Fast Food Addiction

In looking below the surface of America’s love affair with fast foods, research finds some revealing manifestations that are propelling increasing obesity rates and are thus pushing us toward a growing health epidemic. The increasingly busy lifestyles of our society along with our overreliance on processed and pre-packaged foods are driving the multi-billion dollar food industry today. The food industries' strategy to optimize profits through mass produced and processed foods is creating physically addictive products similar to tobacco, alcohol and illegal drugs with equally predictable consequences. These products need to be more clearly understood, identified and labeled for their potentially destructive nature to consumers. Historically, research tagged many of the health consequences to the disease of obesity, without looking at the root issue of obesity itself. Furthermore, increasing evidence is showing that obesity is really the result of the true disease, including eating disorders and food addictions. Statistically, one study by “Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA)” (Tree.com) shows the alarming rise in fast food consumption over the last 2.5 decades, supporting available evidence that addiction is one of the key underlying issues.

The potential scope of this problem touches nearly every demographic in society today. It extends from the parent feeding their toddler an easy meal of Chicken Nuggets, to the elderly couple who no longer have the energy to cook meals from scratch, to look for a simple solution. Our society is becoming addicted to prepared, pre-packaged and processed foods that are ready with a mere touch of a keypad, or a fast drive through pickup, while behind the scene massive prof...

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...ffair with fast foods you actually find compelling evidence that supports the theory of highly processed foods having some responsibility in the growing obesity epidemic and potentially the overall health of society. Though more research is necessary, there is enough information to at least lead us to start communicating the potential risks associated with highly processed foods and how more natural alternatives can not only help maintain a healthier weight and furthermore reduce the higher risk of eating disorders, food addiction and potentially more severe health effects and illnesses. The communication needs to start with parents who can best control the diets of children with an eye toward changing a generational trend that has been 30+ years in the making although creating campaigns to raise state and national awareness can help support the individual efforts.