“One small bite for man, one giant problem for mankind.” Numerous Americans today are affected by the vastly growing number of fast food chains. These chains serve unhealthy items at a costly price. Many health issues concern more than 35.7 Americans and cause them to become unhealthy or obese due to fast food. This causes many problems such as obesity rates proliferating, the damage it has on your health, and the high price of cheap food. Those are the main reasons as to why the government should slowly reduce the future developments of fast food chains to help benefit people’s health.
Since 1970, the amount of fast food restaurants has doubled and 33.8 percent of the U.S. population is currently obese. Also, children ages 6 to 19 have tripled their obesity levels from 5 to 17 percent. In "The effect of fast food restaurants on obesity" (NBER working paper), researchers Janet Currie, Stefano DellaVigna, Enrico Moretti, and Vikram Pathania took a careful study of the effects that fast food had on people. Overall, their study suggests that fast food significantly increases the risk of obesity. "Unless governments take steps to regulate their economies, the invisible hand of the market will continue to promote obesity worldwide with disastrous consequences for future public health and economic productivity,” said Roberto De Vogli from the University of California.
Most fast food places serve highly processed foods that are full of fat, sodium, and calories. Research proves that you can easily intake 1,500 calories for one meal alone and humans should take in around 1,500-1,800 per day. Choosing a typical fast food meal everyday can lead to increased calories, which leads to health issues. The estimated annual medical cost of obe...
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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
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
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.
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.
Jeffery, Robert. "Epidemic Obesity in the United States: Are Fast Foods and Television Viewing Contributing?." American Journal of Public Health. 88.2 (1998): 277-80. Print.
Obesity is an epidemic in America, greatly impacting youth, the health care system, and economically vulnerable populations. Among all of the high-income countries in the world, obesity rates remain the highest in the US. According to Harvard, US obesity rates have more than doubled since 1980, although they have remained the same since 2003. (Harvard School of Public Health) Approximately 31.9% of children and adolescents from the ages of 2 to 19 are obese or overweight (NPLAN), while roughly 69% of adults fall into the category of overweight or obese. (Harvard School of Public Health) With obesity rates this high, America is facing a huge crisis that could become greater in the future. In order to understand the issue of Obesity in America it is important to evaluate the extent to which the problem effects large populations of children and adults and how the fast food industry has served as one of the major causes of this epidemic.
As many people are trying to put the blame of obesity on restaurants, others, like myself, have a strong opinion that the restaurants have nothing to do with obesity and the customer has the right to order what they would like. Some supporters believe that government should take action to...
“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).
Is fast food to blame for the growing obesity in America? Obesity affects more than half of the population. With so many Americans gaining weight and so many health problems the matter has to be addressed. There is no one would argue that obesity, especially the children is considered a problem. In any case the cause of childhood obesity is fought about daily. Many people will say that fast food restaurants are to blame. In my research, I will explain the argument that who is to blame for the obesity in America: fast food restaurants or common laziness from the obese society.
In the first place, fast-food restaurants are to surely blame for one’s obesity because their advertisements are shown to the public in places such as the highway, bus stations,
“Nearly one third of the United States eats fast food regularly and there is a close relation between the fast food restaurants and obesity. This increases the obesity in younger people” (“Fast food obesity” 9). Every time a person gets in the car to go somewhere he or she will more than likely pass a fast food restaurant on the way to their destination. These restaurants are not good for the human body. They draw people to their food by fast, simple, and cheap quality items on their menus.
“In 2006, Americans spent about $142,000,000,000 on fast food” (Smith). By definition, fast food is food that can be prepared quickly and easily and is sold in restaurants and snack bars as a quick meal or to be taken out. The average American would rather get a quick bite to eat than produce a home cooked meal. With the growth and high demand from the fast food industry, it is shocking to find that the food they serve is extremely unhealthy. Since Fast Food companies are targeting adolescents, it is essential for the health and well being of the population to understand how the consumption of fast food is negatively impacting their health.