Would You Like a Side of Fries With That?

In The United States, fast food is becoming an epidemic, not only affecting our children but also affecting us as adults. Recently, a significant amount of consumers, about 41 percent, are claiming that their ideas of places offering “fast food” has expanded recently to include fast casual restaurants such as Panera Bread and also full service restaurants offering carryout and curbside services such as Applebee’s (Ingram 1). Not only does fast food cause obesity and weight gain, but it can also cause many other diseases and health issues. When we think of health issues, we think of adults, but these greasy foods are also having a huge effect on young children. It is obvious why most Americans eat fast food, because it is quick and easy. One college student was quoted as saying, “Fast food marketing makes it very accessible and if several students combine to order fast food then it becomes an even cheaper option,” said Hannah Cooper a student at the University of Leicester (Cooper 33). Furthermore, America is not the only country with this fast growing epidemic; in Nigeria it is quickly becoming a part of their everyday life and culture. Despite fast foods convenience and quickness, it is one of The United States biggest and fastest growing epidemics that needs to be overseen and reprimanded.

Not only is it proven to cause obesity in adults, but also in recent research it is found to cause asthma, diabetes, immunity deficiency and high blood pressure (Baxamusa 1). Fast foods are high in calories, but they are also high in fats, saturated fat, sugar and salt. Many children develop type 2 diabetes that would normally only affect our parents or grandparents. The body fails to produce the insulin that controls the levels of sugar and metabolism. The excess amount of salt leads to high blood pressure not only in children, but also in adults. Having high blood pressure leads to ruptures and cracks in the blood vessel walls. Children then become anemic because they do not get the required vitamins and iron supplements necessary for their growth. Children thus become tired and lethargic easily. Veggies and fruits become almost unheard of in these children’s lives and diets. This lack of veggies and fruits causes a deficiency in macro and micro nutrient supplements. This decreases the immunity and children then become susceptible to various diseases and ailments. A deficiency in calcium also causes teeth, nails and bones to become brittle. There have been cases know where the added preservatives and coloring agents used in fast food can cause cancer in children. But the most important disease we should be concerned about is obesity, not only in our children but also adults. Fast food obesity is the root cause for major diseases that can develop in children. According to research, “15-20 % of American children in the age group of 12-18 years are overweight” (Baxamusa 1).

In one study done the nutrient quality was assessed of fast food meals marketed to younger children, these can also be known as kids meals. This study was primarily assessed by using criteria from the National School Lunch Program. The results were that three percent of kids meals met all National School Lunch Program criteria. Those fast food restaurants that met the standards usually offered a side of fruit and milk. The conclusion of the study was that meals that met the NSLP standards are uncommon and are lower in energy density (O’Donnell et al. 1388-95).

15-20 % of American children in the age group of 12-18 years are overweight

Today it is not all about taste but quickness efficiency and convenience are the main requests. As Darren Tristano, EVP at the Chicago- based consultancy explains:

As Americans continue to trade down from full-service concepts, more restaurants are competing for the ‘fast food/ food fast’ customer…Both quick-service and fast-casual restaurants are borrowing elements from the other to drive traffic. This represents a host of challenges to operators rethinking their brands. Understanding consumers’ changing perceptions of fast food, as well as competitors’ responses, will be central to success. (Ingram 1)

Nearly half of consumers claim that they eat at a fast food restaurant at least once a week. One out of four consumers said that they have increased their visit to a fast food restaurant in the past year. Call ahead ordering for pickup, take out stations, and curbside service interest 40 percent, 37 percent, and 31 percent of consumers (2). A survey was carried out at the University of Leicester by a student named Hannah Cooper; and found that students were more likely to consume fast food after leaving home and having to care for themselves even though they knew about the links to fast food and obesity. The main reasons when asked why they ate fast food were convenience, peer pressure, budget and just plain liking it. The survey showed that pizza was the favorite food of choice not followed far by french fries. “Students might be tired and not feel like cooking,” says Hannah about other students consuming fast food (Cooper 33). She goes onto say, “At home their parents probably provide their meals. They come to [college] and have to start managing and budgeting for themselves” (33). An obvious advantage to fast food is that it saves time. After work or classes a pizza or burger sound heavenly and making dinner goes out the door (Bose 1). Overall the student interviewed knew that what they were eating was not the best choice but that knowledge was not strong enough to override their lifestyle (Cooper 33).

According to McDonalds registered dietitian, healthy eating at McDonalds is not an oxymoron. Cindy Goody, U.S. director of nutrition for McDonalds, claims that McDonald’s offers a wide range of balanced choices on their menu than ever before. She goes onto say that, “The real deal on nutrition at McDonald’s is that all food fits into a healthy, active lifestyle… it is the consumer’s responsibility to make choices from a varied menu” (Rindfleisch 1-2). Cindy Goody and McDonald’s have focused more on fruit with 100 percent fruit juices, apple dippers, fruit yogurt parfaits and salads with fruit in them. McDonalds has reduced the amount of calories in kids meals by almost half, Goody claims. “We’re always looking for products and ways to make sure our food fits into a balanced diet,” Goody said. “We’re aware and engaged in lowering sodium” (1). Fast food restaurants are not required to evaluate their food, but McDonald’s has provided nutrition facts for over 35 years. You can even pick up a broacher at any McDonald’s that shows nutrition facts on it. In the next couple of years all restaurant chains with over 20 locations will be required to post nutrition information on menu boards; this is because of rules in the recently passes federal health care law. “That information will be very visible, and that could have an impact on people making healthier choices,” says Goody (Rindfleisch 1).

Cindy Goody McDonald's nutritionist:
"The real deal on nutrition at McDonald's is that all food fits into a healthy, active lifestyle..." she said. "It is the customer's responsibility to make choices from a varied menu", she added.

Not only is fast food one of the fastest growing businesses in the United States it is also evolving among Nigerian society. The convenience, availability and quickness appeal to Nigerians because of the demands of their jobs. The drawback to getting hooked on this fast food culture is the slow disappearance of the country’s cooking culture. This includes cooking with spices and preparing meals in unique ways only know to Nigerian natives. This problem is so bad that some high profile marriages have diminished resulting from the failure of wives to cook traditional African meals (This Day 1). The time in a kitchen can get overwhelming and tiresome. After going to the supermarket and coming home to peel the produce for the dish it almost doesn’t seem worth it and fast food becomes the more convenient choice (Bose 1). The negative nutritional value and health problems are often times overlooked by most youths and members of the middle class, who view the fast food culture as a status symbol. Not only are the health problems caused by fast food in The United States, but they can also pose problems in Nigeria like cancer and obesity. These fast food restaurants in Nigeria are making an effort to fix these problems by serving traditional African cuisine and reducing the cholesterol level of their snacks (This Day 1).

Fast food is not only popular in the United States but also around the world. This is a picture of a McDonald's in Nigeria. The convenience, availability and quickness appeal to Nigerians because of the demands of their jobs.

Our cultures’ troubles with weight and obesity do not only stem from fast food, it also has to do with our exercise habits. America is in the worst shape ever. Overall, the percentage of obese and overweight Americans has reached a high of 67 percent. In the last 35 years adolescent obesity has risen from 5 percent to 18 percent, according to the Institute of Medicine (Bregel 1). In Tennessee doctors are diagnosing children under 10 with diseases rarely ever seen in youth, like Type 2 diabetes all the way to hypertension. One of the problems in our convenience-centered culture is that we drive everywhere today instead of walking like our ancestors did. We then sit at a desk all day and on the drive home stop at a fast food joint for a quick dinner so we can make it home in time to watch our favorite TV show. “Changing the shape of America will take far more than focusing solely on individuals’ willpower,” said Dr. Bilderback. He goes onto say, “Right now the environment makes it easy to be overweight or obese, and we’re always going to choose easy. That’s human nature” (2). Policymakers, health advocates and school officials are trying to figure out how to stop this unhealthy epidemic in America; but while still letting customers’ choose freely without adding to the overwhelming number of children with unhealthy weight.

The difficulty of changing fixed eating habits should not be overlooked experts say. America will have to learn how to eat for nutrition not for connivance and comfort. Dr Heath states that, “You have to put it in a context of how we live and why do we live the way we do,” he says. “The issue then is how do you dig yourself out of this hole, as a culture?” (2). Some people look at taking care of their body as a luxury and not a necessity. In today’s society sugar and fat laden foods are cheap and accessible. Dr. Bilderback of Step ONE concludes that, “ Our bodies crave sugar and fat. It’s built into our DNA….It doesn’t matter what your internal strength is. Eventually if it’s around you constantly, you’re gonna cave in” (3). Regardless of the barriers around healthy living, you can make a choice today that can begin to turn around the years of unhealthy eating habits that America has adopted (Bregel 5).

Time saving is not the only thing that’s drawing customers in to fast food restaurants; it is also the cost savings. For instance, if you live alone it is probably cheaper to go to Wendy’s and get 2 double bacon cheeseburgers for a dollar each instead of going to the grocery store and cooking at home. Some fast food does raise health concerns but if you look at the menu close enough there are some healthier choices. Salads are always a healthier choice. If you are going to get a meal that has bread on it, try to opt for wheat or whole grain bread. If you have a choice between fried or broiled take the broiled option, it doesn’t involved as much grease. Avoid drinking sodas or milkshakes; instead get a juice, water or even a diet soda. Don’t forget if you do not want a certain unhealthy ingredient on your meal don’t be afraid ask them to leave it off all together (Bose 1).

Now that we know the problems that fast food is imposing not only on America but also on different parts of the world, we need to find a solution. We could start by placing healthier foods in our schools such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Only 58 percent of schools offer fresh fruits or vegetables, and only 7 of them meet all of the nutritional standards (Reiley 4E). While ordering fast food you can cut down the calories by following some of these guidelines: order a single cheeseburger instead of a double, ask for less cheese on your pizza and use low fat topping like onions and mushrooms, avoid anything that is cream based, and choose juices over sodas (Baxamusa 2). America could also impose a fast food tax to reduce the amount that people are consuming and to prevent obesity among the population. California has already imposed a fast food tax on all fast food products (This Day 2). This is just a beginning for the many solutions that could be anticipated.

In conclusion, America is in the worst shape it has ever been in. Fast foods convenience and quickness is leading America to a fast food epidemic that we need to control fast before it spirals out of control. With nearly half of consumers claiming that they eat at a fast food restaurant at least once a week, children and adults need to watch their fast food intake. If America keeps eating fast food at these extraordinary rates the obesity and other health issues will only get worse with time. If eaten in moderation and very infrequently fast food cannot be so bad for you, it is only when you eat it out of moderation that it become hazardous to your health. So, next time you have that craving for a cheeseburger just make it a single or opt for a salad instead.