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.