Fast food: Are we taking it too far by blaming fast food restaurants for obesity - Term Paper Example

Fast food: Are we taking it too far by blaming fast food restaurants for obesity? Introduction The following discussion will focus on the role of fast food in obesity in the United States. The discussion will begin, briefly, with statistics that demonstrate obesity is increasing in the Untied States. Then consideration of the link between fast food and obesity will be examined. Subsequent, to demonstration of the fact that fast food has qualities (namely high fat content and high caloric content) that can contribute to obesity a second question will be considered: Does this mean that the fast food industry can be blamed for increasing rates of obesity in the United States. While fast food may be fattening that does not necessarily mean it is the only cause, or even the leading cause of obesity in the United States. Obesity in the United States Incontrovertible evidence indicates that obesity rates are increasing in the United States. According to the Weight-control Information Network (WIN), one-third of U.S. adults are overweight, with the figure for women (35.5 per cent) slightly higher than for men (32.2 per cent). (WIN) Moreover, as the chart on the following page indicates this rate increased significantly between 1971 and 2006. Statistics also indicate that the obesity rate amongst children and young adults is also dangerously high. WIN reports that approximately 12.4 percent of children age 2 to 5 and 17 percent of children age 6 to 11 were overweight in 2003-2006. About 17.6 percent of adolescents (age 12 to 19) were overweight in 2003–2006. (WIN) Source: WIN. http://www.win.niddk.nih.gov/statistics/index.htm#overweight. Fast Food and Obesity That obesity is increasing amongst all age groups and genders in the United States is an established fact. However, that fast food is responsible for this increasing rate of obesity cannot be inferred from this fact alone. In order to link fast food to obesity it is first necessary to demonstrate that fast food contributes to obesity by providing meals that have an inordinately high fat content and/or contribute to excessive caloric intake. This fact becomes apparent when the content of typical fast food meals is considered. A McDonalds Quarter Pounder with Cheese contains 510 calories, 26 grams of fat and 12 grams of saturated fat. That comprises 40% of an adults daily intake of fat and 61% of their intake of saturated fat in that one item. (McDonalds, “Nutrition Exchange”) Presumably, it constitutes even a higher percentage of a childs daily intake. A large order of french fries adds another 500 calories, 38% of daily fat intake and 17% of daily saturated fat intake. (McDonalds, “Nutrition Exchange”) In total then, a Quarter Pounder with Cheese and a large order of fries amounts to 1010 calories, 78% of daily fat intake and 78% of daily saturated fat intake. In other words, a person would have to eat virtually no fat in the remainder of the day to not exceed their recommended daily intake of fat and saturated fat. Clearly, a Quarter Pounder with Cheese and a Large order of French Fries at McDonalds is not the healthiest lunchtime choice. Furthermore, adding a large Classic Coke to the meal would increase the number of calories to 1,320. Keeping in mind that this meal is a typical lunch it is clear that fast food, as typified by McDonalds, encourages people to exceed their daily limits for caloric intake and fat consumption. Further, it is reasonable to assert that if a person, or a family, made it a regular practice to dine at fast food establishments they would be exceeding recommended daily intake of calories and fat. Therefore, it can be asserted that regular consumption of fast food contributes to obesity. The Blame Game: Is Fast Food Responsible for Obesity and what other Factors Need to Be Considered The idea that fast food contributes to obesity is not new. In 2003 CBS News reported, “Every day, nearly one-third of U.S. children aged 4 to 19 eat fast food, which likely packs on about six extra pounds per child per year and increases the risk of obesity, a study of 6,212 youngsters found. (Hoguin, 2003) CBS News was reporting on a study published in Pediatrics in January, 2003 that study reported that children that frequently ate fast food consumed more fats, sugars and carbohydrates and fewer fruits and non-starchy vegetables than youngsters who didnt and consumed 187 more daily calories than those that did not frequently eat fast food. The study asserted that this added up to about six pounds more per year. Again, regular consumption of fast food contributes to obesity. However, that is not quite the same as asserting that fast food is, therefore, to blame for obesity. Adults make the decision to consume fast food and to feed it to their children. They are responsible for making that choice. They could chose to dine at home and make a healthy well balanced meal. Therefore, while fast food is unhealthy and contributes to obesity the role of choice cannot be discounted. Recently, also, another element has entered the discussion. Government agencies have been implicated in making fast food less healthy and in encouraging Americans to consume more of it. On November 6, 2010 The New York Times reported that when Dominos Pizza was confronted with declining sales they enlisted the help of Dairy Management, a government agency. Dairy Management encouraged Dominos to increase the amount of cheese on their pizzas (which increased the calorie and fat content) and then devised a marketing campaign to increase sales. (Moss, 2010) In this recent illustration a government agency can be implicated in making fast food less healthy and in encouraging (marketing) increased consumption of it. Conclusion Fast food contains excessive calories and fats, that is an undeniable fact. Further, eating them probably does contribute to obesity. However, fast food is a choice that adults and parents make so all of the responsibility can not be placed in the hands of Ronald McDonald or Colonel Sanders. Furthermore, it is an unhealthy menu choice that even the U.S. Governments agencies have a hand in. Additionally, and in conclusion, broader social factors such as a fast-paced lifestyle and more families with two-working parents are also placing parents in a position where fast food often seems to be the only alternative. References Hoguin, Jaime. (January 5, 2003) “Fast Food Linked to Child Obesity”. CBS News. Retrieved from http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/01/05/health/main591325.shtml. McDonalds “Nutrition Exchange”. http://nutrition.mcdonalds.com/nutritionexchange/nutritionfacts.pdf. Moss, Michael. (November 6, 2010). “While Warning About Fat, U.S. Pushes Cheese Sales”. The New York Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/07/us/07fat.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=dominos%20pizza%20dairy&st=cse. Weight-control Information Network. Retrieved from http://www.win.niddk.nih.gov/statistics/index.htm#overweight. Read More