Friday, April 11, 2008

Is Fast Food Responsible for a Crisis in Public Health?

Blog 11 Draft
Katherine Santangelo

In today's fast paced world fast food chains are beginning to appear everywhere. The majority of Americans are well aware that most fast food is unhealthy and fattening yet, still choose to eat it because of the convenience and taste. So, why are Americans suing the fast food industry when they know what they are consuming and what the consequences of this will be? "The food that you put in your mouth got in their because your hands lifted it their, plain and simple."[pg.296] Overweight Americans need to begin to take responsibility for their weight, stop eating fast food, exercise, and eat healthier. If we continue to sugarcoat this epidemic it will only become worse and could have the potential to reach over 2/3 of the nation becoming overweight. "The "land of the Free" means that we are free to make our own decisions, but part of this freedom is the responsibility to own up to our choices." [pg.297]
Even though Americans are aware of how fattening and unhealthy fast food may be, they still have a right to know what their food contains without misleading advertising. However, the fast food industry is not responsible for the obesity epidemic, the overweight individuals are responsible. In order to begin to control this we must establish some nutrition and health programs in our schools, make physical education "physical" and a requirement to take, and remove the fattening foods, candy and sodas from our schools and parents can also begin to serve healthy meals and snacks at home. The fast food industry is not the primary cause of the obesity epidemic, it is the lack of self control and exercise that causes it.

Ames, R.A.. “Fast Food Isn't to Blame".Goshgarian, Gary. What Matters In America. New York: Pearson Longman, 2007. 296-297

Goshgarian, Gary. What Matters In America.
New York: Pearson Longman, 2007.

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