Fast Food Nation and Obesity in America The largest fast food industry in the world is in America and American fast food franchises exist all over the world. America is one of the richest, most progressive countries in the world, but not the healthiest compared to the rest of the world. Some countries diets have more natural, organic and steamed food techniques whereas in America Fast food has become the culture. As cars became popular, more drive-in restaurants were established; as a result we have fast food on every block and every exit on the highway. With today’s busy lifestyle and the convenience of easy access to food with low cost, speedy preparation of food on the go is made even easier, but not exactly healthy. Fast food is also the cause of obesity in America. A recent study, in January 2010, shows that obesity rates have reached a constant level and stayed there for the past five years, but the levels of obesity are still unacceptable. Almost 34 percent of American adults are obese; this number has more than doubled since 30 years ago. The percentage of obese children has nearly tripled in that time, to 17 percent. Childhood obesity is a growing problem, and the fast food campaigns and advertisements targeting children is another growing problem which is not helping future generations. Children are easy targets when companies like McDonald’s and Burger King offer toys and other prizes through advertisement. Moreover, it’s not just children who are affected. Because of the low cost and its wide availability, fast food can cause hazardous health issues like heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity. Besides health issues, it takes away the knowledge from the consumers since they don’t know exactly what food they’re eating and how it’s prepared. Probably this question comes last in mind when eating a burger, what’s really in it? There may be a few healthy and organic fast food restaurants that do exist, but largely the fast foods chains out rule them by miles. Most fast food burgers are made using low quality meat taken from low quality animals and filled with lots of preservatives. Since these meats come from different animals and animal parts, it means there are diseases waiting to be widespread. Most of these fast food products are pre-cooked, frozen foods, usually thawed out by boiling in hot oil. Now that obesity has become such a huge issue, some of the fast food restaurants have changed their ways. Now, their French fries are fried in vegetable oil, and there are now healthier side options to choose from. But I think we need to do more than just change the kind of oil the French fries are fried in. Maybe we should get rid of French fries all together, and replace them with a healthier alternative, like sweet potato fries or grilled potatoes instead. In my opinion maybe we should decrease the number of the unhealthier fast-food chains, and
