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The effect of fast food on health
Obesity, health issues and fast food
Fast food companies and obesity
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Fast food chains have enjoyed unimaginable success in the last half of the 21st century, the fast food restaurant is under threat as society becomes increasingly concerned with both the health effects of this kind of food, and the way it is produced. Unfortunately, people are not balancing their diets with vegetables and fruits causing a enormous amount of health problems in today’s world. The most common among these due to fast food are obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. The problem with fast food consists of the types of fats they use as well as the peoples choices and sadly enough people wont make a change to better their health unless there are some guidelines or restrictions to help everyone. In order for our present and future society to have a better overall health, fast food should have government intervention to reduce serious health problems caused by fast food simply by banning trans fat, visibly showing calorie contents, and eliminating huge sizing options. “When it comes to fat, trans fat is considered by some doctors to be the worst type of fat. Unlike other fats, trans fat — also called trans-fatty acids — both raises your "bad" (LDL) cholesterol and lowers your "good" (HDL) cholesterol. A high LDL cholesterol level in combination with a low HDL cholesterol level increases your risk of heart disease, the leading killer of men and women” (Mayo Clinic Staff, 3). Fast food company’s love using trans fats in the manufacturing of foods because it helps foods stay fresh longer, have a longer shelf life and have a less greasy feel yet much harder for your body to digest. Furthermore, due to this unbalance of cholesterol the risk of developing heart problems or artery clogs are increased significantly higher. “The FDA ... ... middle of paper ... ...tephanie Relfe, 5). Eating is not an option but choosing the type of foods we eat is and we can make a change by eliminating trans fat foods, proving calorie information, and eliminating huge portions of food . The best choice would be to switch from junk food to more organic and fresh produce in which we could benefit greatly from. These regulations aren’t to limit our freedoms but to help us in the present and future and if nothing is done to stop obesity how will fast food affect people in 20 years? Therefor, These changes could change our society positively and help individuals sustain better health by decreasing health problems that arise from poor eating habits. “The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefor, all progress depends on the unreasonable man” (George Bernard Shaw)
Meriam-Webster Dictionary defines food as “material taken into an organism and used for growth, repair, and vital processes as a source of energy” (Mish). Food is simple, yet humans have made it very complex. In the United States of America, food has become more of a hobby than a nutritional need. Every family gathering, holiday, and birthday celebration contains food of some sort. Types of food are customary at different times, like birthday cake at a birthday party, or stuffing at Thanksgiving. There is an entire holiday dedicated to dressing up and giving children candy (Halloween). One of the popular holiday foods is meat. An average of 10 million land animals (not including fish or other water dwelling organisms) are brutally slaughtered
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 became a big necessity. However, when creating fast food restaurants, the industries were not thinking about the negative effects such as obesity. Other than obesity, other harmful effects exist as well. Fast food restaurants serve unhealthy products such as greasy foods and artificial meat that lead to dietary health issues in many adults and children. A recent study showed that “Young children who are fed processed, nutrient-poor foods are likely to become unhealthy teenagers, and eventually unhealthy adults. Now twenty-three percent of teens in the U.S. are pre-diabetic or diabetic, 22% have high or borderline high LDL cholesterol levels, and 14% have hypertension or prehypertension” (May, Kuklina, Yoon). The food that they provide is made to be eaten quickly, causing problems for the digestive system. Also, the health problems lead to the use for health insurance, which adds to the costs of Medicare. Health care costs will only worsen an already failing economy. Therefore, the government should regulate fast food restaurants in the United States in order to repair the deteriorating health and economy in America.
Since social media has provided a way for people to share pictures of their food, the college diet has become something of a joke. For every post of someone’s delicious top-tier food, there’s a comment in which an anonymous student says that they’ve eaten nothing but ramen (or similar cheap, easy food) for the last 6 weeks.
Greasy pizza. Fried chicken. High sugar drinks. These all aspects of the American diet. American citizens and the American government are well known for a certain disregard for healthy eating. Severe health problems such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and other weight related medical issues are steadily increasing. “Is Junk Food Really Cheaper?” by The New York Times, “Attacking the Obesity Epidemic by first Figuring Out Its Cause” by The New York Times, “Give (Frozen) Peas a Chance-and Carrots Too” by TIME, and “Edible Schoolyard” by Alice Waters are four articles that discuss the complications Americans face when it comes to the fast food epidemic. Farming, government policy, and schools as well as homes should be making bigger strides
Nevertheless, some people insist that fast foods, such as chips, hamburgers and fizzy drinks, that are so cheap and tasty, are not a consequence of the health problems. However, I strongly disagree that fast food has no bad impact on people’s health. I believe that fast food has a negative impact on society and, therefore, people must take care of themselves and lead a healthy lifestyle if they do not want to face serious problems with their
Eating a lot of trans fats will dramatically increase the chances of getting heart disease. Aaron Carroll a professor of pediatrics at the indiana university school of medicine says “Trans fats are amazingly bad for you. By the 1990s, evidence was building that trans fats carried a significant risk for increasing coronary heart disease”
Obesity among Americans has been a growing issue in the United States predominantly over the past decade. Many may argue American’s are obese because of poor food choices, over-eating, genetic disposition, lack of exercise, or the environment which one lives, while others blame it all on fast-food chains and restaurants. Throughout my research I have come to find a lot of facts and statistics about fast food consumption causing obesity. Statistics show that without a doubt the United States is the most obese country in the world.
We make personal choices about what and where to eat. The government is not going to eliminate the unhealthy food because we think it is the cause of obesity. Ultimately, we must decide to either stay away from unhealthy food or eat them in moderation. Despite all the efforts of education, media and guidance it doesn’t prevent us from grabbing that cheeseburger with fries on the way to work. In his essay “What You Eat Is Your Business,” Radley Balko argues that society should take full responsi...
In America itself only about two percent of kids eat a healthy diet. The topic I
News articles and internet blogs are saying that Americans are trying becoming more health conscious, but America ranks thirty-three in the healthies country. Bonnie Liebman, Sarah Federman, and Greg Crister are influential writer on the topic on food. They show the readers the freedom that food manufacturers have on labeling, and how it affects the consumers that fall for it. Bonnie Liebman, the author of “Claims Crazy: Which Can You Believe?” is a Director of Nutrition in CSPI. She has an M.S on nutritional sciences from Cornell University. Liebman provides links between health issues with food labeling. Her work talks about the different types of food labeling, and how the FDA fails to regulate on the structure/function claims that food
All across the nation, contemporary schools and students have worked to find a middle ground when it comes to dietary offerings. It is widely accepted that often times, students’ look forward what ‘lunch-time’ offers-- the glory of leisure and the freedom to fuel their bodies with whatever that they might choose. Each day, the cafeteria menu details a variety of choices ranging from the humble Caesar Salad to the traditional peanut butter and jelly sandwich. The diversity is endless, and yet, for some reason, students are still often displeased with the myriad foods. While it might be easy for schools to comply to these students’ demands, it is not justified to do so if doing so is ultimately detrimental to the already-degrading environment
The United States has become the most overweight country in the world over the last fifty years. In fact, sixty- nine percent of adults over twenty are either obese or overweight. (CDC) The fast food industry and the production of highly processed food have fueled this epidemic. There are millions of dollars made in the production of processed foods that keep for years because of harmful additives that are put on the food. Companies have exploited Americans addiction to fast, easy, and cheap by providing these less nutritious foods for nearly half the price of fresh produce. What can be done to promote better health for the American population? I think that we must promote healthy eating habits and provide information on the dangers
Obesity is a very serious matter in the world today and there needs to be a regulation to help with this issue. With children becoming less active and eating more, their risk of obesity is much higher. Kids do not need to be rewarded with fast food every time they want it or every time they do something right. Parents and young children around the world need to understand the importance of healthy food so they can make better choices. If they make better choices with food, then the less likely they are going to have major health problems in the long run. My goal is for the U.S. Department of Agriculture is to raise the prices on meats and unhealthy foods that are made in fast food restaurants, and instead lower healthier food that you would buy in the grocery store. Fast food comes from the leftovers of the cow instead of the actual healthy stuff from them. That’s why fast food is so cheap and meat from the deli is so expensive. Fast food meat is not healthy in any way because it has no nutritional value in it. If prices increase at fast food restaurants, then the average American is more likely to stay away from there and just get their things from the store where they are a lot healthier. Yes these meats in the store may cost a little bit more but they get a lot more nutrients out of them along with a couple meals. If one person cooked a couple patties of hamburger or steak, then they would be able to eat it for a few days and change up the way they eat it as well. If one night they want to have hamburgers then they can, and then if they want spaghetti one night then all they have to do is cook the noodles and put the meat in the sauce.
There is a small relationship between fast food and cigarettes where each one significantly causes long term problems. Similarly, eating fast food and smoking too much becomes dangerously unhealthy and both are addicting. However, the difference is fast food started off on good terms. It was intended as a helpful way to provide meals quick and ready, thus given its name (Aldridge 279). Fast food restaurants successfully expanded and became popular all over the world. Despite the worldwide success and popularity, it did gain negative views after weight problems began to rise. The food served from the fast food industry was never considered healthy and soon became the target for the blame on health problems, specifically obesity. Although fast
“We need to teach our children to eat real food. No fast foods. No junk foods. No processed foods. Just honest, nutritious, real food.” As the years go by many more people are becoming obese because they consume too much fast food. People need to get in habits to cook at home rather than eating out everyday for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. People in this world are now always trying to look for the easy way out of things. Eating out at a fast food restaurant is not a healthy meal to eat. We the people need to avoid the fast food restaurants and stop being lazy and have home cooked meals everyday. Although fast food is convenient for everyone, it causes obesity and consuming too much fast food can lead to type 2 diabetes.