People have been blaming their problems on others for centuries. It seems to be the common thing to do. For the past ten years or so, it has been fast food's turn. People have been hitting the fast food industry with a barrage of accusations such as "I didn't know it would make me fat!" or "You're not supposed to eat this for every meal?"
I agree with the bill passed over the last few years that requires the fast food industry to show their nutrition facts. The FDA requires all other food products to do so, why not fast food? It's good for people to know what is in their food. Also, the elimination of trans-fats for healthier food in general is a good step in the right direction.
Portion control, however, is going a bit far. Why doesn't anyone tell the vehicle companies that their trucks are too big and eat too much gas? The fast food industry is also a corporation and should get the same courtesy. Leave it up to the American public to decide how much they want to eat.
Also, people need to get smarter about these obesity law suits. Did you really not realize your fried burger coated in thousand island dressing and fried potatoes wouldn't make you fat? While the 540 calories in a Big Mac is a little high, people really should know better.
The government is passing laws on the fast food industry because the consumers are getting stupid. Maybe if people exercised a little more nutritional savvy practices - or just exercised more in general - , there wouldn't be this problem. Instead, laws are having to be passed just to protect the fast food industry from its stupid consumers. Some of these bills have been a step in the right direction, but it's getting out of hand. Following the same FDA practice and showing nutrition is good. Reducing harmful ingredients is also good. But making sure people eat the right amount is a bit much. If ignorance of the law is no excuse, ignorance of your nutrition should be the same.
Monday, November 19, 2007
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Risky Business
Obesity is a problem that has been around for quite some time and is still on the rise reaching 60% of the American population.
Most of the blame has been put on the fast-food industry. Since the fast food industry’s creation, Americans, and recently the rest of the world, has clung to the fast food notion. It fits the American lifestyle perfectly. The idea that people are busy and rarely have precious time to go out and eat food of good quality, has fueled the fast food revolution.
However, despite the fast food industry’s risky lure, the health effects are known by all who eat it. According to National Public Radio (NPR) fast food outlets already provide information about calories, fat and other nutritional values. The risks have been determined and people have chosen to eat fast food anyway.
So should Congress legislate the fast food industry with regard to portion sizes, fat content and other nutritional considerations? I do not think that this is necessary. The possible health threats from eating fast foods have been established and made known to the public. Yet people still form lines to get their hands on greasy hamburgers and salt infested fries.
Attempts have been made to provide customers with healthier options. And this is a noble step towards a healthier fast food industry. But it is clear that people do not care whether they are eating healthy food or not. People do not go to eateries like McDonald’s to get something healthy. They know what the options are and deliberately chose the Big Macs over salads.
So if Congress did pass legislation that controlled what and how the fast food industry distributed its food, they would clearly have the consumers best interest in mind, but what would it change?
Most of the blame has been put on the fast-food industry. Since the fast food industry’s creation, Americans, and recently the rest of the world, has clung to the fast food notion. It fits the American lifestyle perfectly. The idea that people are busy and rarely have precious time to go out and eat food of good quality, has fueled the fast food revolution.
However, despite the fast food industry’s risky lure, the health effects are known by all who eat it. According to National Public Radio (NPR) fast food outlets already provide information about calories, fat and other nutritional values. The risks have been determined and people have chosen to eat fast food anyway.
So should Congress legislate the fast food industry with regard to portion sizes, fat content and other nutritional considerations? I do not think that this is necessary. The possible health threats from eating fast foods have been established and made known to the public. Yet people still form lines to get their hands on greasy hamburgers and salt infested fries.
Attempts have been made to provide customers with healthier options. And this is a noble step towards a healthier fast food industry. But it is clear that people do not care whether they are eating healthy food or not. People do not go to eateries like McDonald’s to get something healthy. They know what the options are and deliberately chose the Big Macs over salads.
So if Congress did pass legislation that controlled what and how the fast food industry distributed its food, they would clearly have the consumers best interest in mind, but what would it change?
One Chubby Country
From Big Macs to Baconators to Bean Burritos, millions of Americans continue to pull around to the second window each year. According to CBSNEWS.COM, nearly 15 percent of children in the United States are obese, with nearly one-third of the adult population also being overweight.
The obesity levels in America have continued to grow at a rapid rate since the early 1980s, and much of this is a direct result of the fast food industry. The government already requires fast food chains to reveal the nutritional content of their food, but this has clearly not reduced our country’s fetish for flab. Obesity leads to heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes, causing 2.6 million deaths worldwide each year; therefore, why shouldn’t the United States government pass legislation on fast food chains to protect its people?
I believe that we as individuals are capable of making our own decisions, but I also feel that the government could provide some assistance to help us make these decisions. The lifestyles within our country are changing, forcing us to often grab meals on the go, but why can’t we restrict the fat and calorie content within these meals to make them more hale and hearty? "Fast food emphasizes [elemental] preferences for salt and fat, which may promote overeating," said obesity researcher Mark Pereira. “To combat a high calorie intake along with overeating, the government should pass legislation to limit portion sizes and promote healthier eating habits. Smaller portion sizes would directly result in smaller calorie consumption. One could argue that even if the government were to reduce portion sizes, people would simply just order more food; however, the more food they buy, the more money they spend, thus fast food would no longer be a cheap alternative. Very few things influence our lives the way money does, which is why I believe fast-food related obesity would certainly decrease if people were forced to spend more money at the drive-thru.
Governmental regulations on fast food may anger many famished Americans at first, but the restrictions will only benefit them in the long run. CNN.COM revealed that fast food adds 6 pounds to the average American each year. With numerous ways to reduce the fat content in food, let’s take our chubby county and put forth the effort to make it a healthy one.
The obesity levels in America have continued to grow at a rapid rate since the early 1980s, and much of this is a direct result of the fast food industry. The government already requires fast food chains to reveal the nutritional content of their food, but this has clearly not reduced our country’s fetish for flab. Obesity leads to heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes, causing 2.6 million deaths worldwide each year; therefore, why shouldn’t the United States government pass legislation on fast food chains to protect its people?
I believe that we as individuals are capable of making our own decisions, but I also feel that the government could provide some assistance to help us make these decisions. The lifestyles within our country are changing, forcing us to often grab meals on the go, but why can’t we restrict the fat and calorie content within these meals to make them more hale and hearty? "Fast food emphasizes [elemental] preferences for salt and fat, which may promote overeating," said obesity researcher Mark Pereira. “To combat a high calorie intake along with overeating, the government should pass legislation to limit portion sizes and promote healthier eating habits. Smaller portion sizes would directly result in smaller calorie consumption. One could argue that even if the government were to reduce portion sizes, people would simply just order more food; however, the more food they buy, the more money they spend, thus fast food would no longer be a cheap alternative. Very few things influence our lives the way money does, which is why I believe fast-food related obesity would certainly decrease if people were forced to spend more money at the drive-thru.
Governmental regulations on fast food may anger many famished Americans at first, but the restrictions will only benefit them in the long run. CNN.COM revealed that fast food adds 6 pounds to the average American each year. With numerous ways to reduce the fat content in food, let’s take our chubby county and put forth the effort to make it a healthy one.
Education is the problem, not the food
| “Society fails to educate themselves about the long term damage that can be obtained by eating bad foods” says People’s Media Company. The problem of wanting to eat fast food is becoming more prevalent in the United States. Are there any educational programs to show the effects of eating too much fast food? Some companies like People’s Media say no. There is no reason for Congress to step in and regulate portions and sizes at fast food restaurants. All that does is reduce what is served in one serving, but it doesn’t prevent how much anyone could buy at a given time. Reducing the portion sizes of fast foods will not solve the over consumption of fast food problems, because it will only lead to people buying more. For example, if I went to Burger King and there was no longer a King size fry available, I would just order more fries until I was satisfied. Essentially, I still get about the same amount that I originally would get with a King size. While obesity is a major problem in the United States, things are already being done to fix the problem. In 2003, the Ban Trans fats campaign sued Kraft to eliminate trans fats in Oreos. After this suit, government officials decided that trans fats were a major contribution to obesity and they can lead to heart disease. As of now, fast food restaurants are being told to get rid of their trans fats because of its risk. The public is starting to get word of the whole trans fat problem, but it’s not as prevalently known as we think. If we are going to tackle obesity and cut the rate of obesity in America down, we Americans need to educate ourselves on issues such as trans fats. Obviously fast food restaurants are the first target because they supply people with foods that are not as healthy as we’d like them to be, but let’s be fair and notice that fast food restaurants are much healthier than they were ten years ago. |
Being Able to Know What You Eat
Obesity is a major issue in the United States today. According to www.obesityhelp.com, a quarter of the population in the U.S. is obese. The rate of obesity has climbed 60% in the last decade and continues to rise. Obesity is responsible for 300,000 deaths each year and is a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, sleep apnea, and many others serious medical diseases.
While obesity is the second leading cause of preventable death after smoking, it is questionable whether the government needs to step in to help. Every individual is responsible for their actions and the government should not be responsible for its peoples’ eating habits. However, there are certain solutions the government can influence and regulations they can make.
The government can play a role with education in its public schools that can help teach children nutrition as well as provide healthy alternatives and ideas in eating. Classes could be offered beginning in elementary school to teach children about nutrition and how what they eat effects their bodies. High schools turning off school soda machines during lunch and providing their students with healthy meals help influence children about how to eat and live healthy.
We see supermarkets that include information about calories, fat and other nutritional values. Why shouldn’t fast-food restaurant chains do the same? In a National Pubic Radio Morning Edition: Nutrition Labels for Fast Foods, fast food chains including McDonald's, Domino's, Burger King, Wendy's, Pizza Hut and Subway are voluntarily provide nutrition information.
If Congress were to pass a bill that would require all fast food restaurants to provide nutritional information on the food they serve. This would enable people who are interested in eating healthily to be able to see and know what they are putting into their bodies.
Informative nutrient considerations would influence people who seek healthy lifestyles and could help decrease the amount of obesity in the United States.
Good Food Served Quickly
Karen Varner, a female of age twenty from Cabot, Arkansas, slowly drives her car up to the intercom system at a local McDonalds’s drive through service.
After ordering a meal, which comes with a double cheeseburger, large fries, and a large milkshake, she completes her transaction with the employee and drives home.
According to Fatcalories.com, a website that lists the nutritional facts of fast food products, Karen has purchased 1340 calories of food, which is more than half of her recommended daily calorie intake.
Millions of Americans eat at fast food restaurants everyday, regardless of the health hazards associated with their products. Throughout the past decade, though, the media has created a growing, public awareness on the fast food industry. Many Americans are concerned to the point where they are pushing for legislation on the fast food industry.
According to Supersize Me, a documentary film that criticizes the McDonalds Corporation, the government forces fast food franchises to reveal the nutritional facts of their food products. The government also inspects restaurants for health hazards, and places their scores on the wall for all to see.
Obesity, a disease associated with being overweight, is becoming more and more common in America. According to Discovery Health, a cable television network, obesity is an epidemic.
“Obesity, to a large extent, is an avoidable condition that leads to a number of avoidable diseases,” says Dr. Moshe Shike, a professor of medicine at Cornell University Medical College.
In March of 2004, Congress passed a bill that banned all lawsuits regarding fast food franchises from obese Americans who claim that fast food caused their obesity.
If I were in the United States Congress, I would have supported this bill, because I agree with Dr. Shike. Obesity is avoidable. Thanks to the media, the public can be aware of the health hazards associated with fast food. These people should take responsibility and blame themselves for eating the food. They know the consequences of fast food consumption, and it was their choice to eat it.
I do not believe that the United States Congress should pass legislation to restrict fast food restaurants from producing their unhealthy food products. As long as the nutritional information is out in the open, American citizens should be allowed to make their own decisions.
“I know it’s unhealthy,” says Varner, “but I know don't gain much from it. And besides, it’s not fast food- it's good food served quickly.”
After ordering a meal, which comes with a double cheeseburger, large fries, and a large milkshake, she completes her transaction with the employee and drives home.
According to Fatcalories.com, a website that lists the nutritional facts of fast food products, Karen has purchased 1340 calories of food, which is more than half of her recommended daily calorie intake.
Millions of Americans eat at fast food restaurants everyday, regardless of the health hazards associated with their products. Throughout the past decade, though, the media has created a growing, public awareness on the fast food industry. Many Americans are concerned to the point where they are pushing for legislation on the fast food industry.
According to Supersize Me, a documentary film that criticizes the McDonalds Corporation, the government forces fast food franchises to reveal the nutritional facts of their food products. The government also inspects restaurants for health hazards, and places their scores on the wall for all to see.
Obesity, a disease associated with being overweight, is becoming more and more common in America. According to Discovery Health, a cable television network, obesity is an epidemic.
“Obesity, to a large extent, is an avoidable condition that leads to a number of avoidable diseases,” says Dr. Moshe Shike, a professor of medicine at Cornell University Medical College.
In March of 2004, Congress passed a bill that banned all lawsuits regarding fast food franchises from obese Americans who claim that fast food caused their obesity.
If I were in the United States Congress, I would have supported this bill, because I agree with Dr. Shike. Obesity is avoidable. Thanks to the media, the public can be aware of the health hazards associated with fast food. These people should take responsibility and blame themselves for eating the food. They know the consequences of fast food consumption, and it was their choice to eat it.
I do not believe that the United States Congress should pass legislation to restrict fast food restaurants from producing their unhealthy food products. As long as the nutritional information is out in the open, American citizens should be allowed to make their own decisions.
“I know it’s unhealthy,” says Varner, “but I know don't gain much from it. And besides, it’s not fast food- it's good food served quickly.”
Obesity and Fast Food
According to Weight-control Information Network, almost one-third of adults in the United States are obese, which is approximately 63.6 million. Why are millions of adults so overweight? The average American should eat a specific number of a calories a day that corresponds to their height, current weight, age, and how much exercise performed in a day. However, it is hard to calculate how many calories are in each snack or meal that you are consuming. The only experience that I know of with someone strictly counting every calorie would be those individuals who are on a diet and individuals who have eating disorders, such as anorexia.
Since Americans work about twenty-five hours a week, according to Forbes magazine, many grab a “quick bite” to eat. I know I have used that terminology more than once over the summer. When I worked at a local movie theater, I had twenty minutes to eat my dinner. And of course, I went to Wendy’s. My favorite meal at Wendy’s was a homestyle chicken fillet, which is around 430 calories. When adding a large fry, the calories increase by 540. Now, let’s add a large drink… what about coca-cola? That is another 270 calories. The grand total of my meal is 1240 calories. Many college students eat fast food often, when, for example, either restaurants or the cafeteria has closed. Klint Davis eats McDonalds about five to six times a week and his meal of choice is two double cheese-burgers, a McChicken, a medium fry, and a large coca-cola. Klint’s total calories from his McDonalds meal is 1930 calories.
Should Congress have more control over portion sizes or fat content at fast food restaurants? I personally do not think so. Even if the government were to interfere with the fast food restaurants, it would not prevent Americans from gaining weight and eating unhealthily. If the portion size were to decrease, Americans would just order more things, like Klint.
Since Americans work about twenty-five hours a week, according to Forbes magazine, many grab a “quick bite” to eat. I know I have used that terminology more than once over the summer. When I worked at a local movie theater, I had twenty minutes to eat my dinner. And of course, I went to Wendy’s. My favorite meal at Wendy’s was a homestyle chicken fillet, which is around 430 calories. When adding a large fry, the calories increase by 540. Now, let’s add a large drink… what about coca-cola? That is another 270 calories. The grand total of my meal is 1240 calories. Many college students eat fast food often, when, for example, either restaurants or the cafeteria has closed. Klint Davis eats McDonalds about five to six times a week and his meal of choice is two double cheese-burgers, a McChicken, a medium fry, and a large coca-cola. Klint’s total calories from his McDonalds meal is 1930 calories.
Should Congress have more control over portion sizes or fat content at fast food restaurants? I personally do not think so. Even if the government were to interfere with the fast food restaurants, it would not prevent Americans from gaining weight and eating unhealthily. If the portion size were to decrease, Americans would just order more things, like Klint.
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