...The Marketing of Fast Food and the Rise in Health Problems As we know, globalization of fast-food and processed food corporations have become somewhat of a problem for various reasons. While many countries have the same choices Americans have, it is easy to see that over advertising of fast and processed foods causes Americans to be lazy in food preparation, which causes health problems, which is why large food corporations should limit their advertising. This chain of events is all too familiar in modern American culture, but not necessarily exclusive. Through research, it has been found that Americans are more susceptible to marketing and advertising of this type of food than most countries. Many ask, “Why?” While there is no precise answer everyone can agree on, we can point out 3 defining factors as to why Americans are more likely to purchase fast food rather than having a home-cooked meal. Compared to the rest of the world, Americans consume more fast food than even China which has almost as many fast-food restaurants as America does. The fad of fast-food can be explained as something that has gained momentum over the years of economic downfall, apathy towards health, and a collective divide on what we has humans should eat to stay healthy and live longer. Advertising is at an all-time high for not only fast-food corporations, but for processed-food companies such as Kraft or General Mills. The “evil genius” mentality behind their marketing is in that their target markets...
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...what’s in your food or how it’s being made? Eating fast food isn’t always the answer in the long run even if your running late. Why not cook yourself a home cooked meal and create less problems for not only you but our country? First, we will drive through the problems fast food causes. Next, we will make a “quick stop” at the causes of fast food. Finally, we will throw away the problems and find solutions for fast food. First, we will drive through the problems fast food causes. As we have probably all heard one or more times in our lives that fast food isn’t healthy for you; that’s old news. Now the question is, do you really know what it does to your body and what problems it can cause. Eating...
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...English 12 Mrs. Preston 2 November 2012 Home Cooked Meals are Healthier Then Fast Food. Over the years people have become very lazy. Instead of making the nutritional homemade meals, they have been getting fast food. That is fine every now and then but, not every day. Eating fast food every day is very bad the body. Fast food may be cheaper but, a home cooked meal is healthier for you. Too much fast food can lead to health problems, a higher calorie intake, and weight gain. Eating fast food every single day is not a good thing. There are many reasons to not eat fast food every day. One is too much fast food will lead to health problems. It is very bad for your body secondly. Fast food as of now is all over the world in most of the countries in the world. With so many fast food chains and restaurants it is no wonder why people are having so many health problems and becoming obese. If you have time to go through a drive thru window, than you can make a home cooked meal. When you go to a fast food place you are not just paying for the food. If you think about it, you are paying for the supplies and the employees working there too. Fast food meal prices are absolutely ridiculous. It would be better for you and your wallet to eat a healthy, home cooked meal at home. With eating too much fast food there are a lot of health problems. The health problems that go along with eating too much fast food are endless. You can get diabetes, cancer, arthritis, reproductive complications...
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...and lifestyle has changed. Fast food industries is the major reason why America has become one of the most obese countries in the world. Women rights also changed, this meant that women now were able to have a job which made a huge difference in families. Fast foods took advantage of this situation to target the kids due to the fact that women had less time at home to cook homemade meals. Ever since those years not only has fast foods become an everyday meal but is causing huge health problems in America. The most Epidemic problem is obesity and has increased over the years, and is killing thousands of Americans. Back in the 1970’s before fast foods, life expectancy of people was...
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...Nick Desai 22 November 2011 Obesity: Is it a McProblem? Everyone eats fast food. It is a meal that is usually fast, cheap, and convenient. However, eating fast food also contributes to one of the biggest problems facing Americans today, obesity. It is one of the fastest growing concerns and a major contributor to this problem is the consumption of fast food. While governments and communities are trying to address the problem through legislation, nothing will change until parents take a more active role in promoting the health of their children, therefore, not all the blame for American obesity is on fast food consumption. Obesity is one of the fastest growing health concerns in the U.S. In America, only one out of the fifty states has a B.M.I under twenty-five, the number that is considered to be the benchmark for determining overweightness (BMI Index by State). The number of obese children and adults has tripled and doubled, respectively since 1980 (Obesity at a Glance). “Research from a national health survey shows that an astonishing sixty-five percent of American adults are either overweight or obese” (Loonin 14). Obesity has had a profound impact on the youth population of the world, as the percentage of overweight adolescents and children has risen over twelve percent since 1970*. If this trend is to continue, it is even projected that by the year 2030, one half of the American population will be overweight (Half of Americans to be Obese by 2030). As...
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...Topic : Effects of the kind of foods served in the school cafeteria. Date : 04/08/2012 Effects of the kind of foods served in the school cafeteria. We all know how much fast food is essential for human beings and other living things to survive. Earlier, people used to have healthy foods, but now eating habits are changing. Change in the lifestyle and because of the busy schedule, nowadays, most people tend to prefer fast food (junk food) which is unhealthy for us. The fast foods, which are poor in diet, can lead to very serious health issues especially in children. Children are more affected because schools and colleges mostly offer fast food and children also tend to choose fast food mostly for its taste. Fast foods have many serious effects on our body both physically and mentally. The first and the very common is obesity which is commonly seen in children. The busy hectic lives of parents and children make fast food an ultimate choice of food for them. Nowadays, both parents work so they get less to go and prepare healthy food. Hence, instead of healthy balanced diet, children opt for fast food which is easy and quick to make. This becomes a habit and children end up eating fast food almost every day. Taking in fast food means consuming unhealthy nutrients like more calories, more fats, more sugars, and more carbohydrates. In the first place adults only have to consume about 2000 calories per day, so; for example, one cheeseburger, a large order of fries, and...
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... The Fast Food Epidemic On Health In today's society, fast food has become a large part of many American's lives. With the rising numbers of obese people, it is hard not to draw a correlation between the increase in fast food and obesity. Most obese people don’t want to be obese and wish they could lose weight, yet they continue to struggle with their fast food intake and obesity. This is due to the advertising done on the consumers, the highly addictive food itself, and most importantly, how advertising and addiction combine with children to form habits that are kept once they become adults. These factors are the reasons that fast food restaurants are to blame for the rising obesity and health risks across America. The government needs to step in and place regulations on these fast food restaurants so they will stop taking advantage of people's weaknesses. Before it can be gone into detail about how fast food companies are to blame for people over eating their food, it first must be proven that fast food is indeed the main problem causing today's obesity in America. It is known to many people how the number of fast food restaurants in America has increased tremendously over the past several decades, but it is difficult to calculate by how much due to the lack of historic statistics. Also, it is difficult whether or not to categorize certain restaurants as fast food. Although...
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...INTRODUCTION Fast food, a kind of food can be prepared and served in a short time, is one of the most controversial and frequent words in the U.S. even in the world. Fast food is commonly considered as an inexpensive meal with much easier preparation than the process at home. As the economic growing, many modern people have to live and work in a very fast tune. They do not have much more time for buying ingredients and preparing food at home so that they’re eager to find a fast and convenient way for their meals. Fast food is one of the ideal solutions. Therefore, more and more fast food restaurants opened. The fast food industry revolutionized the food industry, affecting the lives of the people who produce it and the people who eat it, and the fast food industry has become a large market in the U.S. Fast food companies usually build their businesses in form of franchise chains. Those fast food chains have grown at very fast rate in the past years. By far, the U.S. fast food industry is the largest in the world. Some global fast food brands such as McDonald’s, KFC, Burger King, and Subway, has built a great market share in the world. According to the statistics report form Statista (Richter), “in 2010, the fast food industry generated total revenue of 184 billion U.S. dollars in more than 300,000 restaurants, employing 3.9 million people.” Certainly, the fast food market value is still growing today, and the fast food chains exist in almost every city in the U.S. The fast food industry...
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...Everyone should think twice before deciding to eat fast food. There are many health risks when it comes to eating food that’s made within a matter of seconds. The food is not properly taken care of, which leads all the way back to where the food is originally produced. Even if it is easy to buy and cheap, the health risks outweigh the five minutes of satisfaction that fast food brings. One should carefully think before they eat fast food. The health risks that come from eating so much fast food are life-threatening. Obesity can come from eating fast food that’s bought often. Fast food is made from a lot of high saturated fats and calories if it isn’t work off, then you can grow to become obese. “Even a small quantity of fast food contains high calories. People are fooled by the quantity and they tend to eat more. Thus, without knowing, they consume a lot of calories” (How). This is a prime example on how people can consume so many calories, and without even knowing. Obesity isn’t the only risk, because heart disease is also a prime factor. “What you eat can affect your heart’s health and your chances of developing life-threatening heart disease” (Robin). When you eat all of the fats, sugars, and salts, your heart can grow weak and it will endanger you. There is no safe risk for your body when it comes to eating fast food. Food-borne illnesses can come from out fast food. What most people don’t know is the conditions the animals are living in before they’re killed. Cows are...
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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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...Fast Food Cause Obesity There has been a rise in obesity in this country for the last forty years. Many scientists and doctors have begun to question whether there is any relationship between fast food and obesity. According to the available information the number of fast food restaurants has doubled since 1970s. (Currie, J et al 2009).Currie J et al (2009) observe that the rise in the obesity cases in the last one decade has been directly related to the rise in the number of people choosing fast food as their main menu. Fast food has been described as food which is prepared in hurry for people who have little time during meal times. These foods are very popular with the students and working people since they do not have enough time to sit and enjoy a full meal course. Fast food include the fries and burgers .These types of foods are usually prepared in hurry to meat the rising demand especially during the peak hours. The popularity of this type of food is pegged on the fact that they are always ready and can be taken within a short notice as opposed to the full meal course where one has to place an order in advance. Most of our cities and towns have fast food chains located on every corner and at the same time our television, newpapers and radio stations are filled with advertisements enticing us to sample the different products in offer in these joints. It is worth noting that most of these commercials are usually directed towards children and youth justifying the reason why...
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...Fast food vs home-cooked meals Today most of us eat out in fast food restaurants than we do at home, this could cause a variety of health issues, like high blood pressure and obesity. Fast food contains a poor nutritional value and is contributing toward growing obesity among population in America. Although fast food is convenient, inexpensive, and is basically a cultural phenomenon, we as a society need to stop eating fast food because it has increased health problems and has taken away from family values, destroys the environment, and has created a food economy dominated by giant corporations. In the United States today, obesity has become an enormous problem. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 34% of adults in America are obese, while the number of obese children in America is at 17%. Undoubtedly, America has become an unhealthy nation, too busy with video games and cell phones to be concerned with nutrition and health. Obesity in America is the second leading cause of preventable death in the U.S. An estimated of 400,000 Americans deaths per year may be attributable to poor diet and lack of physical activity. The problem begins with our children they are easily influenced and raised by their families who serve as their role models. Fast food and advertising targeted at children successfully contributes to the obesity. Obesity can begin at a very young age. America is now filled with overweight...
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...Are Lawsuits Effective? Upon reading the article “Lawsuits against Fast-Food Restaurants Are an Effective Way to Combat Obesity” by John H. Banzhaf III, I realized that the author explains that people with obesity issues tend to blame the fast food industry rather than blaming themselves. The author also explains that the lawsuits against fast food are happening because people are blaming the industry for their own weight issues. He also discusses how legal action should be taken towards certain issues with advertising as well. I feel as though individuals that have issues with their weight need to focus on fixing their own problem rather than wasting time seeking help from everyone else. Taking a fast food company to court because a person is overweight is not exactly an effective way to solve their issue. At the same time, I do believe that there should be some laws that limit the amount of fat and cholesterol in some foods. Nutritional information should be readily available to those who seek it. Not until recently did we notice that more fast food restaurants are displaying their nutritional facts in store as well as online. We are seeing more and more restaurants attempting to offer healthier foods in an effort to reduce the obesity problem in America. I personally feel that this small effort from restaurants will make a big difference with the obesity problems we have right now. People just need to take advantage of these accommodations. The biggest reason...
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...Fast-Food and Obesity Fast-food chain’s have been facing lawsuits in the last couple years like the one two New York teenagers filed against McDonald’s accusing it of failing to provide necessary information about health risk associated with its meals. As many Americans consume Fast-food and spend more money in Fast-food restaurants and less in grocery stores, nutrition and health advocates have become concerned about American’s health and nutrition. Knowing the number of calories and the amount of fat and salt in the Fast-food and knowing the dangerous effects of the Fast-food, people should decide which item are better choice to plan a convenient healthful diet and take action. As Americans lives become more hectic they have less time to select, prepare and eat food, so they switch to plan B without any thinking. Fast-food attracts most American’s because they are widely available and inexpensive .Eric Schlosser has noted “That 70 percent of the fast food stopovers are “Impetuous” done with little thought at the tern of the moment”. These stopovers are overflowing with a high number of calories. These great numbers of calories consumed break the of energy balance where the calories taken in eating Fast-food are greater than the calories used during physical activities. This causes a serious problem which is obesity. As Surgeon General David Satcher pointed out, “People eat more calories … than they work off”. The numbers of obese people have been...
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...Chapter 1 The Problem and Review of Related Literature Introduction Fastfood is a growing business centralized on the idea that not everyone can cook. There are days, especially when there is work overflow that people tend to forget that they have enough tools in their own kitchen therefore they opt for the easier solution which is to purchase from establishments that sell cooked food. A fastfood follows a standard time, from taking the orders of the customers until the food has been served. People have always enjoyed eating good food and it has become a challenge for fastfood chains to come up with menus that will provide food which will be appreciated by their targeted consumers. Fastfood differs from a restaurant in terms of service and food. When ordering food from a fastfood establishment, an individual has to fall in line at a counter to order, which is the beginning of the process. On the other hand, when diners go to a restaurant, they are seated and a server is present to take the order of the customer. In terms of food, fastfood offers food which doesn’t usually take a lot of time to prepare and is significantly of lower cost compared to the food served in a restaurant. According to the review of “Food Service Industry in the Philippines” (2010), fastfoods requires more than just good food. Though important, good food is only a part of the total dining experience. Equally important is believed to be the way people feel while in the...
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