Across America today the obesity rate continues to increase and has now moved the United States into the top ten for the most obese countries in the world. Americans believe there are a variety of reasons for this sudden increase in weight within our country, but the one that stands out among others is fast food. Fast food has been around for some decades now and has never been quite the talk as it is today. There has been a sudden increase in the number of people who are actually interested in the health issues caused by fast food. These numbers are believed to have increased after two girls pursued to sue McDonalds for their obesity. The only thing is that the fast food industry rose to the occasion and passed the “Cheeseburger Bill”, which prevents obese citizens from filling suits against these major companies (McDonalds, Burger king, Wendy’s etc.) for their gain in weight.
Fast food is now the second most addictive product in America, only being passed by smoking according to the FDA. This product has become so addictive because it is fast, good tasting, and above all else cheap. The food industry has realized that Americans would rather spend less of their overall income on food for their families than in the past. Before fast food was introduced to America, people were spending up to fifty percent of their overall income to feed their families, where now they spend about sixteen percent of their overall income on food. This sounds like a deal when people are balancing their checkbooks at the end of the month, but in the long run fast food is doing nothing but slowly killing us.
The fast food corporations say it is a personal decision on whether to consume the fast food, but should it even been a question that this is wrong after seeing the studies on obesity and it relating mostly to fast food. The weight an individual can gain or even the health issues that an individual can face from fast food is second to none. Fast food has proven to be one of the most harmful foods in society today. Morgan Spurlock gains over twenty-four pounds in just three weeks from consuming McDonalds everyday, during his experiment of SuperSize Me. Doctors were scared for Spurlock to even try the experiment because of the harm this food could cause to his body is just three weeks. Neal Barnard of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, Dr. Barnard states that one typical serving in a fast-food restaurant is loaded with addicting components. For example, cheese proteins contain mild opiates. And when a cheeseburger is washed down with a soft drink, you're adding the addictive powers of sugar combined with caffeine.
Doctors suggest that on average each person should consume about one fast food meal a month. Now is that even reality in today’s society? That might not be, but the health problems that come with consuming fast food more than once a month is reality. Type ll diabetes has suddenly become one of the most aware health factor caused by fast food, not to mention the number one health factor caused by this corrupted food OBESITY.
Obesity is a big concern in America, but this is not a industry's problem. No one is made to eat anywhere and no one is made to eat a curtain amount of food. It is true that fast food is not exactly a healthy choice, but with exercise and proper diet fast food should not be a concern. Most of obesity is caused by laziness of that individual, except those with curtain health conditions. If you plan on eating a large quantity then I suggest that you also plan on exercising or try to eat healthier food to help balance. If the fast food industry is the only reason for obesity then that would mean that we would need to get rid of weapon industries just because weapons kill people. So if you want to get a super size meal, that is fantastic, but just be sure to head over to the gym once throughout the week to work off that double whooper.
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ReplyDeletePeople aren’t being forced to eat fast food, but that doesn’t mean the industry shouldn’t be responsible for the effects of its products. You’re not forced to smoke cigarettes, yet we have strict regulations on its sales, packaging, and use.
ReplyDeleteThe entire concept of fast food manipulates society. How much do you think a fountain drink is really worth? Yeah, I know we’re willing to pay upwards of two dollars, but the caramel concentrate used to flavor the carbonated water costs a little over a dime a cup (assuming that particular franchise follows the syrup to water ratio). The chicken nuggets available at your favorite McDonald’s are not made from farm fresh chickens! It’s not even fifty percent chicken. They predominately consist of corn: it’s a familiar, subsidized crop that can be sold below the cost of production. The burgers are made with cheap, grain-fed beef filler cleansed with ammonia. Let’s get down to the bottom line: fast food companies are taking advantage of us and they’re getting away with it: we’re willing to pay top dollar to eat scraps.
High fat diets can damage the liver and have a relationship with type two diabetes. High fructose corn syrup has been linked to higher obesity rates. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, and this fake and fatty food we’re being served just happens to put the heart at risk.
So if the tobacco companies are held accountable for their products and the oil companies is held accountable for their actions, why should we give Big Food a pass? If revolutionizing the entire food industry is too much to ask for, how about a little honesty? I’d love to see fast food corporations that would look at us like people instead of walking wallets; maybe they could be willing to tell us what we’re really eating and let us make an a truly informed decision.