In the 21st century, obesity has become a big problem. In fact, 35.7% of adults, 16.9% of kids, and 30.4% of preschoolers are obese in the U.S.! These numbers are still rising and many people are blaming fast food restaurants. Fast food restaurants aren’t the ones to be blamed for obesity; people are.
One reason people eat fast food so much is because our bodies crave sugar, fat, and salt. Food companies use sugar, fat, and salt to get people to buy their products. Eating these unhealthy products on a regular basis can lead to an unhealthy diet (Kessler 27). People become obese by getting trapped in a cycle of overeating by having this unhealthy diet (Kessler 122).
The overeating cycle starts off with food cues. Food cues are places, smells, advertisements, memories, and emotions. Food cues trigger the reward center in the brain. The person then starts to crave the food or drink by the reward center. They may try to resist but will eventually give in. The reward is when the person eats. The cycle is triggered again the next time the person is exposed to food cues. Every time the brain’s response is strengthened. The cycle is a deeply fixed habit a few cycles later. The habit then becomes automatic. During this habit, real biological changes take place in the person’s body. They become trapped in an overeating cycle. One high-level food industry executive worker said, “Higher sugar, fat, and salt make you want to eat more. The food industry tries to hit the “three points of the compass”’(Kessler 26). Our food is designed to turn us into endless eaters. It is also designed with chemical flavors to make it hard to resist. These chemicals are in almost all processed food (Kessler 91). For example, a frozen chocolate drink ...
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...ce a week. It’s bad when you eat fast food everyday with little exercise. People may also eat junk food and a lot of other unhealthy foods that can lead them to become obese.
There are a lot of different causes for obesity other than eating fast food restaurants. It all depends on what the person eats, how much they eat, and how active the person is. That’s why people are the ones to be blamed for obesity and fast food restaurants aren’t.
Works Cited
DeNoon, Daniel J. "10 Causes of Obesity Other Than Over-Eating, Inactivity." Fox News. FOX
News Network, 28 June 2006. Web. 10 Dec. 2013.
Fanning, Karen. "Quick, Easy, & Harmful." Scholastic Choices Jan. 2002: 18. Print.
Hitti, Miranda. "Top 11 Reasons for Fast Food's Popularity." WebMD. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Dec.
2013.
Kessler, David. Your Food Is Fooling You. New York: Roaring Brook Press, 2013. Print.
Obesity can be caused by a combination of fast food and the environment people live in today. Fast food contains foods that are high in fats, sugars, and starches. These ingredients have rarely any nutritional value to the human body. Most of the foods available at fast food restaurants like McDonalds, Burger King, and KFC contain concentrated salt and preservatives to enhance the flavor in them. Obesity has become the defining aspect of our nation by surrounding the people with fast food products. The freedom to choose what one wants, gives the fast food companies the right to give one unhealthy food. The consumption of fast food products regularly greatly increases one’s chance of having health disparities such as Coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, cancers, stroke, Hypertension, and Osteoarthritis. These negative effects are present with the daily eating of fast foods.
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.
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.
...not entirely their fault. The fault rests partly on the shoulders of the parents, who make it too easy for their children to over-indulge in fast food and then blame the restaurant when their child gains weight, partly on the shoulders of the children and teenagers who eat out at these establishments multiple times a week and then do nothing to balance the junk food with some healthier snack alternatives, and partly on the shoulders of the “enablers,” who choose to place the blame solely on the fast food industry and allow these children and their families to play the victim, rather than admit that they are part of the problem. David Zinczenko was right about one thing, obesity is not just the problem of the person who is overweight. Obesity is everyone’s problem, and everyone should be thinking of ways to combat it, rather than just continue playing the blame game.
The savory taste of the food from McDonald’s, Burger King, Taco Bell, and many other fast food restaurants entices millions of Americans to visit one of these restaurants every day. What is it in fast food that attracts so many customers every day? According to “Why Does Fast Food Taste So Good?” by Sarah Clark, “the food contains just the right mixture of fat, sugar and salt to set off the pleasure chemicals in the brain”. Furthermore Clark found that this mixture can be addictive because of the release of dopamine into the body. This happy feeling, caused by the dopamine release, is believed to cause people to become physically addicted to fast food. A study done on rats using the same fat, sugar, and salt content showed addictive behaviors because when the scientists stopped giving the rats the mixture they exhibited withdrawal characteristics. Scientists noticed common behaviors of withdrawal such as chattering of teeth and anxiousness. The researchers also noticed long lasting changes in brain chemistry of rats ...
way fast food cause obesity but the blame should not be shifted solely on fast food. The
The rise and success of the fast food industry has a positive correlation with the rising levels of obesity. Although correlation does not necessarily mean causation, it is hard to believe the fast food industry is not a source of the problem. With its affordable meals and cunning advertisements, the fast food industry appeals to all ages, saving mom and dad money...
Fast-food restaurants seem to take most of the blame for rising obesity rates in the United States, but is it really their fault? People set high expectations when it comes to fast-food. Consumers not only expect convenience, but also quality food at a low price. Wanting fast-food restaurants to live up to these unreasonable expectations is what leads people to develop health issues. While fast-food restaurants should take some of the blame for the obesity epidemic, it’s ultimately the consumer’s choice to choose fast-food over healthier choices. Many different factors such as convenience, cost, and environmental factors, along with lack of exercise, are also contributors to the rising obesity rate in America.
Over the last three decades, fast food has infiltrated every nook and cranny of American society and has become nothing less than a revolutionary force in American life. Fast food has gained a great popularity among different age groups in different parts of the globe, becoming a favorite delicacy of both adults and children.
...but that does not prove that fast food franchises are the culprit. I believe the people are to blame for their own obesity. A single person can single out themselves to buy the food from a restaurant knowing the proper nutrition will not be in the food. It all comes down to common knowledge and self control. Many Americans lack both of these and it has resulted in a obesity epidemic.
In 2002 two girls sued McDonalds because they claimed that it was making them fat. Many people in America blame the fast food industry for making them fat. Nutritional information is available for most fast food restaurants and one is forced to eat there. Even though the food is unhealthy, the fast food industry should not be held responsible for obesity in the United States.
Eating to much fast food is considered to be a leading cause of obesity. The majority of us love eating fast food because you can get it on the run, it is cheap and can taste really good; but fast food can horrific for your body. It contains lots of calories, high in sodium, and has a lot of fat in it. It is okay to eat fast food every once in awhile but when you eat it often throughout the day, week and month then that's where serious problems come in. So think twice before eating fast food. fast food makes your booty
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.
Many folks who become obese are people who abuse the calories their body needs on a daily diet. As stated in “Overweight and Obesity Statistics”, everyone body needs a certain amount of energy from foods to have a proper balance. If the calories you have eaten sum up to the amount of calories you have used or have not burnt, you will start to have a problem if this eating habit continues. You will now be in the stage of overweight, if you do not burn the extra calories you consumer. In March 2004 the CDC publishes a study showing that poor eating habits and lack of exercise were the second leading death in the Untied States (“Chronology”). For example, one major reason why people become obese in America is because the environment is full of fast food restaurants. If you look to your left you will see McDonald’s, you look to your right, and you see Jack in The Box, you look behind you and there is Carl’s Jr, and if you look in front of you and you see a Burger King. According to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, “17% of children and adolescents (aged 2-19) are obese. The prevalence of obesity in America has risen dramatically over the past two decades and continues to increase” (qtd. “Weight Control and Diet”). You see these places all over the place and not to mention food advertising is a big cause for obesity. According to What Causes Overweight