Is Fast Food Making Americans Overweight?
Abstract
Speed and organization are at the heart of the American way of life. American mothers drive their children to school, pay bills online, schedule meetings, respond to emails, and all that they do before going to work. This vivid example gives answer to the question why the fast food has displaced the traditional food. In modern world people have no time and desire to cook. Thus, it is not surprisingly that the fast food is a part of the American way of life. The paper investigates the issue of the obesity through the example of the American society. The place of the fast food in the lives of Americans has been determined. The major causes of Americans’ fast food preference over the traditional food have been explained. In addition, the impact of the junk food on children and adults has been analyzed for the purpose of finding the possible solutions to the problem. As a result, the solutions for the reducing of the fast food effect have been found.
Key words: fast food, junk food, obesity, overweight, obese nation, health problems, American way of life.
Is Fast Food Making Americans Overweight?
There is neither a traditional cuisine nor the healthy culinary traditions in the United States. Advertising of the busy lifestyle and fast food brands has been attacking Americans since childhood. Parents often do not look after the diet of their kids. Many children rebel against healthy food. In majority of cases, children choose the fast food. Since Americans start eating fast food from childhood, the majority of them are overweight by the time they become teenagers. Fast food restaurants are situated at every corner. The refrigerator of an average American is usually overfull with the ready-made meals, among which there are sandwiches, popcorn, pizza, various sauces, ice-cream. Americans have forgotten how to cook at home. Moreover, they usually do not remember the taste of a vegetable soup and cannot imagine their life without burgers and fries.
Most Americans prefer soda instead of water or tea. Soda contains an abundance of preservatives, chemical substances and sugar. The average resident of the United States drinks 1.5 cans of lemonade every day (Talwar, 2004). In addition, Americans are used to consume food in large quantities. Huge plates, cups, famous plastic buckets with popcorn and fried chicken wings are the usual servings for Americans. Furthermore, Americans lead sedentary lifestyle. Majority accustomed commuting to work by car. They almost never go on foot. Americans usually eat on the go and in front of TV while nutritionists categorically do not recommend doing this. It seems that the residents of the United States are too busy to take care of their health and diet.
A lot of factors in combination with fast food have led to the serious health problems. As a result, Americans are considered to be an obese nation. Almost 40% of the populations of this country suffer from obesity (Watson, 2008). Obesity provokes stomach cancer, high blood pressure, infertility, heart diseases. The United States also rank first among other countries in the number of diseases of cardiovascular system and metabolism. Proliferation of the fast food and promotion of “an American way of life” threatens the entire world in the nearest future. Therefore, it is worth considering the sad experience of this country in order to avoid repeating their mistakes.
First of all, the causes of fast food popularity must be analyzed. In fact, there are serious economic and cultural grounds for the increased popularity of the fast food industry. First of all, the world has changed completely. Pace of life has increased at times. In other words, people are trying to live faster and faster. As a result, homemade food has been substituted by the ready to eat food in order to save time. McDonald’s and similar fast food services satisfy the demand of society. In addition, fast food is not only convenient in the fast world, but also delicious. The secret of fast food taste can be found in the list of ingredients. Natural flavoring is one of the ingredients that makes food tastier and at the same time harms the health of consumers.
Fast food industry has managed to create a bright, attractive brand that attracts both children and adults (Talwar, 2004). It has found the right way to the hearts of children, and, consequently, their parents. This is the other secret of fast food industry success in the world. Fast food has been glamorized by televised commercials that make unhealthy food appear to be healthy. McDonald’s commercials are a perfect example. Similar television commercials are a promotion of the poor eating habits.
A relatively low price in comparison to other catering establishments is also a significant reason that draws people in these restaurants. Another factor is the standardization and predictability. If clients have tried certain dish once in a fast food network, they can be sure, that when they order it next time, it will be exactly the same. Besides all this, fast food is widely seen as a means of overcoming dissatisfaction and stress, which has increased rapidly in the modern world. In other words, lots of people are in the habit of eating much when they feel stressed.
Fast food is a part of the American way of life. However, such lifestyle resembles more survival than full life. Junk food is the best way to destroy health and reduce lifetime. Thus, there is no wonder that many Americans are overweight. People who eat on the run do not think about the fact that a delicious meal can be harmful. The biggest reason to abandon the fast food is that it leads to obesity. Nutritionists have studied the composition and caloric content of the most popular fast food dishes. They have come to a disappointing conclusion. One fast food serving contains a daily rate of fat. For example, the average snack has more than 1000 kcal while the daily need for calories is 1700-2200 kcal (Watson, 2008).
Since the fast food contains little nutrients and minerals, it only reduces hunger. Besides, the fast food is usually washed down with soda. As a result, the fast food consumers will feel keen hunger after a couple of hours. It will provoke them eating more than usual. Thus, the extra pounds accumulate. Moreover, the fast food supplements, such as flavor enhancers and preservatives negatively affect the health and especially children’s health. Rapid weight gain, heart attacks and diabetes, are increasingly common among Americans. Fat contained in fast food mainly consists of saturated fatty acids which deposit on the walls of the blood vessels and contribute to the increase of the blood cholesterol level and development of atherosclerosis. Fat oxidation product arises after roasting. This substance is especially dangerous as it damages the cell membranes of the heart, liver and blood vessels and changes the composition of the blood and lipid metabolism. Popular fast food dishes such as patties, kebab and fries are saturated with harmful fats (Talwar, 2004).
The effect of fast food on children health is also worth considering. According to the results of the scientific research, children who consume fast food achieve less academic performance than their peers who eat healthy food. Excessive fast food consumption makes the negative impact on the mental development of children and thus, it negatively influences their intellectual abilities. Doctors believe that the fast food is extremely dangerous for the young generation. Kid’s organism is still being forming, and its development depends on the diet. Unbalanced menu leads to obesity, abnormalities in the endocrine and immune systems. These negative effects hinder the proper physical and mental development. Despite the numerous facts of fast food harm, this food still attracts children of different sex, age and social status (Davis & Fitzgerald 2008).
However, even those who know about the harmful effects of the fast food cannot easily refuse from eating habits. Princeton University scientists have proven that the fast food causes habitation similar to drug addiction. Dr. John Hebel has revealed the fact that the fatty and sweet food activates the production of the dopamine substance. It is associated with a sense of pleasure, and a strong attraction to something (Kelly, 2006). A study of the British Mental Health Foundation has proved that the fast food increased the number of suffering from mental disorders. The scientific study has identified a correlation between the consumption of fast food dishes and the occurrence of depression, Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia. UK psychiatric hospitals cure their patients by diet therapy. It includes providing frequent consumption of fruits, vegetables, fish, nuts, cereals and a complete exclusion of refined and overcooked foods. According to hospital nutritionist, patients are less likely to complain about depression or insomnia after a month of such treatment. The overall condition of their health gradually improves.
Lots of people realize that the fast food leads to the health problems. However, only few people know that there are more than millions of obese children. It had never been before the similar situation in the history of mankind. Obesity epidemic had begun in the United States. Physical inactivity in combination with poor nutrition became the cause of more than 300 hundred deaths in America. $90 billion of medical spending goes to obesity-related treatment in the United States (Kelly, 2006). However, those who believe that the problems with the obesity are only the “prerogative” of Americans are seriously mistaken. More and more people in other countries face overweighting caused by fast food consumption. The number of the obese people has increased by 10% during the last decades. Scientists claim that a normal constitution will be a luxury for people older than 30 years, if the fast food trend remains popular.
It almost impossible to completely eliminate the damaging influence of the fast food for those who like this food, but they can at least try to reduce the harm to their health. For this purpose, they should choose fast food services, which adhere to sanitary standards and use quality products. In addition, fast food eaters must carefully chose dishes and count calories. For example, people can reduce the harmful effect of junk food if they buy a hamburger without the mayonnaise and ketchup, or fries without the spices and harmful additives. In addition, they should try to order smaller portions, and visit fast food services less often. Therefore, the refusal from another portion of junk food contributes to the preservation of both physical and mental health. Taste preferences of parents influence a child’s diet. Scientists strongly advise parents to spend with children explanatory conversations about the dangers of fast food. Another solution is that the government should tax fast food services at higher rate than other food services, and spend received money for medical costs. Cigarettes are taxed because they are harmful, but fast food is not less harmful.
References
Davis, D. &Fitzgerald, H. (2008). Obesity in childhood and adolescence: medical, biological, and social issues. Connecticut: Greenwood Publishing Group, Inc.
Kelly, E. (2006). Obesity. Connecticut: Greenwood Publishing Group, Inc.
Talwar, J. (2004). Fast food, fast track: immigrants, big business, and the American Dream. Massachusetts: Westview Press.
Watson, S. (2008). Fast Food. New York: The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc.
