A few weeks ago my family and I traveled to
Montenegro, a country in Europe. A beautiful country I might add. We spoke to
one of the locals who served us at a restaurant. He noticed our clothes and our
thick American accents and said to us. “Oh you’re from America, I’ll get you a
large coke and a big mac then.” I could tell by his following chuckle that this
person was obviously kidding. But I was shocked to realize that this is how
most of the world sees America. We deserve the nickname, the Fast Food Nation,
as we consume the most fast food in the world. But is that a bad thing? Is it
bad to eat the most fast food in the world? I’m sure you all have heard all of
your life about how fast food is bad for you, but has that changed your eating
habits at all? When you are in a rush and don’t have time to cook for sometimes
hours at home. Fast food is an inexpensive choice, having it cooked for you in
minutes, not even requiring you get out of your car. It seems like the obvious
choice, right? Well, let me put it this way, there is a reason America is among
the highest obesity rates in the world. Everywhere you go, every corner, there
seems to be a McDonalds or a Wendy’s or a Subway. Limiting fast food consumption
can reduce your chances of becoming obese, developing type 2 diabetes, and many
other health related problems.
The suggested calorie intake for females being
about 2000 per day and for males being about 2500 per day suggests that if we
go over this amount, we risk gaining weight. Weight gain occurs when one
consume more calories than you burn in a day.
In a 2013 study, researchers found that children take in between 160 and 310 more
calories a day at fast food restaurants than at home. In a 2004 study,
researchers found that eating at fast food restaurants twice week results in
significant weight gain over time compared to occasional visits. Studies show
that living near a fast food restaurant results in a 5.2% greater risk of
becoming obese.
Researchers
found that regions with high concentrations of fast food restaurants are 2.62
times more likely to have extremely high level of hospitalization for coronary
problems. It is obvious that American’s addiction to
fast food has been a major factor in the rise of obesity rates.
Fast foods are almost always: high in calories,
fat, saturated and trans fat, sugar, simple carbohydrates, and sodium. All of
these contribute to bad health. In Eric Schloeer’s predicts in his book titled
Fast Food Nation (2006), we will have 511,000 people die from food borne
disease. This is equal to the entire population of Southern Malaysia. When you
eat fast food, remember that you are putting yourself at risk for diabetes,
heart disease, stroke, gall bladder disease, fatty liver, arthritis, joint
disorders, and some cancers.
Of course I am not saying fast food chains have
plagued our population into becoming fat little monsters. No, I am simply
informing you that excessive fast food consumption has its effects. And when
you do eat fast food, I want you to consider what it is doing to your body. So
although it may not be the most convenient choice, I urge you to limit your
fast food consumption. Your healthy body will thank you later.
Works Cited
Schlosser, Eric. Fast
Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal. New York, NY: Harper
Perennial, 2005. Print.
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