Obesity And Fast Food Essay Example
If I were to ask what you would like to eat right now, what comes to mind? Is it a large warm burrito from Chipotle? Some freshly salted fries from McDonald’s? Or maybe a cheesy slice of pizza from Pizza Hut? This is the problem with living in America. Fast food is so easily accessible we view it as our only option. Everywhere you go and everywhere you look you will find at least one fast food joint near you. Although many unhealthy foods are quick and cheap food options, healthier choices lead to a better overall life in the long run. Americans tend to lean towards foods that are detrimental to their health because they are so accessible everywhere, and this causes many long term problems to their health, including obesity. The obesity epidemic in America is promoted through places like fast food restaurants through the ways they advertise eating unhealthy foods. Instead, healthier options should be widely available to Americans in order to stop obesity.
Obesity in America is a widely known problem, so much so that it can be called an epidemic, and therefore leads to many more serious and long term problems to your health. From the National Health and Nutrition Examination survey in 2018, data shows 40.0% of young adults, 44.8% of middle aged adults, and 42.8% of older adults are obese. That is roughly 2 out of every 5 adults that are obese. Obesity is just the beginning. It is not just the only problem that comes when eating unhealthy foods; Cancer, Type 2 Diabetes, breathing problems, heart disease, and much more can all stem from being obese. Overall, the majority of Americans who suffer from obesity also suffer from other problems that have deleterious effects to their health.
Furthermore, one of the main promoters of obesity and unhealthy eating is fast food. Fast foods packed with sodium, sugar, and saturated fats that only give you temporary energy. Sodium is a preservative that enhances the taste of food. It is mainly in everything you would buy from fast food. Sugars also hide in many menu items like shakes, sodas, and sauces. In most fast food items saturated fats are doubled than in their homemade version. The way restaurants prepare and produce foods to ensure the same taste all across America lead to the use of unhealthy ingredients. Accordingly, the American Heart Association suggests only 6% of your daily calorie intake should be from saturated fats, which is the same amount in one bacon egg and cheese breakfast sandwich from a fast food restaurant. Likewise, three slices of a pepperoni pizza are equal to 2,000 mg of sodium which is nearing the limit for the recommended daily intake. Therefore, the overload of certain ingredients and nutrients in fast food lead to making these foods unhealthy.
Moreover, although fast food may be tempting it is easy to recreate at home, or there are other options on the menu to choose from. One of the most craved items people get from fast food is burgers. Better ingredients to make burgers are already found prepared at stores and include less sodium and saturated fats than fast food options. According to the National Restaurant Association, adults are leaning towards healthier food options. Therefore, more places should cater to their needs and provide healthier food options with more nutritional value. So that they will please their customers and take a step into stopping unhealthy eating habits. All in all, there are alternatives to unhealthy foods, and options need to be widely available.
Ultimately, Americans should have a wide variety of foods available to us, and in order to stop obesity food chains and grocery stores need to change. Next time you try to reach for that burger and fries, think about the wide variety of food options available to you. You can plan food ahead of time for the quick enjoyment you crave but just think of your life in the long run. Would you rather be unhealthy and unhappy with your health, or would you rather find enjoyment in the food choices you make?
