsibility for the health issues induced by consuming the food. He explains how bombarded you are with unhealthy, greasy, and fattening food everywhere you look; whereas it is much more difficult to access healthy alternatives. He describes the vicious cycle of purchasing cheap ailing meals, rather
The obesity problem in this country has gotten worse, a lot worse, and the surge in obesity can be tied directly to fast food. I was appalled by the fact that since 1980 the number of people either fat of obese has doubled, and in that time frame there are twice as many overweight children and three times as many overweight adolescents. Looking strictly at the numbers, it is very easy to find a direct correlation between the number of overweight or obese individuals and the number of fast food establishments. However these fast food outlets are not created in a vacuum, they are servicing a demand. Each day one in four Americans visits a fast food restaurant. Our culture has evolved to one of immediate gratification, we want it convenient, and we want it now. The fast food industry has simply seized that cultural demand and has taken advantage of it all the way to the bank. I think we have a cultural weakness that looks for someone to blame for our problems and McDonalds certainly makes a nice target.
Millions of American people buy fast food every day without thinking about where, how and why. The ramifications of fast food is impacting the American people both around the waist line and the community where they live at. “As the old saying goes: you are what you eat.” (Schlosser) The customer have made the choices to eat fast food or not. The industry doesn’t care about the customers; studies have shown that the fast food industry is the reason for the rise of American obesity. “Live fast and die young” (Moore); this could not be more true when looking at the impact of the fast food industry.
One out of every three Americans is obese, and the majority of these obese people in the United States have eaten regularly at fast food restaurants. As the obesity rate increases, the number of fast food restaurants goes up as well. Although it is not certain, many believe that obesity in the United States is correlated to eating fast food. Since the United States has the highest obesity rate out of any country, it is important for Americans to monitor the fast food industry that may be causing obesity. With the pressure to get things done in a timely manner, fast food has become a big necessity.
Obesity in America is a very serious problem affecting many Americans currently and is a problem that continues to grow each year. “Over the past 40 years, the prevalence of obesity has more than doubled in the United States” (Wimalawansa). This issue is known to many but believed not be an issue to care much about but this is not true. Obesity in America affects everyone regardless if they are obese or not. In order to resolve the problem, we can slaughter all the adults that are currently obese in America.
Obesity in the United States continues growing alarmingly. Approximately 66 % of adults and 33 % of children and teenagers in the US are overweight. Obesity is the result of fat accumulated over time due to the lack of a balanced diet and exercise. An adult with a BMI (body mass index) higher than thirty percent is considered obese (Whitney & Rolfes, 2011, pg. 271).
Obesity is an epidemic in America. Fast food can be compared to the same type of mindless addiction as cigarettes, and can be equally as dangerous. Not only is there a problem with fast food restaurants, but the food industry as a whole. Slaughterhouses that control 80% of the market produce meat in such a way that is not healthy for consumption, in turn the products are doused in harmful chemicals and still served to the public. No wonder the obesity rate in America is 69% and rising. Obesity is a true problem in our country- people are neglecting their health and quite literally eating themselves to death.
Obesity has become an epidemic in today’s society. Today around 50% of America is now considered to be over weight. Fast-food consumption has been a major contributor to the debate of the twenty-first century. Chapter thirteen, titled “Is Fast-Food the New Tobacco,” in the They Say I Say book, consists of authors discussing the debate of fast-food’s link to obesity. Authors debate the government’s effects on the fast-food industry, along with whether or not the fast-food industry is to blame for the rise in obesity throughout America. While some people blame the fast food industry for the rise in obesity, others believe it is a matter of personal responsibility to watch what someone eats and make sure they get the proper exercise.
The obesity in Americans today is a growing problem that affects more than half of the population. It’s a problem that needs to be looked in to and changed. No one would disagree that obesity commonly in children is not a problem. Though, the cause of childhood obesity is arguable, many people claim that fast-food restaurants are to blame. I argue that fast-food restaurants are not to blame for Americans being obese. If anyone is to blame it should be the consumer themselves.
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...
With society’s ever increasing price tag of education, public schools have gone to great lengths to cut costs from the unessential activities during and after school hours. First it was music programs and art classes; however, with the desperate need for teachers, athletic programs have felt the grunt of this expedition. Now, more than ever, youths in our communities are battling serious problems. Not only are sports and organized athletic programs vital to physical development, but also mental growth and offer children structure and goals. Unfortunately, many schools have to cut back or even eliminate sports/athletic programs due to lack of funding.
One thing almost any American can relate to is fast food. Statistics show that every day, 1 in 4 people eat fast food. Also, over the past thirty years, the prevalence of obesity and obesity-related diseases in the U.S. has risen sharply. Some consider that doing taxes is easier than eating healthy. Why is that? Has fast food taken over the health of America? Is the convenience of a McDonald’s restaurant on practically every street to blame? U.S. citizens should recognize what they are feeding themselves is hardly nutritious.
“For someone not to know that a big mac is unhealthy is ignorance, and ignorance is not the responsibility of the fast food industry,” (Daniel Speiser). The amount of fast food joints has largely increased which has become a problem for many people throughout the United States. Several people place the blame for the rising obesity among children on the rising fast food industries due to its convenience, price, advertising, and somewhat un-nutritional content. Some people even take it as far as court to place blame on the fast food industries and for those industries to make changes to their restaurants. The high percentage of obese children in the United States is not caused by the fast food industry. The obesity epidemic has other outside influences, the fast food industries have changed dramatically, and people should take responsibility for their own consumptions. It is time for people to stop placing the blame on others and take responsibility for themselves and their actions.
Obesity is a big social issue in America. Due to the popularity of fast food and other unhealthy foods, more and more Americans are developing health diseases and disorders. We should be getting the correct daily nutrition amount, but because of our fast paced lifestyles we sometimes do not have enough time. Fast food restaurants make it possible to grab a meal and go. We often do not pay attention to the nutrition amount, but are simply looking for a quick bite to eat that will fulfill our hunger. Fast food is assisting in the increase of obesity in America (“Phrase” par.2).
The easy accessibility of cheap and unhealthy food is one of the major contributing factors to this obesity epidemic. Cheap bargains and deals on unhealthy food are a big reason obesity, diabetes, and heart disease rates have risen in the United States in the past few decades. Obesity is a problem that doesn’t discriminate between the young or old, sick or young, man or woman. According to Toni Clarke of Reuters, "obesity is a national epidemic that affects millions of Americans" (Reuters). This dangerous health issue has become so serious, that doctors here in the United States and around the world have become baffled as to finding a solution. Restaurants and fast food chains are not making matters any better. There is so much competition between different fast food chains that we see a constant competition to reach the lowest prices that will attract the most customers. This would be fine if the food these fast food chains are selling could be considered healthy and had real nutritional value; however, it is evident that most items on these fast food restaurants’ menus are full of calories, processed fat, high sugar levels, and ultimately very bad for our health. Most of these restaurants serve meals that lack any real nutritional