Why Do People Eat Fast Food - Research Paper Example

Fast food: Why Do People Eat Fast Food?

Introduction

A growing population consumes fast foods despite the prevalence of information regarding the negative effects on their health. The tendency is caused by a myriad of factors including convenience, lack of time and inaccessibility of healthy foods, ignorance, and affordability. The risks of taking fast foods outweigh the cost of taking healthy foods, as well as any resultant benefits. For instance, fast foods cause cardiac-related diseases, they compromise the respiratory system, the central nervous system, the reproductive system, the integumentary system and the skeletal system. Fast foods are causing much harm than good to the consumers while the production companies are thriving. The major causes of this ever-growing problems majorly resonate to the societal norms, as well as the associated popularization of fast foods. Other minor impacts also lead to this trend, such as laziness, convenience, ignorance, among other factors. People consume fast foods regardless of the risks associated with the behavior, despite their knowledge of these associated health dangers.

Thesis Statement

While others believe that fast foods are significant because of their high macronutrients and energy, I believe that they are bad and harmful for people’s health because they are only consumed due to the people’s busy schedule, addiction, convenience, ignorance and fast food’s cheap prices.

Research Question

Why do people consume fast foods despite knowing the associated health risks?

Counter Argument

The fast foods are believed to be good sources of protein and carbohydrates, which is necessary for the accomplishment of daily chores. The fast foods are attractive, and most people prefer the foods because they satisfy their needs quickly than the organic foods. Fast foods are sugary, stimulating the appetite for many people, for instance, fast foods are used to enhance adding of calories. In a study conducted by Bowman and Vinyard, both males and females are able to get the same amount of macronutrients from fast food (167). However, Bowman and Vinyard found out that males obtain higher levels of energy and macronutrients as compared to their female counterparts. The study also showed that adults who consume fast food have more energy, amounting to 206 calories, to use for that day than those who consume non-fast food. This makes them active throughout the day and productive (Bowman & Vinyard 167).

Argument

People do not realize that the fast foods, especially the processed chicken, is prepared from chickens injected with antibiotics. Consequently, the antibiotics are ingested and have various side effects on the consumers. According to Johansen, the US accounts for more than 9,000 food-borne deaths per year (34). The food ingredients are artificially administered, hence there is a non-desirable reaction with the foods of the consumers. They are quickly prepared and served, and the consumers never care to question the safety and quality of the food. Non-qualified staff preparing the foods mostly lean towards the economic aspects, compromising quality in a bid to save expenditure. The economic constraints compel most forms to hire staff, which is cheap to enhance their profit-making goal. For this reason, the foods are spiced to enhance the appetite for the foods. The use of spices for fast foods is allowed subject to the food safety guidelines given that the aims of the restaurants and the retail outlets is profit generation. Although the foods offer convenience and efficiency for the consumers in the short-run, they are costly in the long-term. According to Reiter, the high demand for the fast foods reduces the quality focus during the preparations stage, hence most people suffer from various illness, especially cancer because of the chemicals and preserves used during the food production (23). There is no value chain analysis in the food chain, hence there is no assurance of high quality of the food produced.

People also take fast foods despite the food’s effect on the respiratory system. In fact, people know and understand that fast food causes obesity and breathing difficult, yet they continue taking them. Asthma is another risk of taking fast foods although most people ignore the side effects. Fast foods satisfy the short-term needs of people while the people are vulnerable to depression in the long-term. Goldstein and Mark assert that most people take fast foods despite the fact that the foods contain phthalates substance, which is responsible for the interruption of hormonal functioning in the body (73). The substance may cause birth defects in the long-term. The cost of the organic foods is another cause of high intake of fast foods. The fact that fast food is usually cheap drives millions of people to eat them, hence ignoring any side-effect of the food in the body system. The preferences of people also cause the intake of fast foods. For instance, the intake of chocolate and greasy foods cause acne. However, such effect is ignored by many consumers. According to Williams, the inaccessibility to the healthy foods causes the high intake of the fast foods (43). The organic foods require a substantial time of preparation. For this reason, the people ignore the effects of the fast foods so long as they are cheap and accessible. Obesity is no longer a concern for many people because it has already been embraced as a normal lifestyle condition. This has made people less sensitive and cautious about their diet. People still take fast foods despite their harmful health effects due to the following reasons:

Busy Schedules

Current trends in human lives are to blame for this behavior, owing to the growing need to save time and consequently investing it other ‘meaningful’ activities. This type of thinking has fostered the growth of fast food consumption, ignoring all the resonating health hazards. The need to save time for other events that are viewed as more important in the contemporary society has led most people to the consumption of fast foods. Work and leisure take the toll of time spent by individual today, which has led to the disregard for proper and healthy consumption (Williams 12). Most people have their lunches in their vehicles or offices, which has led to the growing consumption of fast foods. Health concerns are ignored during these judgments, with a preference for satisfaction, rather than safeguarding one’s health.

Convenience

Most people take fast foods on the account of convenience. The busy schedules of people deny them adequate time to prepare organic foods, which is considered healthy. For this reason, they resort to fast foods, vegetables, which are usually processed and ready-made. According to Schlosser, the intake of fast foods becomes habitual for the masses, hence fast food is considered a normal way of life among millions of people without regard to the side-effects (69). The people avoid investing time in the preparation of the healthy foods, yet the later food guarantees of health, and the sustainability of the people’s busy schedules.

Ease anxiety and remedy for stress

The intake of fast foods is also informed by the urge to ease anxiety. Fast foods compromise the health of people because the high level of anxiety and stress stimulate people to take high levels of fast foods. The perception of fast food being a remedy for stress is euphoria, yet a significant number of people are negatively affected. The burning of many calories causes individuals to yearn for fast foods, owing to the body natural reaction in a bid to replenish the lost energy. Most people also take the junk food because the food has positive effects on the reward center of the brain. For this reason, people subconsciously take the fast food to satisfy their needs. People also take junks of fast foods because of lack of adequate sleep, which also stimulates the reward center. Consequently, the urge to take fast foods is felt, which cause various health complications such as obesity and cardiac diseases. The reward center drives the thirst for fast foods.

Addiction

The intake of fast food can also cause an addiction to the foods, which is gravely associated with drug addiction (Smith and Andrew 91). This means that it is considerably difficult to stop taking the food when a person is addicted to fast foods. The body adapts to the regular intake of high calories, and a subsequent reduction causes an alteration in the body function, which prompts the consumer back to the unhealthy habit. Continued consumption results in a sort of dependence, with cravings being evident among regular consumers. The need to satisfy these desires exceeds the betterment and protection of health, leading individuals into the continuation of the risky behavior. This is evident, despite the awareness of the harmful effects associated with the continued consumption of the unhealthy foods. Satisfying the craving outshines the need to safeguard one’s health, which furthers this trend. The trigger of the neurochemical change is associated with causing the addiction, which the victims are never aware of until symptoms manifest.

Ignorance

The other reason for the intake of fast foods despite knowing the side-effects of the food is ignorance. Most people are ignorant and risk-takers for this reason, they do not mind of the increase of the bone density complications. The ignorance results from the socioeconomic factors in society. For instance, many people are before the poverty line.

Poverty

Poverty is another reason for the intake of the fast foods. The low disposable income limits the options of millions of people’s diet. For this reason, the people are compelled to only take the available fast foods.

Personal Analysis

People take fast foods despite the fact that they cause harm to the consumers. There is a need for people to prioritize their health over life conveniences. The fact that there are many risks associated with the taking of fast foods means that people should desist from taking the food. The cost of food should not be considered in taking food because it will only encourage the intake of fast foods. The fact that obesity is caused by fast foods is adequate reason for people to be discouraged from taking them. There is a need for food safety campaigns, which will automatically sensitize people against the intake of fast food. Consequently, the issue of ignorance will be addressed. I also believe that people ought to be discouraged from taking fast foods through government imposition of a heavy duty on the fast food production. The initiative will discourage the production of the fast food due to the subsequent increase in the cost of production. I hold the view that the government should take the initiative of making the organic foods available and accessible to its populace to avoid the high intake of the risky fast foods. The move will enhance the health safety of people. I believe that the threat of fast foods can be reduced through the indulgence of the health safety authorities in ensuring that food safety standards are adopted in the fast food production. This will prevent the vulnerability of the consumers. Additionally, the ingredients used in the food production should be reviewed to reduce the toxicity and health risks associated with fast foods. However, the promotion of the intake of organic foods, vegetables, will be the most effective means of discouraging the intake of the risky foods. The sensitization of the public on the side-effects of taking fast foods will serve to dissuade masses from the habitual fast food-taking. The scourge of obesity is one of the outcomes of fast foods. Such a disease should be featured as the most common manifestation of the habitual taking of fast foods. The food-borne diseases are usually caused by the poor preparation of fast foods. I believe that the government should take part in discouraging the production of fast foods through engaging the market player in alternative ventures to avoid the negative effects associated with the taking of fast foods. The fact that the function of a government is to protect the health of its populace means that government goodwill is indispensable in ensuring that the intake of fast food is discouraged.

Conclusion

As a summative, it is evident people consume fast foods regardless of the risks associated with the behavior, despite their knowledge of these associated health dangers. The intake of fast foods is driven by ignorance, cost, convenience, and addition. The foods are harmful to the consumers but the consumers never consider the harmfulness of the foods. The reward center of the brain causes a person to have an appetite for fast foods, especially when an individual is under stress. For this reason, the sensitization of people on the side effects of fast foods should be furthered, in an attempt to curb the prevalence of the unhealthy behavior depicted in the current society.

People also take fast foods despite the food’s effect on the respiratory system. In fact, people know and understand that fast food causes obesity and breathing difficult, yet they continue taking them. Asthma is another risk of taking fast foods although most people ignore the side effects. Fast foods satisfy the short-term needs of people while the people are vulnerable to depression in the long-term. Goldstein and Mark assert that most people take fast foods despite the fact that the foods contain phthalates substance, which is responsible for the interruption of hormonal functioning in the body (73). The substance may cause birth defects in the long-term. The cost of the organic foods is another cause of high intake of fast foods. The fact that fast food is usually cheap drives millions of people to eat them, hence ignoring any side-effect of the food in the body system. The preferences of people also cause the intake of fast foods. For instance, the intake of chocolate and greasy foods cause acne. However, such effect is ignored by many consumers. According to Williams, the inaccessibility to the healthy foods causes the high intake of the fast foods (43). The organic foods require a substantial time of preparation. For this reason, the people ignore the effects of the fast foods so long as they are cheap and accessible. Obesity is no longer a concern for many people because it has already been embraced as a normal lifestyle condition. This has made people less sensitive and cautious about their diet. People still take fast foods despite their harmful health effects due to the following reasons:

Busy Schedules

Current trends in human lives are to blame for this behavior, owing to the growing need to save time and consequently investing it other ‘meaningful’ activities. This type of thinking has fostered the growth of fast food consumption, ignoring all the resonating health hazards. The need to save time for other events that are viewed as more important in the contemporary society has led most people to the consumption of fast foods. Work and leisure take the toll of time spent by individual today, which has led to the disregard for proper and healthy consumption (Williams 12). Most people have their lunches in their vehicles or offices, which has led to the growing consumption of fast foods. Health concerns are ignored during these judgments, with a preference for satisfaction, rather than safeguarding one’s health.

Convenience

Most people take fast foods on the account of convenience. The busy schedules of people deny them adequate time to prepare organic foods, which is considered healthy. For this reason, they resort to fast foods, vegetables, which are usually processed and ready-made. According to Schlosser, the intake of fast foods becomes habitual for the masses, hence fast food is considered a normal way of life among millions of people without regard to the side-effects (69). The people avoid investing time in the preparation of the healthy foods, yet the later food guarantees of health, and the sustainability of the people’s busy schedules. Read More