...Childhood obesity, who is to blame? The parents solely? The food chains? Maybe a combined effort, a blind eye, ignorance, or finger pointing? Regardless to the right or wrong answer, McDonald’s Corporation has decided to take a stand against all the scrutiny their company is facing, and make a change. This coming September, Happy Meal boxes will include apple slices, minus the caramel, and smaller portions of French fries. This is a huge leap in the right direction to not only get the United States regulators off their back, but also to aid the parents that use this fast food chain anytime after August 31, 2011. Americans, in general, have become one of the biggest groups of consumers on the planet, wanting everything bigger and better than anyone else, including waistlines, with over half of all Americans being overweight. This is not a surprise to anyone who may occasionally turn on the news or open a newspaper. The rise in childhood obesity, which is now 17% higher then what it was ten years ago, is alarming to even a pediatrician. With that being said, the social, political, and legal environment of the fast food industry is of particular interest in recent years. Cultural attitudes and beliefs have changed significantly. Fast food is now seen as one of the main contributors to heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. Fast food corporations have been forced to change their images and shift their menu offerings into a more health conscious selection. The competitive...
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...Alexa Pierre English 1102: Food and Representation 2 May 2012 Controversies of the Fast Food Epidemic In today’s society, when it comes to food, consumers want the best of both worlds. People desire instant gratification meals such as fast food, but also want companies to be good citizens. Statistics show that 85% of Americans think that consumers should get more than just the product for their money; their support should go to companies that don’t harm the environment or hurt people (Clark, “Fast Food Shake Up”). Is it possible for fast food companies to provide quick, satisfactory food without the health risks involved? Do fast food companies really have any correlation to obesity? Are we taking it too far by blaming fast food companies? When is it individual responsibility, and when is it appropriate to place blame? Regardless of the actual cause of obesity, the major health epidemic in America needs to be addressed (Clark). Before addressing the fast food products, it is important to start with the basics. Does fat in foods actually make you fat? This is a very simple, yet extremely controversial question. Back in the 1860s, an Englishman named William Bantig was so overweight that he didn’t dare doing simples tasks such as walking face-first down a flight of stairs because he was afraid of falling over. His doctor advised that he start a diet that was high in meat and alcohol, and low in fruits. Within months of this new diet, Bantig lost over 35 pounds....
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...Obesity Epidemic Obesity is an epidemic in the U.S and it is taking over our population. One in three adults becomes obese and obesity can cause heart disease, cancer and diabetes. However, this epidemic does not only target adults but children as well. Obesity begins with children and can be found in children as young as newborns. According to Alison Motluk, “The problem starts young. One-Third of U.S secondary-school students fail to get enough physical activity and over a tenth get none at all, according to recent figures from the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, Georgia”(563). The big question is how are our kids becoming obese at such a young age? They consume more calories than they burn, and do less physical activity but why? Well, let’s think about it this way, who feeds the children, who is supposed to take the children for a walk, and who takes the children out to eat? Parents have a lot of control over their children, and to a great extent they are the responsible ones for their kids being obese. Children are like a sponge they observe everything we do. They see their parents so caught up with their tablets, smart phones, lap tops, and iPods that they do the same. First, they ask for these gadgets and parents think they are doing a good thing by buying these items for children at such a young age. Parents do not think of the long term damage they are doing to their children. The children start focusing on theses gadgets and soon they are trading a basketball...
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...The portion size has nearly doubled since the mid 1900’s. Part of the reason behind this significant change has to do with the development and growth of the fast-food industry. In the1970’s women began to enter the workforce and had little spare time to prepare dinners for their families. Thus, leading to the invention of fast-food restaurants. In Jane E. Brody’s Attacking the Obesity Epidemic by First Figuring Out its Cause, Steven L. Gortmaker, a sociologist at the Harvard School of Public Health, states “The industry made it easier for people to consume more calories throughout the day” (12). Considering the availability, it didn’t take long for fast-food consumption to incline. Fast-food restaurants became a normal stop on the way home rather than a treat for special occasions. When parents appointed this kind of food as a normal dinner, they unconsciously handed down bad eating habits to their children. Fast-food attracted a large number of customers and this drove to the addition of the drive-thru feature. The drive-thru made it possible for customers to order food, pay for it, and enjoy it without leaving the car. At first it seemed like a genius...
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...their children being obese. California called the epidemic of children being obese a state emergency because it’s that important and we need to stop or try to stop what’s happening. Some people are not looking at the one of the biggest causes of childhood obesity. The parents, not anyone else, are the ones who can best fight the epidemic of obese children. No, banning fast food isn’t going to stop childhood obesity, parents need to take responsibility. They teach them their eating and exercising habits....
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...American Epidemic By Annissia Y. Pate Is childhood obesity an American epidemic? The answer is yes. An epidemic is defined by a wide spread outbreak of a condition where many people are infected at the same time. Epidemic obesity is occurring all over the world. Children are eating less healthy foods and engaging in less healthy activities. Childhood obesity is not limited to any specific race or type of child, but obesity is affecting children in the United States. Today, American children are more obese than medical science recommends, and their body weight is still increasing. Childhood obesity has become one of the largest health concerns in the United States. According to the Center of Disease and Control, childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and tripled in adolescents in the past 30 years. Children are gaining weight due to lack of physical activity and types of quantity of food they consume. Kids today are content with sitting on the couch, spending countless hours, watching television and playing video games. We need to encourage children to get up and get involved in more physical activities. Lack of exercise is simply not enough for a growing child’s body to deal with increased caloric intake of today’s modern diet. Children must participate in gym class and make every effort to deal in sports after school. Parents must make a diligent effort to offer healthier chooses for meals. Fast foods, sugary drinks and processed snack foods are a major...
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...Research suggests obesity in America is an epidemic because of people’s diet, lifestyle, and genetic inheritance. Obesity is a chronic disease that can and will seriously affect one’s health. Health professionals agree that obesity has now reached epidemic status in our country. Over one third of American adults are obese. Obesity also affects children and is more prevalent now than in previous years. And the numbers are increasing. Diet and nutrition play a major role in the United States epidemic of obesity. Although it is very complex especially when Americans are sent mixed messages on what to eat and how much they should eat. On one hand, you have packaged processed food, bigger portions and fast food meals that are marketed as all American. The food is delicious and filling but fast and cheap. On the other hand, Americans spend almost twenty billion dollars every year on the newest weight loss fads, from weight loss drugs to books on the newest weight loss diet to weight loss surgeries like gastric bypass, lap-bands and Hollywood’s favorite, liposuction. Everyone is looking for everything fast. Fast-food, and fast weight loss options. We spend more time at work to pay for all the fast stuff in our lives instead of spending time at home and in our own kitchens cooking nutritious meals for our whole family like our parents did fifty years ago. (Overeaters Anonymous, 1980) This crazy relationship Americans have with food is easy to explain in terms of schemes in marketing...
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...plan on it, I have a personal connection to obesity and the nature of the epidemic. I am an EMT for the Middlesex Area and I see many different things while on the job. Something that really hit home to me was how obesity was so widespread yet no one cared to turn his or her cheeks toward the issue. I have personally seen many different cases of obese people that struggle with the simplest tasks, including going to the bathroom, driving, walking their dogs. Essentially this epidemic lets people eat themselves into oblivion and depression leads to overeating and pleasure eating. My personal connection to this subject drives me to exemplify to society that this is a pressing issue and everything should be done to cap it and stop its progression. The United States of America today follows many different trends and patterns within its society. Societal trends have been evident through the history of the nation. A pattern that has revolutionized society today is the health craze. The sport of being fit is a priority and people are getting in shape better than ever. Commercials from athletic conglomerate corporations such as Nike, Reebok, and Adidas are marketing being fit with new gear, sneakers, and apparel to attract people to such products. But, there is an issue at large. A rising issue in the United States is obesity, which is cited to be a major health issue in recent decades but had grown to be an epidemic within the country. Despite our technological advances, progressive society...
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...industry financially, economically, and medically. McDonald’s has rendered a policy of health and welfare for all of its international consumers to combat all epidemic diseases that derive from obesity and promote a society of healthier living. This franchise encountered many law suits, brand/ food changes, and government infractions in order to improve the wellbeing of the consumers and reputation of the company. McDonald’s main issue is the health issue, which was imposed by the public media and company agencies indicating the dangers of fast food and the obesity rate of the economy. b) Interest: The consumers have the largest interest in McDonalds’ when it comes to the level of obesity in America. They were targeted because of the increased calorie intake individuals were consuming which led to an overall increase in their daily body mass index (BMI). Congress advocated to McDonald’s to apply changes to their menu and the way they advertised. They wanted these changes to target children and promote a healthier eating lifestyle. Throughout the century different economy epidemics have hit the environment. Each time McDonalds has had to prove that their regiment of growing products for the company and suppliers were all within the guidelines mandated by all congressional approved acts regarding the quality of standard food. This was accomplished by using health watch groups. McDonald’s achieved this by changing their promotion of “supersizing” and moving to a healthier lifestyle...
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...Proposal - Topic: Eradicating obesity in America. Research Question: What are the solutions to eradicating obesity in America, and who is to blame for this epidemic? Working Thesis: In order to combat the obesity epidemic, government needs to revise farm policies to favor production of healthier foods in abundance, and individual families need to re-establish the connection of the environment to the soil and food supply Research Plan - For research, I will be using the DeVry Library database - EBSCO host search. (http://search.ebscohost.com.proxy.devry.edu/Community.aspx?custid=ns123107&authtype=ip&encid=22D731163C4635073776358632253E32385321E33513370331533583&ugt=62E771363C1635273736351632053E7228E361D36513679361E325E338133503&IsAdminMobile=N) I have used information from the following websites in my Position paper Centers for Disease Control and Prevention http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/adult.html Food without Thought: How U.S. Farm Policy Contributes to Obesity available at iatp.org http://www.nffc.net/Learn/Fact%20Sheets/Obesity%20and%20Ag.pdf A Natural Solution to the Obesity Epidemic http://primaldocs.com/opinion/a-natural-solution-to-the-obesity-epidemic/ Other research sources will be added as the work progresses. Research outline 1. The introduction will explain the epidemic state of Obesity in America discussing the statistics of obesity among children, teenagers, and adults. I will further explain the economic, health and psychological...
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...Obesity: The Epidemic Obesity: The Epidemic When you hear the word epidemic you automatically associate it a deadly virus or disease. Would you believe me if I told you that obesity is considered an epidemic? Well now in the 21st century obesity has become a national epidemic. Obesity is a major contributor to some of the leading causes of death in the United States. The percentage of obese children and adults is steadily increasing due to the lack of physical exercise and the consumption of food with a higher fat content. Providing free nutritional programs along with free memberships to gyms can help with obesity. A majority of the foods we eat are loaded with high calories, sugar, and fat and contribute to obesity. People spend most of their time eating and they don’t always eat healthy. “Where dining out was once reserved for special occasions, it is now part of many Americans’ weekly, or even daily, routine… According to ERS estimates, food away from home accounted for 42% of U.S. households’ food expenditures in 2009.”(Morrison, Mancino, Variyam, 2011, pg. 35). Fast food tend to be energy dense, poor in micronutrients, low in fiber, high in glycemic load and excessive in portion size, causing high calorie intake. “Consumers now spend almost $600 billion annually at fast food and table-service restaurants. The fast food industry, in particular, has been frequently criticized for contributing to the national obesity problem by selling foods high in calories, saturated...
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...people die in the United States from eating too much food, while in other countries people die from not having enough. Obesity is a rising health epidemic across the nation, and it is a duel responsibility of the government as well as society to do all that they can, starting in the individual home to encourage healthy eating in order to reverse this development and preserve the next generation. Obesity has officially become an epidemic in America. It is debatably one the most noticed public health problems that America faces today. In 2009,...
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...success in the food industry is marketing. The food industry is the best at manipulating and altering perceptions and persuading its customers that their product is a necessity. Big food corporations have had a major influence on the spread of obesity in America. Fed Up argues that if we want to see change we need to be the change. According to the film, kids watch an average of 4,000 food-related ads every year; that’s about 10 per day (Fed Up). Additionally, 98% of food related ads that children view is for products high in fat, sugar, and sodium (Fed Up). Fast food companies are targeting kids in their marketing strategies and it is leading to kids developing bad habits and ideas about food at an early age....
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...Fast Food Workers’ Rights At a glance it is easy to see that the winning formula for the high economic success in the fast food industry is comprised of cheap food and cheap labor. Their ability to sell food at a low price in a matter of minutes caters to families or individuals limited on time or money, and in many cases both of these factors are of equal importance. Inordinately the consumption of low cost labor in the fast food industry has resulted in an underpaid and under protected workforce. In many ways limitations on workers’ rights in the fast food industry have been instrumental in the high profitability of the corporations that dominate it; however, the formation of unions or other sources of support for fast food workers would have implications on the price and/or quality of the final products sold. These implications, in particularly the price of the food, would force a complete restructure of the expectations and needs of customers who currently frequent the restaurants. A key element in sourcing low cost labor has been the excessive employment of teenagers. The fast food industry has exploited the needs and vulnerability of teenagers in order to create a high turnover workforce that is willing to accept low wages and easily taught. The industry has capitalized on assembly line production models, which require little skills from the workers; however, the machinery necessary for these conditions is often times dangerous and violates OSHA guidelines for...
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...and much of this blame is put on fast food establishments such as McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Burger King, and Krystal’s, to name a few. According to Warren Belasco and Philip Scranton (2002), “The increasing consumption of convenience foods is an international trend influenced by changing lifestyles” (p. 3) From a superficial perspective, this doesn’t seem like much of a problem. However, Robert Jeffery and Simone French (1998), authors of the article Epidemic Obesity in the United States: Are Fast Food and Television Viewing Contributing? assert that “Obesity is an important public health problem that, in recent years, has reached epidemic proportions” (p. 277). In fact, some are calling the problem the “obesity epidemic.” Several lawsuits against fast food establishments have been filed by those who are overweight. It’s a serious problem, one that cannot be ignored. Before anyone assumes that it’s just the United States, think again. With the increasing number of fast food establishments in countries other than the United States, such as China, Japan, and Brazil, so are obesity rates. The obesity epidemic can no longer be ignored and must be solved. While the problem is known, the source of it is not and must be traced. What exactly is the source of obesity? Many people believe it to be fast food restaurants such as McDonald’s, Burger King, Wendy’s, Krystals, Kentucky Fried Chicken and Taco Bell. After all, are they not the ones distributing the food so unhealthy and high in calories...
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