essay about fast food and human health

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Is fast food bad for you? All you need to know about its nutrition and impacts

Fast food is often nutritionally poor and high in calories. Evidence demonstrates that overeating commercial fast food products can negatively impact health in both the short- and long-term.

Many fast food establishments now list the number of calories each item contains. However, this is only part of the consideration of whether it is healthy or not.

Fast food is typically poor in terms of nutrition . According to a 2015 review , fast food tends to contain various substances that are generally unhealthy. It is high in sugar, salt, saturated or trans fats, and many processed preservatives and ingredients. It also lacks some beneficial nutrients.

However, not all fast food has negative impacts, and a person can make an informed choice by researching the nutritional content of particular fast food items. People can find this information on the websites of most major restaurants.

That said, even the more healthy fast food items are generally high in sugar, salt, saturated fats, and trans fats. The Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion notes that the typical person in the United States consumes too much of these food components.

Short-term impacts

Close up of a burger, a common fast food

Fast food is typically high in sugar, salt, and saturated or trans fats. The body’s reaction to these nutrients results in a range of short-term impacts when a person eats fast food.

Spike in blood sugar

Fast food breaks down quickly, causing a rapid spike in blood sugar because of the refined carbohydrates and added sugar. In turn, this causes an abnormally large insulin surge, resulting in a drop in blood sugar. This can cause people to feel tired. Insulin promotes further hunger within a short time after the meal.

Blood pressure

A small 2016 study found that consuming high levels of salt could immediately impact the proper functioning of a person’s blood vessels. Excess sodium intake also has links to fluid retention .

Increased inflammation

A single serving of fast food could increase inflammation throughout the body. A 2015 study found that one fast food meal high in saturated fat increased airway inflammation in individuals with asthma. This inflammation acts as a trigger for asthma attacks.

Affects nutrient intake

Fast food does not typically contain fresh fruit and vegetables. If an individual eats fast food frequently, they may find it challenging to reach their recommended daily intake of at least 5 servings of fruit and vegetables. They may also have difficulties reaching their ideal fiber intake, which according to the Food and Drug Administration is 28 grams per day.

Binge eating

Fast food is highly palatable, meaning the body breaks it down quickly in the mouth, and it does not need much chewing. Therefore, it activates the reward centers in the brain rapidly.

This combination trains the palate to prefer these highly processed, highly stimulating foods and reduces someone’s desire for whole, fresh foods.

Research from 2018 and other previous studies have suggested a link between fast food consumption and the incidence of food addiction for these low-nutrient items.

A small 2017 study of 15 adults found that a single day of high-fat overeating damaged insulin sensitivity. This can then trigger a cycle of binge eating or binge eating disorders .

Long-term impacts

There is plenty of well-researched evidence showing that regularly eating fast food can harm a person’s health.

A 2015 study identified the sometimes irreparable effects of eating fast food. Such risks include obesity , insulin resistance , type 2 diabetes , and various cardiovascular conditions .

This is because most fast food is high in sugar, salt, saturated fat, trans fats, processed ingredients, and calories. It is also generally low in antioxidants , fiber , and many other nutrients.

Digestive system

Many fast food meals are extremely low in fiber. Doctors associate low-fiber diets with a higher risk of digestive conditions such as constipation and diverticular disease, as well as reductions in healthy gut bacteria.

Immunity and inflammation

A 2019 review examined the effects of a Western diet on a person’s immune system. This diet consists of high amounts of sugar, salt, and saturated fat from only a few sources.

The authors noted that a Western diet could lead to higher inflammation, lower control of infection, higher cancer rates, and a higher risk of allergic and autoinflammatory disease.

Memory and learning

A 2020 paper suggests a link between unbalanced diets high in saturated fat and simple carbohydrates , typical of fast food, and a lower capacity for memory and learning. This sort of diet may also raise the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease .

In a 2018 review , the authors established a link between fast food consumption and an increase in asthma, rhinoconjunctivitis, and eczema .

Heart disease

The FDA suggests that a diet high in salt often increases a person’s blood pressure , making a person more prone to heart attacks , stroke , kidney disease, or heart disease .

The FDA also notes that a diet high in trans fats raises the amount of low-density lipoprotein or “bad” cholesterol and lowers the amount of high-density lipoprotein or “good” cholesterol. This means that a person is more likely to develop heart disease.

The United States Department of Agriculture points out that typical fast food contains a very high number of calories. If a person eats more calories than they burn each day, they gain weight, which may lead to obesity.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) , obesity increases a person’s risk of developing a range of serious health conditions.

Another consequence of younger people regularly eating fast food is their unintentional lack of understanding of basic meal preparation, cooking, and healthy eating.

Over time, this perpetuates dependence on fast food, and people may not learn how to prepare healthy, balanced food in the home. Consuming healthy meals can support a person’s long-term health throughout their lifespan.

Mental health impact

Eating lots of fast food could also impact an individual’s mental health and make them more prone to depression and anxiety .

A 2021 study compared data from 322 males and 322 females age 30 or older. They found an association between healthy food such as leafy greens, nuts, and fish and positive mood, while the opposite was true of fast food. In addition, women reported significantly more negative associations with fast food than men.

Fast food tends to be high in salt, sugar, saturated fats, trans fats, calories, and processed preservatives and ingredients. A wealth of well-conducted research has proven the negative health effects of consuming too much of these food components.

In the short term, fast food impacts blood sugar and blood pressure, increases inflammation, and may mean an individual does not eat enough necessary nutrients. In the long term, a diet rich in fast food could lead to issues with digestion, immunity, inflammation, heart health, obesity, and more.

Not all fast food is bad, however. Certain menu items might be lower in these substances than others, while some fast food outlets might focus on providing more healthy options.

To preserve health, a person should try to identify fast food items that contain less salt, fat, sugar, and total carbohydrates, and generally try to limit the amount of fast food they consume.

Last medically reviewed on December 17, 2021

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Here’s How Fast Food Can Affect Your Body

When 5 p.m. rolls around and you haven’t given a single thought to what’s for dinner, the glowing sign in front of the burger joint down the street might be calling your name.

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A quick swing through the drive-thru can seem like a great option, but there’s a definite downside. In order to serve up food so quickly, cheaply and consistently, many fast food restaurants focus on process and efficiency instead of on serving quality, nutritious foods.

An occasional fast food meal isn’t anything to fret about, says dietitian Nancy Geib, RD, LDN. Sometimes, it might be your only option.

“If you do your research and you look for the best options, you can definitely still go to a fast food restaurant if that’s all you have,” she says.

But if burgers, French fries and greasy breakfast sandwiches become centerpieces of your diet, they could take a serious toll on your health. Unhealthy diets increase your chances of developing depression, cancer , type 2 diabetes, heart disease and other chronic conditions.

What is considered fast food?

The history of fast food dates back almost a century, but the concept — and some of America’s most well-known fast food eateries — really took off during the 1940s and 50s. Today, it’s become such a staple of culture that as many as one in three Americans eat fast food every day .

You know fast food when you see it: It’s highly processed, mass-produced food that’s prepared quickly — usually on a grill, in a fryer or in a microwave. Fast food restaurants follow very specific preparation methods to make sure you get the crispy, greasy fries you expect every time.

Why is fast food bad for you?

Different foods can affect everyone in different ways, but here are just some of the things that frequently eating fast food might do to your body:

Raise your blood pressure

Many fast food items are packed with sodium, which acts as a preservative and enhances taste. “Everything that’s processed, packaged or boxed is going to have sodium,” Geib says.

The problem is, high-sodium diets are known to increase blood pressure , which puts stress on your cardiovascular system. Over time, high blood pressure can stiffen or narrow your blood vessels, becoming a major risk factor for heart attack, stroke and heart failure.

Ideally, most adults should try to keep their salt intake under 1,500 milligrams per day, according to the American Heart Association — though its current recommendations allow for up to 2,300 milligrams daily. Because sodium is so prevalent in our diets, it can add up quickly.

For example, one bacon cheeseburger alone can get you pretty close to the daily recommended 1,500 milligrams of sodium. So can a large piece of fried chicken breast with mashed potatoes and gravy. Even seemingly healthier options, like an Italian-style sub sandwich, can contribute more than 1,000 milligrams to your daily intake.

Leave you bloated

Eating meals that are high in sodium, high in fat or heavy with refined carbohydrates (such as bread, buns or breading) can all leave you feeling bloated. And, if you add a soda to your meal, the carbonation could make it worse. Bloating should only be temporary, but it could cramp your style if you’re wearing pants that are tighter in the waist or if you’re trying to get rings on or off your fingers.

Drive up your cholesterol

Food that’s fried in oil is high in fat — and that includes saturated fat . Eating too much saturated fat can drive up your LDL, or “bad,” cholesterol, which puts you at risk for heart disease. The American Heart Association recommends that no more than 6% of your daily calories come from saturated fat. If you eat 2,000 calories a day, that’s about 13 grams, or the amount that’s in one bacon, egg and cheese breakfast sandwich.

Contribute to digestive problems

Bagels, muffins and anything breaded might be delicious, but they’re all processed carbohydrates that lack fiber. Eating adequate amounts of fiber (25 to 35 grams a day) helps keep things moving in your digestive tract. It lowers your risk for diverticulitis and other conditions associated with straining or constipation, such as hemorrhoids and hernias.

Dietary fiber also helps your good gut bacteria flourish and keeps you feeling full. If you rely heavily on fast food, you’ll struggle to get the recommended amount. For example, a coffee-shop blueberry muffin will give you nearly 20% of your daily carbohydrate needs but only a gram or two of fiber.

Lead to weight gain

If you go to the drive-thru and grab a value meal for dinner, chances are you’ll end up eating a bigger portion (and higher-calorie foods) than you would if you were cooking at home. If that becomes a regular thing, all those extra calories can add up to extra pounds. And when those calories are mostly from highly process carbohydrates, you might end up feeling hungry again within a few hours, which can lead to — you guessed it — even more extra calories.

Then there’s the sugar factor. Sugar is a major culprit in the obesity epidemic. It hides in a lot of foods, including drinks and sauces. Guess how much sugar is in your morning café mocha? Upwards of 25 grams. Or in that vanilla milkshake? More than 80 grams, if you make it a large. That’s nearly 20 teaspoons!

Drain your energy

A quick hit of refined carbohydrates and sugar causes a spike in your blood sugar, which prompts your body to produce a surge of insulin to quickly bring it down. This spike-and-crash cycle can leave you feeling tired and cranky.

Meanwhile, a balanced meal with protein, healthy fats and fiber-rich carbohydrates takes longer for your body to digest and absorb. This slows the release of sugar into your bloodstream, so you get sustained energy without a crash.

Affect your mood

When you eat a diet that’s high in saturated fat, sodium, sugar and refined carbs, you’re not only getting too much of those things, but you’re also missing out on a lot of other important nutrients. Fruits and vegetables — beyond the iceberg lettuce and tomato slices that come on fast food sandwiches — are rich with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that nourish your body and improve your mood .

Eating a lot of processed foods may even increase your risk for depression .

Five of the most unhealthy fast food options

Making healthier fast food choices

It actually is possible to eat fast food without sabotaging your healthy diet , but it requires a little legwork.

Look for meals with lean proteins, veggies and fiber, and avoid anything supersized.

“You can make an informed choice by doing research to find out the nutritional content of a particular fast food item,” Geib says. “All of the major restaurants should have that information online or be able to hand it to you in the restaurant, if you ask.”

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Hitting the drive-thru multiple times a week can take a toll on your body. Here’s how fast food can affect your heart, your mood and your overall health.

Fast Food Effects on Human Health Essay

Fast food poses a profound negative impact on health due to the dynamic preparation means and the reliance on carbohydrates. Apart from the reuse of oils, a significant percentage of junk lacks a balanced diet for consumers. The phenomenon results in the ideological perspectives of increased obesity and the emergence of lifestyle diseases. This research utilizes analytical methodologies in comparing previous records between 2019 and 2021 to determine the effect of fast foods on individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic era. Further, the researcher integrates certain values encompassing gender, age, ethnicity, and range of income. Although the TEAM experienced limitations concerning subjective responses posing higher bias scores, they alleviated the incumbent by using descriptive and inferential statistics. During modeling, the significant variant is logical regression against cross-validation.

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Introduction

Factors that Influence Effect of Fast Food

One of the issues posed in fast food restaurants is the primary use of the deep-frying cooking technique. A significant percentage of the meal preparation approaches optimize frizzling as the fastest and most convenient catering service (Fryar et al., 2020). To boost the profit margin, the chef uses less oil to sear the food in large amounts. In some cases, the cook recycles the oil cause of economic sustenance. However, the utilization determines the rate of health risk to the consumers due to the breaking down of the chemical compounds.

Project Overview

Project objectives.

There is a proficient dataset corresponding to the research question, “Effect of fast food on human health.” The dataset includes food price comparisons, health metrics, and obesity statistics. The source material relates to the research question encompassing the dynamic effect of junk eating on individuals. In this case, the article provides an in-depth analysis of the variation across sexuality and ethnic groups concerning the feeding habits and the attributable causes of the lifestyle (Fryar et al., 2020). The organization in charge of the contextual baseline for the publication is National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), which manages data collection concerning the well-being index among Americans. NCHS is a component of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention that focuses on assessing the impact of lifestyle illnesses on nationalities. It is a practice that profoundly provides insights into the significant medical issues and the causative agents across the population. Fryar et al.’s (2020) report is a compilation of the comparative approach concerning the 2015 to 2018 records on the impact of fast food on people along the gradient of age, gender, and ethnic diversity. The sample size will be determined by the population metrics of the data sources. The research fosters the overview of critical variables relevant in this study involving the eminence of fatty foods and the intermittent consequence of obesity.

Analytic Questions

Specific Details

This study will use information from 2019 to 2021 as the primary data source for analysis concerning the impact of fast food on the human body. The analysis focuses on the trickle-down effect on the lifestyle among the nationalities. Therefore, the survey will include the US due to the proficient impact of the practice among the residents. Three rows and instances will be used in order to include three key metrics. The data features involve evaluating the relationship between feeding habits from convenient restaurants and the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic. The advent of coronavirus led to the lockdown of American and other global nations’ economies.

Data Wrangling

The number of rows will be three for a better comprehension of the discussion subject. The critical data features incorporated in the final project enshrine a comparison of the gender, age, ethnicity, and income differential range relative to the tendencies to consume products from a cafeteria. The marginalization under the mainframe of such inequities as education, occupation, and income cause the interdependence between convenient cafeteria outlets and poor households. The TEAM intends to use logical regression in the exploration of the findings and justification of the objectives. It is an entity that engulfs the intersectionality of statistical overview against the logistics from the realm. During the data collection process, the significant errors involve the subjective interpretation of respondents’ attitudes toward dieting that risks bias. However, the TEAM will utilize descriptive and inferential statistics to complete the phase. The transformation used by the TEAM involved the utilization of several datasets within a closed time period to establish the key variable of objectivity during the data analysis. The assessment approach renders the comprehension concerning the goals of the study on the impact of fast food on healthy living among people. Different aspects contribute to the dynamic effect of the framework among the personalities hence the importance of understanding the impact on mental health, obesity, and cost-efficiency.

Fryar, C., Carroll, M., Ahluwalia, N., & Ogden, C. (2020). Fast food intake among children and adolescents in the United States, 2015-2018 . NCHS Data Brief . Web.

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Fast food and human s health

Fast food and human's health

today fast food consumption rate is very high. Because of the, it is available easily and everyone can afford that way every human being love to eat that food. Andover, people know about the after effect, as blood blocked, Heart Attack. On other hand, they never think about that. Particularly in india. everyone enjoys eating fast food. Maximum income of fast food has come from india. And one of our medical served they show the average 28% of people are affected through fast food items. after that serve, the supreme court released a statement had to the fast-food chains and another local restaurant. after that people are aware of the fast food and there focus on the healthy way. today people are concerned about their food.

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Fast Food and Negative Consequences on Human Health essay

Despite the fact that the fast food has negative consequences on human health but still it is a noteworthy part in our present life because of a few factors, for example, the style of life, esteem and the gigantic business notices. The marvel of fast food is developing rapidly. No road of our own is free from one of the eateries that offer the fast food. The idea of fast food isn’t new, however it is identified with many years back. The United States is one of the renowned nations that have built up this nourishment adjacent to Italy, England and some Asian nations e.g. Japan and China. In 1867, a man from Germany called Charles Mann Welt opened little offering frankfurters in New York in 1867. This thought got an awesome request and after that turned out to be more mainstream. From that point onward, individuals begin to perceive and make fast food all around and at whatever point. Fast food or garbage nourishment can be characterized as suppers which contain a considerable measure of fat and sugars, oils, salt, high-calories, however it has low dietary esteem and quality. For instance for this sort of nourishment are chicken strips, burgers and browned potato shaper, canned chips, pies, pizza and soda pops.

As the quick way of life which now controls us at work and at home in the meantime, the effect on one’s association with the individuals who encompass him, and his association with his own, making them a considerable measure of self-undertakings in a rush due to the time imperatives and the expansive number of concerns. Accordingly, individuals who are in surge have no satisfactory time for cooking and setting with the family for a lunch or supper dinner as a result of the essential time. Then again, the inactive way of life which is the second kinds of way of life is totally unique of the first. It shows to how individuals get a kick out of the chance to invest much energy setting or doing nothing. On different words, it implies the lethargy. Putting in a long stretch of time before the TVs or PCs screens can be the most prevalent reason in such cases. Likewise, individuals can make their nourishment arranges by the web in the meantime when the do their work in PC. Fast food is least demanding and speediest to finish the photo of this sort of the way of life.

The second reason for spreading the fast food is the estimation of this sustenance which can be separated in three fundamental parts. Those three sections are: a modest value, flavorful taste and simple to get. A large portion of the fast food eateries give distinctive costs, however they are considered as a sensible and modest completely. The costs of this nourishment are convenient, so everybody can purchase fast food. The reason of the low costs of fast food could be it made of low quality materials. Because of the weakness supervision in a few nations, some sustenance organizations take favorable position to pitch their poor nourishment to the customers. Therefore, they control the cost of essential material of fast food to accomplish the most extreme benefit from a low quality nourishment. Numerous individuals like fast food since it has a flavorful taste. Fast food has extraordinary and unique tastes since it contains a great deal of flavors that make it top notch. A standout amongst the most vital materials is Monosodium Glutamate. As per the U.S. Nourishment and Drug Administration sustenance creators add Monosodium Glutamate to the nourishment to enhance and fortify the taste without having an extraordinary taste. Nonetheless, numerous investigations have demonstrated that Monosodium Glutamate is extremely peril on wellbeing and has numerous solid impacts on the body. Moreover, fast food contains a considerable measure of fats to make the nourishment more flavorful. A large portion of roads have in excess of one fast food eateries. It can be from various countries. Likewise, petroleum stations particularly on interstates regularly have a fast food eatery. Subsequently, individuals in anyplace can get fast food effectively. In addition, due to numerous eateries offer conveyance benefit, the sustenance end up less demanding to get whenever.

The third reason for spreading the fast food is the business notices which utilize the new innovation like the web or the typical media, for example, TV, magazine or daily paper to draw in the clients. Business Advertisements is a standout amongst the most vital approaches to advance the fast food, since it efficiently affects individuals. They influence individuals straightforwardly by driving individuals purchase this nourishment or in a roundabout way on dietary propensities, patterns lastly the conduct. Worldwide sustenance organizations burn through a huge number of dollars to publicize their nourishment to the purchasers. Shockingly, the youngsters are more impacted by the business ads on account of a few reasons. They don’t have psychological capacity to comprehend the realities behind the business promotions. Also, they are more impacted by the way that the sponsors of fast food utilize, for example, containers or toys. In actualities, those toys which are given by fast food eatery are so modest and made of low quality materials which is underneath the wellbeing standers.

Some of this material can cause some tumor ailments. More than that, fast food eateries gives a play zone to kids close to the nourishment to push the entire family to spend more circumstances and return again to the eatery later on. A few eateries send their separate to houses for publicizing their nourishment or influence the course of action of any children to gathering, for example, the birthday party if guardians need to make for their youngster. Accordingly, eating fast food has genuine impacts in various perspectives in the human lives. Starting with their wellbeing and completion with the general public all in all. In spite of the fact that those dinners have intense wellbeing harm, which specialists caution individuals what they reason for genuine harm to the body and assume a key part in sicknesses of this period, many individuals in various ages rely upon fast food on their everyday suppers. One of the genuine sicknesses of fast food is heftiness. Heftiness shows to the expanding in a body’s weight over the prescribed once by 30% because of the high rate of fats and sugar in the body.

In America, for example, “”rates of heftiness expanded over 100% between the 1970s and 2008″”. Fast nourishment is one of the fundamental driver of corpulence. It contains a great deal of starches and sugars that give the body numerous calories over its day by day needs. Accordingly, the calories will collect in the body at that point cause the weight. “”Ground sirloin sandwich has 250 calories and the little French browned has 100 calories””. (McDonald’s site). That supper is a standard size, however now numerous eateries offer a major size of dinners that has calories more than the typical size. Next to the calories, fast food contains a high amount of sodium that causes water maintenance in the body then corpulence. Corpulence can reason for genuine illnesses that need to aversion and ceaseless treatment. The cutting edge restorative investigations have demonstrated that fat individuals under the age by virtual parallel with every kilogram increment in weight than ordinary. Indeed, the patient’s heftiness is the most defenseless to angina and high blood weight and solidifying of the supply routes and glucose and eats a mind drain and bone joints, and numerous investigations have demonstrated that the most usually influenced numerous malignancies.

Besides, fast food causes stoutness as well as numerous different maladies in light of the fact that each fast food dinner has a high measure of calories, as well as a high level of soaked fats. Accordingly it causes high blood cholesterol that causes atherosclerosis, coronary heart and stroke. Other than that, one of the normal illnesses of fast food is diabetes since it has an abnormal state of sugar and straightforward starches. Fast food makes individuals more prone to get a nourishment harming in light of the fact that it doesn’t take after the guidelines of keeping, stockpiling and cooling sustenance in the correct way. Ordinarily, it contains a high level of materials and hues substance that add to disease in the long haul. Since it contains a ton of sodium, it causes hypertension then infection of the kidneys. It is regularly free of iron that reason sickliness, particularly the young people who require press. It absences of substance of fiber that causes obstruction in light of the fact that the fiber is vital for.

Eating excessively fast food can make individuals awkward in light of the fact that it has a considerable measure of fat. What’s more, it is a basic explanation behind the absence of social relations particularly for the family. Previously, the family sets together three times each day, yet now, and on account of fast food, it winds up uncommon for all relatives to meet and set in one table for a feast. This can make a wide space for the family in the short and long run. Besides the family dividing, fast food can issue a money related issue to the family particularly taking everything into account, fast food is the fundamental component of our surge time. Any nourishment can be arranged rapidly and effectively or any sustenance contains a considerable measure of fats, sugars and calories call fast food. Cases of fast food are burgers, pizza, fricasseed and pieces which in certainty have a low dietary esteem. There are numerous motivations to the acknowledgment of fast food between individuals.

Those reasons are the way of life which can be surge or stationary way of life, the esteem that demonstrates to the reasonable costs, tastes and conveyance and the business notice by the nourishment providers. Then again, individuals still eat fast food the greater part of the dinners which can make a genuine wellbeing and social issues. A considerable lot of the stoutness cases, heart infections, hypertension, and numerous different sicknesses are wellbeing after effects of eating fast food over the normal rate. The social correspondence will be so powerless because of fast food, as well. In this way, fast food isn’t terrible at entire, however with including a few changes, it can be more advantageous for wellbeing. Individuals ought to diminish this propensity and start to know about their wellbeing and society. Limit the feast as conceivable to diminish the measure of sugars, calories, fats and other fast food substance which can convey numerous illnesses to the body. Additionally, it is imperative to keep up family spending plan by eating this kind of sustenance once or turn seven days.

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An opinion essay about fast food.

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Last Updated 17 Jun 2020

Fast Food and Healthy Food

Life today is not like how it was before. Along time ago, people ate foods that were field with balanced amount of nutrients value. Not with chemicals, preservatives, artificial colors and flavors which are known as Fast Foods. Long days of working and training effects our choices for food, a meal from nearest fast food restaurant becomes most appealing idea. Most of people who eat junk food more frequent don't know its bad effect on their body which can be prevented if they use more healthy alternatives .

Although, we consume both of them as food, yet they are majorly different. Fast food remains extremely popular, despite their unhealthy impact to our body. However, there are many reasons to try to make healthier choices. Eating junk food as a primary method of nourishment will lead to diseases and illness because your body is being deprived from its needed nutrias. While, by eating healthy you are strengthening your body and giving it proper nutrients to defend it in a time of illness .

While, Obesity, diabetic, Hypertension, cancer and other chronic diseases are highly related to fast food. It has more calories on average meal than healthy food do, leading to greater weight gain and illnesses. It is important to watch carefully what you eat, especially at fast food restaurant. Knowing the nutritional content is very important. Beware of the processed and fast foods that have long ingredient list you can hardly pronounce Junk foods are loaded with lots of sugar, salt and worst types of fat .

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Healthy foods such as fruits, vegetables, whole grain, lean meat and fish provides a balanced amount of nutrients . They are by definition nutrient-rich, with vitamins, Minerals and fiber that benefit your body. If you are trying your best to be healthy it is essential to find food that will treat your body well . Healthy food helps you focused and make you more productive. It provide not only energy source for your body , but also makes your body performs in its optimum .

Because, junk foods are heavily full with fat they slow down your metabolism and make you lazy . it will leave you tired and do not supply your body with proper nutrient needed to function adequate . Thus, the next time you think about burger, pizza or chips just think about the harm they can do to your body over a period of time. Do not give in temptation instead eat fruits and vegetable, nourish your body with vitamins and fiber. Remember if you eat well you will feel and look well.

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Sample Essay on Impact of Fast Food on Health

Get homework help on this topic - check the quality of writing from this sample, if you are looking for assignment help on this topic or similar topic, click on order now button to submit your details. once we have your order details, your assignment will be assigned to one of our best writers, who will then proceed to write your paper and deliver it within your specified deadline. thank you for choosing us today.

Before I came to live in America, I was used to a somewhat easy-going lifestyle. This meant that I had time to cook a good and healthy home meal . I had a lot of time on my hands which I used to take part in various sporty and outdoor activities. However, when I moved to America, I found that things were completely different. First on the list is that there as very little time that I had to myself. This therefore meant that home cooking was out of my options most of the time. Eating healthy was difficult to keep up because food that is healthy is mostly found in very expensive restaurants that I was not able to afford on a daily basis (Bowman & Vinyard, 2004). I also had a hard time keeping up with my schedule because here everything had to be done at the time that is set for it. As a result, I was always looking for shortcuts to complete all the things on my schedule. The only way in which I a bale to feed was by purchasing fast foods , which are mostly fatty (Watson, 2008). Outdoor activities became a thing of the past for me. Before I knew it, I had piled on 20 extra pounds. Walking had become difficult as I would get so tired and sweaty after a very short distance. One day I got sick, and when I sent to hospital, my doctor told me that my blood pressure was too high for my age and that I had to find methods of losing weight before it is too late. Since then I have become more careful with the things I eat and I try as much as I can to take salad instead of the good old burger. I try to walk most of the time instead of taking public transport.

Bowman, S. A., & Vinyard, B. T. (2004). Fast food consumption of US adults: impact on energy and nutrient intakes and overweight status. Journal of the American College of Nutrition , 23 (2), 163-168.

Watson, S. (2008). Fast food . New York: Rosen Pub. Group.

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Article on Fast Food: The Unhealthy Truth about Fast Food

Article on fast food.

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Write an Article on Fast Food in 150 Words

Write an article on junk food in 150 words.

Junk food is defined as any type of food that is not nutritious or healthy. Junk food can be found at any time, but it is typically more common in snack and fast-food restaurants. Junk food is high in sugar, salt, and fat and does not provide the body with the nutrients it needs to function properly. Junk food can have a negative impact on health in several ways. First, junk food is often high in calories and sugar which can lead to weight gain and other health problems. Second, junk food can contain harmful ingredients such as pesticides and chemicals which can damage the body. Third, junk food often contains little or no fiber which can lead to constipation and other health problems. Finally, junk food is often low in nutrients such as calcium which can lead to deficiency symptoms in the body. Despite the dangers posed by junk food, many people continue to eat it on a regular basis. The reasons for this are complex but include a lack of awareness of the negative effects of junk food on health and a craving for convenience foods.

Write a Paragraph in 75 to 100 Words Hazards of Fast Food

Essay on fast food and obesity.

There is no denying that fast food has become one of the most popular and convenient meal choices for many people. However, the excessive consumption of fast food has been linked to obesity and other health problems. A study published in the journal Obesity found that people who ate fast food more than twice a week were almost three times as likely to be obese as those who ate it less than once a month. Furthermore, those who ate fast food every day were five times as likely to be obese. The study also found that eating out at restaurants was not the only factor that contributed to obesity. The researchers also looked at how much people weighed and how much they exercised. They found that even when controlling for factors such as age, gender, and race, eating out at restaurants still played a major role in obesity rates. In addition to causing obesity, fast food has been linked to other health problems, including heart disease, diabetes, and some types of cancer. Studies have shown that people who eat fast food regularly are more likely to have high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes than those who don’t eat fast food. So what can you do to reduce your risk of obesity and other health problems caused by eating too much fast food? First, try to avoid eating out at restaurants as often as possible.

Modern Generation and Fast Food Article

The modern generation enjoys fast food more than any other generation before them. This is mainly since they are always on the go and don’t have time to sit down and eat a meal. They also value convenience, so fast food restaurants are a great option for them. There are many different types of fast food restaurants available, so the modern generation can find something that suits their taste. Some common types of fast food restaurants include burger joints, chicken chains, pizza places, and ice cream shops. The modern generation has also created its own version of fast food. This includes quick service restaurants (QSRs), which are restaurants that offer quick service meals such as sandwiches, salads, and pizzas. QSRs are growing in popularity because they provide a quick and convenient meal option for customers. Overall, the modern generation enjoys fast food more than any other generation before them. This is mainly since they are always on the go and don’t have time to sit down and eat a meal. They also value convenience, so QSRs are a great option for them.

Essay on Fast Food and Human Health

Fast Food Essay | Essay on Fast Food for Students and Children in English

December 4, 2020 by Prasanna

Fast Food Essay: A type of mass-produced food, designed for commercial resale is known as fast food. In this type of food items, strong priority is given to ‘speed of service’ over any other relevant factors involved in culinary science.

Fast food is a type of food that is designed to deliver the order in the quickest way possible available at any eating joints. Fast foods were developed to make the process of food serving as smooth as possible, and it indeed has been able to meet its demands in the best ways possible.

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Long and Short Essays on Fast Food for Students and Kids in English

We are providing the students with essay samples on a long essay of 500 words and a short essay of 150 words on the topic Fast Food for reference.

Long Essay on Fast Food 500 Words in English

Long Essay on Fast Food is usually given to classes 7, 8, 9, and 10.

As the name suggests, fast foods are food items that are quickly made, quickly served and quickly eaten. Life today has become fast, and the changes in the lifestyle of people have gotten them addicted to food items that can be readily made. Fast food is the name coined for food items that are either available pre-cooked or can be cooked in a lesser time than regular food.

People find it desirable and convenient to eat such food items as they please their taste buds more than regular food. Fast foods can be easily prepared without much hustle and are served in many places like take-outs, sit-down restaurants, counter services, drive-thru and delivery.

Fast food has gained its popularity as it is convenient, tastes good and inexpensive. Fast food was created as a commercial strategy to accommodate the larger number of by travellers, wage workers and commuters who often did not have the time to sit down at a table and wait for their meal.

When the speed of service was made the priority, the inconvenience of the customers who had limitations on their time and could not wait for their food was tackled with. Even though several items can be cooked fast, the commercial term for food items in restaurants or stores with precooked, frozen or preheated ingredients is ‘fast food’. These stored food items are served to customers in a packed form for takeaway.

Processed food items like pizzas, noodles, white bread, diet soda etc. are various fast foods. Fast food is often prepared with ingredients that are cheap such as high-fat meat, added sugar and fats and refined grains instead of nutrient ingredients such as whole grains, lean proteins, vegetables and fresh fruits.

Fast food is high on sodium as it is used as a preservative, making the food more flavourful and satisfying. There is no such thing as ‘bad’ food, but there are some food items that should not be consumed regularly. Fast food items are high in saturated fats, trans fats, sodium and cholesterol.

Fast foods have several side effects. Eating fast food has been associated with cardiovascular diseases, obesity, high cholesterol, colorectal cancer, insulin resistance condition and depression. Excessive consumption of fast foods results in affecting the brain, which in turn results in affecting the mental health of the person.

People tend to binge on fast foods that have a high level of fats and sugar which affects their brain making it hard to say no. studies performed by scientist have shown that large doses of fast foods stimulate the brains natural opioids which produces a high similar to – though less intense – than that produced by heroin and cocaine.

Consumption of fast food in an excessive amount has adverse effects on the body – affecting the respiratory system, nervous system, reproductive system integumentary system and also the skeletal system. In today’s world, two out of three adults are considered obese or overweight in the US.

The fast-food industry is a million-dollar industry serving people each day all over the globe. The consumption of fast takeaway food is rapidly replacing a traditional family dinner.

Short Essay on Fast Food 150 Words in English

Short Essay on Fast Food is usually given to classes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.

Food items that are easily prepared and available yet are low on their nutritional values are fast food items. Fast foods have gained their popularity for their convenience and inexpensiveness; these foods also serve as a treat for one’s taste buds.

Fast foods have no or very less nutritional value and can be extremely unhealthy. Fast foods have several side effects, and the most immediate effect is on the energy levels that reach their peak on the consumption of fast food items. As one eats a quick snack, the temptation to have more is a result due to this spike in energy levels. Sometimes even the energy levels remain high, causing sleep disorders.

Consumption of fast foods causes drowsiness, and the ability to concentrate reduces. This is because the food items are excess in oils calories and are not easy to digest. Other side effects are not immediate but harm one’s health and body.

10 Lines on Fast Food Essay in English

1. The fast-food industry is a multibillion-dollar industry. 2. In the year 2018, the fast-food industry was estimated to have a worth of $570 billion daily. 3. Fast food restaurants traditionally have drive-thrus for serving food to their customers. 4. Fast foods came into existence with the first fish and chips shops in Britain during the 1860s. 5. In the 1950s drive-thru restaurants first became popular in the United States. 6. Merriam-Webster first recognized the term ‘fast food’ in the year 1951. 7. In the year 2013, an average couple in the US 47 minutes and 19 seconds per day on food preparation. 8. On average, a fast-food meal is worth one’s daily calorie intake. 9. Studies have shown that fast foods have detrimental effects on the human mind. 10. Consumption of fast food daily disrupts the flow of flood to the brain.

FAQ’s on Fast Food Essay

Question 1. Is fast food and junk food the same?

Answer: The term junk food is not as same as fast food. Junk foods are mainly foods which are relatively low in nutrients compared to their energy content.

Question 2. Why is fast food so unhealthy?

Answer: Fast foods are not necessarily bad, but in many cases, it is highly processed containing large amounts of carbohydrates, added sugar, salt (sodium) and unhealthy fats.

Question 3. Do fast food items have any nutritional value?

Answer: Fast foods often are high on calories, yet offering little or no nutritional value.

Question 4. What makes fast food so addictive?

Answer: Consumption of fast food that is high on sugar and fat daily causes changes in the human brain, making the food hard to resist.

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Fast Food and Health Problems

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The Effects of Fast Food on Health

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Fast food has been described as any meal that can be prepared quickly, served and easily available for consumption. Some of the most common fast foods include hamburgers, French fries, pizza and tacos. Fast food is the most accustomed substitute that people choose for when searching for a quick meal to seize while in a hurry. MacDonald’s is one of the largest fast food companies that operate all over the globe. Fast food is the best choice for most of the people since it is relatively inexpensive, convenient and offered with efficient services.

Schlosser provides startling statistics arguing “MacDonald’s feeds more than 48 million daily on fast foods. Furthermore, it is astonishing that out of this, 22 million comprise of teenagers who consume fast foods not knowing that they are shortening their life span” (220). This is exceptionally dumbfounding, given that this number is more than the entire population of some countries in the world. The famous quote by Albert Einstein “the task of humanity is to free themselves” profoundly depicts the aspect that human beings should free themselves from consuming fast foods, instead opt for natural foods.

The recent boom in fast food has been attributed to the fast casual concept, introduction of gourmet pizzas and burgers, as well as the Angus burger popularity. A sizable number of fast food operators are refurbishing their outlets in various cities to ensure that they attract customers and urge them to spend even more cash (Libal 78). In studying the food industry, it is crucial to comprehend how the cost or price of food impacts on the demand. Besides, most Americans use a third of their budgets to purchase food that is not prepared from their homes. Mostly, the meals comprise fast food or take-away that has high amounts of sugar and saturated fats.

It is quite startling to know that processed foods are mixed with chemicals, and other ingredients that are not natural. This results into adverse effects on the health of humans. As a result of consuming excess fast foods, people end depositing enormous amounts of chemical in their bodies on a daily basis. These preservatives contain chemicals and other components that when taken for a frightfully long time, their consequences on the health consumers are enormous, disastrous and hazardous (Collins 184). Therefore, it is essential to note that, though fast foods provide a quick way to get a meal, the foods are unhealthy and lead to numerous health problems that lead to high mortality rates. This essay will provide an in-depth casual argument on the relationship between fast foods and health problems.

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Numerous researches on the impact of fast food on health have proved beyond doubt that obesity is the greatest manifestation of consuming junk food. This is attributed to the fact that fast foods contain enormous amounts of fat that accumulate in the body, leading to weight gain. Once an individual becomes obese, the body structure and functioning changes entirely. In so doing, vital organs such as the heart and lungs are exposed to little or no expiratory processes due to lessened physical activity, and this eventually culminates into chronic diseases (Collins 214). As a result of obesity, other complications may arise such as coronary heart diseases, stroke, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and various types of cancers. In addition, obesity as a result of fast foods can lead to mental health conditions, complications in the reproductive health sector such as infertility, sleep apnea, problems in the respiratory systems and lastly diseases that attack the liver and the gall bladder.

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Excessive consumption of fast foods has been singled out as the main cause of type 2 diabetes, owing to the low amounts of carbohydrates and high sugar levels in the foods. Medical doctors argue that the consumption of a lot of sugar affects the metabolism levels, thus putting the body under so much stress (Schlosser 235). Besides, it is a fact that most of the fast foods lack the complex carbohydrates required by the body, thus making it difficult to maintain adequate sugar levels. In the long run, the ability of the pancreases to produce insulin becomes is overstretched, hence making it difficult for the body to function. This explains why people crave for sugar and end up consuming fast foods.

The propensity of the heart and liver problems has been linked to too much consumption of fast foods. Research has shown that most fast foods contain high levels of sodium and fats that augment blood cholesterol levels, hence leading to heart diseases. Furthermore, Libal observes “increased intake of cholesterol that is found in fast foods is highly hazardous to the human health since cholesterol molecules attach themselves on the arteries of the body” (156). This leads to clogging of arteries and thickening of blood vessels. As a result, people end up suffering from high blood pressure that is occasioned by obstruction of blood flow. Therefore, excessive consumption of fast foods can lead to blood failure as a result of blockage of arteries.

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A study conducted on campus students at the University of Wisconsin, School of Public Health found that 60% of students who consumed fast foods were more likely to suffer from depression as opposed to those who were not regular consumers (Schlosser 215). This is because, fast foods have been found to be lacking in omega 3s, antioxidants and foliate; which are vital components for a stable mental health. Besides, research has supported this assertion, citing that most fast foods contain stabilizers, sweeteners, flavors, emulsifiers and preservatives that affect the mental functioning and well-being of an individual

Most of the nutritionists all over the world commonly agree that avoiding lots of fast foods has numerous positive attributes. Research has evidently showed that an average household in America is likely to save $8,000 annually, just by switching from fast foods to natural or homemade foods. Besides, natural homemade foods are highly nutritious and contain no additives or chemicals. In the world over, doctors and medical experts advance the fact that, eating lots of natural food protects one from weight related disorders such as diabetes, stroke, cancer, high blood pressure, heart disease and hypertension among other diseases.

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Fast Food (Argumentative Essay Sample)

Fast food is viewed in different ways by different consumers. Some are stuck on fast foods, unable to prepare proper foods in their houses. Others dread such foods, citing health consequences linked with the high salt and calorie content of such foods. While proponents and opponents on each side of the debate point to key reasons for their positions, fast foods are generally unhealthy and unfit for humans.

On the positive side, most fast food restaurants serve large quantities of foods, and this guarantees them of return customers. This enables them to offer more employment opportunities, an example being McDonald outlets which have offered employment chances to thousands of employees across the world, thus improving their standards of living. Fast foods come in handy for individuals whose tight work schedule does not allow them adequate time to prepare traditional food in their houses. Such individuals regularly consume fast foods from restaurants.

Fast foods significantly save on time. There is no waiting time as time is served and consumed instantly. Food is prepared within a few minutes and is ready for consumption. Some restaurants have drive-through services which allow customers to place orders quickly, which saves hours on working consumers’ busy schedules. In the current world where consumers are health-conscious, some restaurants have turned to offering healthy alternatives. Such alternatives are, however, more expensive.

The health consequences associated with fast foods, however, render such foods harmful and worthless as they reduce human lifespan. Due to high-calorie content, consumers risk suffering from such diseases as obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and high cholesterol. Obesity is a risk factor for diabetes. Given that a significant number of consumers make poor choices regarding their diet, most of them end up consuming hot dogs, pizza, hamburgers, chips, ice cream, chicken nuggets, fried chicken, sandwiches, among other tasty but high-salt, high-calorie fast foods. Fast foods are made from high saturated fats, increasing the likelihood that such fats end up clogging arteries in consumers’ bodies thus increasing the risk of obesity and heart disease.

At times, the demand for fast foods is so high that hygienic standards are often compromised in some restaurants. In some cases, cows and pigs are hung upsides down, while chicken is cramped in stuffy, enclosed spaces, slaughtered and quickly prepared for consumption. Food-borne illnesses sometimes occur in such cases, resulting in inflated health care costs to individual families and at national levels.

Having evaluated the arguments above, it is clear that the health consequences of fast foods supersede the benefits. A wide range of research literature has proved that fast foods contribute significantly to adverse health conditions as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. Such conditions cost the healthcare sector millions of dollars annually, and adversely affect the global economy. For instance, obesity is one of the most devastating health conditions that drain the healthcare sector of the United States. It is surprising that the greatest number of obesity cases is not genetic- it is linked to consumption of high-calorie foods.

In conclusion, fast foods present more problems than benefits to users. Consumers need to either avoid such foods or choose healthier alternatives, such as less salted foods although such options may cost more. Traditionally prepared food is relatively expensive and more time-consuming to prepare but it is certainly healthy. In the long run, good health is more important.

Fast Food Health Risks That Will Shock You

Even if you don't eat fast food often, this is a must read because the impacts are far more damaging than you realize...

Today, the majority of people in most of the developed world get more than half their calories from processed, fast, and fake foods. The fast food health risks are shocking. And it’s only getting worse.

The global fast food market is growing. And the demand for packaged foods is predicted to increase as well.

Industrialized food industry giants like KFC, Nestlé, and McDonald’s are aggressively expanding in developing nations and getting people hooked, in places such as Brazil , Ghana , China , and India , where obesity and other health issues are becoming an epidemic.

Fast and processed foods are common today. But they may be more destructive for our health and for society as a whole than you ever imagined.

You’ll learn all about the damaging impacts of these unhealthy foods. But the good news is , you have the power to help change these trends.

The first step is education.

The industrialized food industry hopes you never discover some of the things they do. Even if you don’t eat fast or processed foods often, you’re still affected by these industries.

Because of their practices, you may pay higher taxes. You may pay more for health insurance. And your friends, loved ones, and your community may be more at risk than you realize.

See why in this short video from Dr. Joel Fuhrman — a popular Food Revolution Summit speaker and author of the new book, Fast Food Genocide: How Processed Food Is Killing Us and What We Can Do Abo ut It .

What does Dr. Fuhrman mean by fast food?

Dr. Fuhrman says fast foods are anything out of a bag or a box or with a wrapper on it. Anything you can eat fast, that’s already pre-made.

Fast food is digested fast and absorbed into the bloodstream quickly. And it’s not only found in fast food restaurants.

According to Dr. Fuhrman, examples of fast foods include:

Fast food health risks you need to know about

You may be aware that fast and processed foods can harm your physical health, leading to diabetes and obesity , as well as premature cardiac death, cancer, strokes , and more .

But these foods are also altering your brain and your mental health – fueling depression, mental illness , and other issues.

According to a study published in the Public Health Journal, people who eat fast foods are 51% more likely to develop depression compared to those who eat little or no fast food. And this finding was for people who only consumed two servings of fast food a week .

Another study published in the Journal of Adolescence Health found that eating just one serving of French fries per week during adolescence increased women’s breast cancer risk later in life by 27% .

And a study published in Circulation found that eating fast food one time per week increased the risk of dying from coronary heart disease by 20% — a risk that grew to 50% for people eating fast food two or three times per week.

Other documented impacts from these foods include:

And for kids who eat fast food and processed foods, the situation may be even worse.

How do fast food and processed foods affect the health of children?

Children who consume nutrient-rich diets have been found to perform better academically than those who are nutrient-deficient.

Well-fed children have been found to be:

Children are also developing habits and tastes that will affect them as they become adults. If kids eat fast foods often, it will harder for them to break those patterns later in life. And childhood eating habits have far-reaching consequences.

According to a study published in the British Journal of Psychiatry in 2009, eating candy and sweets in childhood is linked to later-life violence, drug use, and drug abuse more than any other parameter. It was found to be a more significant determinant even than being raised by a single parent or growing up in poverty.

And raising children on unhealthy foods doesn’t only impact their lives, but also the lives of their descendants. Dr. Fuhrman points out that when children eat unhealthy foods, they may be damaging their genes.

Why do people eat junk foods despite the fast food health risks?

Most people know fast food isn’t good for them. According to a 2013 Gallup poll , out of the 2,027 adults surveyed, 76% said fast food is “not too good” or “not good at all for you.”

But as that same Gallup poll showed, 8 out of 10 Americans eat fast food at least once a month, and 47% of Americans eat fast food once a week or more.

Fast food is appealing — it’s cheap, convenient, tasty, and in many circles, socially acceptable. But the health concerns are dramatic. So why do so many people continue to make choices they know are not in their long-term best interests?

Fast food and processed foods are being designed to alter our brains and drive food addiction.

The science of food addiction says these foods produce the same biochemical effects in the brain that are characteristic of substance abuse. Hundreds of millions of people have come to crave these unhealthy foods.

How can you take action?

Dr. Fuhrman says, “ We need a revolution in information about our food, nutrition, and health, and it starts with you. ”

Getting educated about the negative consequences of consuming junk foods can help you talk about the fast food health risks with other people in your life. And you can set an example by saying no to fast food foods – and saying yes to healthy alternatives.

Even if you’ve been eating an unhealthy diet for your whole life, it’s never too late to make a change – and to reap the benefits.

Want to take your learning further? Get Dr. Fuhrman’s new book, “ Fast Food Genocide .” He says it may be the most important book of his life.

Let us know what you think in the comments.

What’s your experience with eating fast food and processed foods, have you experienced any issues from these fast food health risks, how can we take action to stop fast food and processed foods from growing and expanding across the world.

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The Effects of Fast Food on the Body

Fast food is a common meal option, but it’s high in calories and low in nutrients. Eating too much of it could affect nearly all parts of your body.

Popularity of fast food

Swinging through the drive-thru or hopping into your favorite fast food restaurant may happen more often than some of us would like to admit.

Between 2013 and 2016, 36.6% of U.S. adults ate fast food on a given day. The amount was nearly the same for children and adolescents, with 36.3% of them eating fast food on a given day during 2015 to 2018.

While an occasional fast food meal won’t hurt, a habit of eating out could be doing a number on your health. Read on to learn the effects of fast food on your body.

Effect on the digestive and cardiovascular systems

Most fast food, including drinks and sides, are loaded with carbohydrates with little to no fiber.

When your digestive system breaks down these foods, the carbs are released as glucose (sugar) into your bloodstream. As a result, your blood sugar increases.

Your pancreas responds to the surge in glucose by releasing insulin . Insulin transports sugar throughout your body to cells that need it for energy. As your body uses or stores the sugar, your blood sugar returns to normal.

This blood sugar process is highly regulated by your body. As long as you’re healthy, your organs can usually handle these sugar spikes.

But frequently eating high amounts of carbs can lead to repeated spikes in your blood sugar.

Over time, these insulin spikes may cause your body’s normal insulin response to falter. This increases your risk of insulin resistance , type 2 diabetes , and weight gain .

Sugar and fat

Many fast food meals have added sugar . That means extra calories without added nutrition. The American Heart Association, which referred to people as either men or women, suggests only eating about 100 calories or 6 teaspoons of added sugar per day for women or 150 calories or 9 teaspoons for men.

Many fast food drinks alone contain more than the daily recommended amount of sugar. A 12-ounce can of Coca-Cola contains 9.75 teaspoons of sugar. That equals 140 calories, 39 grams of sugar, and no other nutrients.

Another common fast food ingredient, trans fat , is manufactured fat created during food processing. It’s commonly found in:

pizza dough

No amount of trans fat is good or healthy. Eating foods that contain it can increase your LDL (bad cholesterol), lower your HDL (good cholesterol), and increase your risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease .

The combination of fat, sugar, and lots of sodium (salt) can make fast food tastier to some people. But diets high in sodium can lead to water retention , which is why you may feel puffy, bloated , or swollen after eating fast food.

A diet high in sodium is also dangerous for people with blood pressure conditions. Sodium can elevate blood pressure and put stress on your heart and cardiovascular system.

One study found that about 90% of adults underestimated how much sodium was in their fast food meals.

The study surveyed 993 adults and found that their guesses were lower than the actual sodium content by more than 1,000 mg.

Keep in mind that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends adults eat no more than 2,300 milligrams of sodium per day. More than 70% of sodium comes from processed foods and restaurant meals.

Effect on the respiratory system

Excess calories from fast food meals can cause weight gain. This may lead toward obesity .

Obesity increases your risk of respiratory problems, including asthma and shortness of breath .

The extra pounds can put pressure on your heart and lungs , and symptoms may show up even with little exertion. You may notice difficulty breathing when you’re walking, climbing stairs, or exercising.

Restaurants may increase the challenge of calorie counting . Research indicates that people often inaccurately estimate the number of calories of menu items.

Effect on the central nervous system

Your central nervous system consists of your brain and spinal cord. These areas of your body may also see an impact from eating fast food.

One study from 2020 found that among college students, eating higher amounts of fast food (and, interestingly, salad) was linked to a lower short-term memory score.

Still, other research from 2019 found no effect of fast food consumption on cognitive function. More studies are needed in this area.

Effect on the reproductive system

The ingredients in junk food and fast food may have an impact on your fertility .

One study found that processed food contains phthalates . Phthalates are chemicals that can interrupt how hormones act in your body. Exposure to high levels of these chemicals could lead to reproductive issues, including developmental issues for a fetus .

Effect on the integumentary system (skin, hair, and nails)

The foods you eat may impact your skin’s appearance .

A research review from 2021 found that dairy, chocolate , foods high in fat, and foods with a high glycemic index (carbohydrates and sugar) were associated with acne , though more studies need to be done. These foods are often present in fast food.

On the other hand, the research suggested that eating fruits, vegetables, and fatty acids (found in fish and olive oil) helped protect against acne .

Effect on the skeletal system (bones)

Carbs and sugar in fast food and processed food can increase acids in your mouth. These acids can break down tooth enamel. As your tooth enamel disappears , bacteria can take hold, and cavities may develop.

Obesity can also lead to complications with your bone density and muscle mass . People with obesity may have lowered bone quality and a higher risk of breaking bones , especially among older adults.

It’s important to keep exercising to build muscles , which support your bones, and keep up a healthy diet to minimize bone loss .

Effect on mental health

Eating fast food may affect your mental health along with your physical health.

A 2020 study found that consuming fast foods with sugary drinks increased the chance of mental health issues in middle school students in China.

Research from 2018 also suggested that eating a Western diet high in red meat, takeout, and refined foods was linked to a higher body mass index (BMI) and inflammation in 14-year-old participants. This was then associated with depressive symptoms and mental health issues when they were 17 years old.

Effects of fast food on society

Today, more than two in five U.S. adults and around one in five children have obesity.

Offerings at fast food restaurants may be contributing. One study found that between 1986 and 2016, portion sizes and the number of calories in restaurant entrées and desserts increased significantly.

As Americans eat out more frequently , it could have adverse effects for both individuals and America’s healthcare system.

What are the health risks of eating fast food?

Fast food is often high in calories, fat, and sugar but low in nutrients and fiber. While eating fast food occasionally isn’t a problem, consuming it frequently may raise your risk of obesity, heart attack, and other health issues.

What happens if you eat fast food more than two times a week?

Eating fast food too often may negatively affect your health. An older study from 2012 found that Chinese Singaporean adults who ate Western-style fast food at least twice per week had a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes and dying from coronary heart disease compared with adults who consumed little or no fast food.

Fast food is a popular choice for its taste and convenience, but it tends to be high in calories, sugar, and fat and low in nutrients.

Eating fast food frequently may negatively affect multiple areas of your body, possibly increasing your risk of conditions including type 2 diabetes, obesity, and high blood pressure. As a result, it’s best for your health to eat it only occasionally.

Last medically reviewed on October 24, 2022

How we reviewed this article:

Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available.

Medically Reviewed By

Jerlyn Jones, MS MPA RDN LD CLT

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Causes and Effects of Fast Food: Essay Example

Essay about fast food: introduction, causes of fast food: essay body paragraph, effects of fast food: essay body paragraph, fast food causes and effects: conclusion, reference list.

Food is an important part of any culture and society around the globe. Until the last century, most people used to eat fresh, home-cooked food. Eating was a process that required certain preparations. But now, we see that they prefer to eat fast food such as pizza, hamburgers or fried chicken.

These fast-food restaurants have become common in our streets, and they are visited by people of all ages. The popularity of these restaurants has increased internationally. There are many reasons why fast food becomes popular, and fast food also has some serious effects on humans and society.

The basic question is, what made fast food so popular this last century? One answer would be that the change of lifestyle in comparison to before is a cause for this. It pushes workers or people to eat fast food than cook food themselves.

For instance, two working parents are a good example of this. Due to their jobs, they do not have time to cook for their children or even themselves. As a consequence, they find it easier to order from these fast food restaurants rather than cooking. This is why they favor fast food over their own cooked food.

Another cause for fast food usage can be a long time working hours may also lead people to eat outside the home. There are many fast-food businesses in our cities. Some of them are McDonald’s, burger king, pizza hut, etc. We can make a long list with hundreds of names from these restaurants.

During the last couple of years, we saw a lot of advertisements and promotions for those restaurants. But there still remains a question on why do they spend to promote ineffective food, what are the reasons for these? The answer is that fast food is easy to cook. It does not take a long time to cook, and it is easily available in your hands. The shareholders of these businesses have their own goals, that of the profits they get from these restaurants.

Above, we have seen the causes that may have led to the flourishing of the fast-food industry. But what is more important is the effects it has on society and human beings. The major effect that fast food has on human beings is that it can get your health in danger status. First, we must say that fast food can cause vitamin deficiencies that may, in turn, help to cause diseases.

Obesity is one of the consequences of fast food on the human body. Obesity comes because fast food is the factor that enriches the body with fats. So people will become less healthy, less effective, and less productive, and this is the conclusion of obesity (Adams, 2007, pp. 155).

Another serious effect of the popularity of fast food presences is the loss of the family tradition of eating together. The family used to eat together, and thus they had the opportunity to talk with each other for daily problems.

Fast food also has an effect on the income of the family. The conclusion is that fast food is more expensive than the food you cook for yourself.

In conclusion, it can be said that fast food has been born out of the modern way of living in our societies. Unfortunately, the effects it has on the human body and health are not positive. It also has other negative effects on the income of a family. It would be best if people avoid as much as they can do use fast foods.

Adams, C., 2007. Reframing the obesity debate: McDonald’s role may surprise you. Journal of Law, Medicine, and Ethics, no. 35: pp. 154-157.

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Fast Food Argumentative Essay

The debate on eating fast foods has gained momentum in the recent years with many people advocating against them. There are those who argue that people should not be told to avoid fast foods because they have the right to eat what they want and are responsible for their lives. On the other hand, those against eating fast foods assert that some of the practices and contents related to fast foods are health hazards and people do not know such facts. As such, they educate the public on such hazards. Although people have the right to eat what they want, they should be fair to their bodies and avoid eating harmful substances. Although fast food restaurants make delicious food, they should be avoided because they are harmful to human health.

Harmful effects of fast food

The harmful effects of fast foods to the human health come from the way the food is prepared. Research has shown that the livestock that is slaughtered to supply beef to the fast foods is concentrated into feedlots before being taken through the meat processing assembly lines (Schlosser 23). Most employees in these processing lines are poorly trained and may contaminate the meat, leading to food poisoning. Moreover, the majority of fast foods cook their meals in beef tallow, which has a high concentration of saturated fats. These fats have been found to be a leading cause of heart diseases. The tight schedules at fast food restaurants limit their chances of training their employees on proper food handling practices and procedures. In addition, the high turnover rate in these restaurants discourages training because it seems like wasting financial resources on employees who are likely to leave for another establishment. The overall effect of this is that most of those who handle food are unqualified, which increases the chances of food contamination.

Harmful wrappers containing PAPs

Many fast food restaurants wrap their food with wrappers containing polyfluoroalkyl phosphate esters (PAPs), which prevent grease in the food from leaking. These compounds sometimes migrate into the wrapped food and get ingested. Although there are no known effects on human health, the compounds have been found harmful when ingested by rodents. Since many experiments relating to humans are tested using rats, any such adverse effect is likely to cause harm to humans. Therefore, the wrappers are feared to be agents of harmful compounds that may harm the human health. Even when the food has no harmful substances, the fact that much fast food lack permanent employees with experience and expertise can lead to food contamination. Food preparation requires care because even mixing vegetable equipment with meat equipment can be fatal to the customers. Given the busy schedules in the fast foods and the ever-changing workforce, maintaining high standards of hazard prevention is difficult.

Why is meat used in fast food considered being dangerous?

The second hazard of eating fast foods comes from the content of their food. For instance, the meat used in these fast foods comes from animals that have gone through unhealthy conditions. Prior to slaughtering, the animals are concentrated in small spaces and cannot rest, but stand. As a result of the overcrowding, the animals are likely to get sick. To avoid incidences of sickness, the animals are injected with high levels of antibiotics that end up in the meat sold in fast foods (Watson 56). Since the anti-bacterial drugs are given to the animals just before they are slaughtered, they are never metabolized properly. To make matters worse, the fast foods have very busy schedules and customer demands. As a result, they cook food at a fast rate to keep pace with the increasing customers. This haste prevents food from being cooked completely, which may lead to the antibiotics not being neutralized. Consequently, those who consume such food get food poisoning and may die if treatment is not sought swiftly. Apart from contamination originating from the antibiotics, animals for fast foods are required tender. To ensure this requirement is met, many of the animals and birds are slaughtered while young. Since the people who rear them sell on a weight basis, they must balance between weight and young age. Therefore, these animals are fed with food injected with growth hormones. During the time of slaughter, these hormones circulate within the animal bodies and transfer into humans upon consumption. These hormones are harmful to people's health and interfere with the natural functioning of the body.

The food sold in fast foods has been found to contain high levels of calories and low fiber content

These conditions are the causes of obesity, which has become a challenge to both the government and healthcare providers. A research conducted by Pediatrics established that, on any given day, 30.3% of children between the age of four to nineteen eat from fast foods (Gulum and Serpil 45). Those who ate fast foods were found to eat less fiber, non-starchy vegetables and fruits.

These results concluded that children who ate fast foods were likely to get obese compared to those who avoided fast foods. Obesity has been found to lead to other illnesses such as high blood pressure and diabetes. These diseases cost a lot of money and strain economies through treatment and rehabilitation. Therefore, it is essential that the factors that lead to them should be avoided, which means avoiding fast foods.

Fast foods that serve both Muslims and Jews have to conform to the requirements of their religious principles

During the slaughtering process, animals may be subjected to cruelty since slaughtering methods differ significantly. According to the two religions, the animals must be cut using a sharp object on the neck to drain out the blood. It is prohibited to eat meat with blood inside. Since fast foods must satisfy their customers, they may result to using meat that has been killed using this method. Animals have rights, just like human beings. They deserve reduced pain when being slaughtered, which is a dignified way of treating them. Therefore, such fast foods promote an inhumane way of killing animals, which results in inhumane treatment. On the other hand, the procedures that are conventionally allowed for killing animals to be used as food include electrocution or hitting it with a bolt to the head. These methods, which are used, for slaughtering animals used in fast foods is considered dangerous to human health. Blood is considered a medium in which many disease-causing organisms thrive (Yeager 45). Therefore, it is crucial to drain it from the meat meant for consumption. However, in the conventional fast foods, animals are killed before opening them up, which means that most of the blood is left intact. If there were parasites inside the animal that resided in the blood, they are likely to be transferred to the food sold by the fast foods. Although the meat slaughtered using these means is sold by other hotels and butchers, it is safer than that sold by the fast foods because they get a chance to cook fully. For instance, people who buy meat for their consumption at home ensure that it is fully cooked before consumption. Therefore, the risk of getting sick due to parasites in the meat is reduced. In contrast, fast foods rarely allow meat, and other types of food to cook fully because of time constraints and the costs associated with prolonged cooking.

In conclusion, eating at fast foods is undesirable as it is harmful to human health and treats animals unfairly. The unhealthy conditions of food in fast foods arise from poor preparation, inadequate skills in processing the food and high-calorie content. Therefore, people should avoid eating at fast foods for the sake of their health and promoting dignified treatment of animals.

References:

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Effects Of Fast Food On Health Essay

Have you ever asked yourself why are there so many fat people out there? No? Yes? This writer has, and this writer would like to know what the reasons are. It is hard to know all the reasons, but most of them are obvious. We are what we eat. This is one of the simplest reasons, and this writer believes it is right. Most of obese people have bad nutrition habits such as high fat level food intake. According to the United States government, the number of overweight Americans is higher than ever before.

A 1991 study found that one-third of U.S. adults are obese. One of the reasons for this percentage is the frequent consumption of fast food. The American fast food is not healthy and most of it leads to obesity and might cause cardiovascular problems. It also contributes to polluting the environment. Another reason is that millions of cows, chickens, and pigs are killed every year to satisfy hungry people.

Fast food is not good for our health and for our environment.

Essays On Fast Food

Most of American fast food is unhealthy, high in calories, fat, sodium, and cholesterol, but generally low in the nutrients a growing body needs. Do you know how many grams of fat a burger contains? No, right? The reason is because fast food is not often labeled with nutrition facts, but people do not care about it, they just want something fast to eat.

The problems begin when the intake of fast food is frequent or almost every day.

Proficient in: Bad Eating Habits

“ Really polite, and a great writer! Task done as described and better, responded to all my questions promptly too! ”

It is really easy, cheap, and of course fast going to any fast food restaurant or drive through and buy a burger and fried chips, but is it good for your health? The response is No. This does not mean fast food is bad. But it does mean you should fit fast food into a balanced healthy diet. “Research shows that eating too much high-fat foods contributes to high blood cholesterol levels.

This can cause hardening of the arteries, coronary disease and stroke. High-fat diets may also contribute to a greater risk for some types of cancer, particularly cancers of the breast and colon”.(Fast food facts-internet) Eating disorders associated with a sedentary lifestyle contributes to obesity, and obesity is expensive. As an example most of the diseases above-mentioned are directly related to obesity. Realize that it is still possible to eat fast food occasionally and follow sensible diet.

Fast food also contributes polluting the environment. Just think that for a second how much garbage do fast food restaurants throw away every day. It is a lot. And where it comes from? This is an easy question. It comes from every wrapped burger, straw, or chips and drinks containers. Just imagine thousands of burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches and so on are sold every day in United States, so a lot of garbage is collected every day, but just a small part of it is recycled.

Another reason of why fast food pollutes the environment is beef. In the United States beef is king. The Western World has a love affair with beef. But how many people are aware that the real costs of the cattle culture are animal suffering, global hunger and poverty, and environmental devastation. More than 6.7 billion-hamburgers were sold last year at fast food restaurants. Beef has been central to the American experience. The relationship between beef and the environment pollution is that cattle raising is a primary factor in the destruction of the world’s remaining tropical rain forests.

They graze on nearly 24 percent of landmass of the planet and consume enough grain to feed hundreds of millions of people. The burning of tropical forests to clear land for pasture releases millions of tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere each year. There are currently 1.28 billion cattle populating the Earth. Cattle are also a major cause of global warming.(Rifkin) They emit methane, a potent global warming gas, blocking heat from escaping the Earth’s atmosphere.

One more reason is our dependence on animals for food and the profoundly inhumane and unhealthy conditions under they are currently raised. Beef, pork, turkey, and chicken meat are the main ingredient in fast food menus, but just a few people know how these animals are treated before they are killed and be part of our meal. Mass-produced chickens (around 99% of the market) spend their lives in huge windowless sheds. Many dead and dying birds go unnoticed to discompose in the litter on the shed floor. Most poultry are killed by electric stunning plus neck cutting. They are just animals people think, but the reality is that those animals also feel as human beings.

The owners of fast food restaurants say it has positive side also. It is really convenient predictable and fast because out there you can find a fast food restaurant anywhere and it is cheap.

Fast food has become a part of the busy American lifestyle. People who work full time and have no time to go home and cook, or students living at the dormitories who do not have the facilities for cooking are just examples of why people eat fast food. “There are more than 300,000 fast food restaurants in the U.S.” (Fast food facts-internet) and is an important source of employment. But anyway fast food is not the best election for a lunch meal. Healthier choices can be made to help make a healthier body such as eating in vegetarian restaurants or regular restaurants stead of eating fast food every day.

This writer conclusion is that even with some positives aspect fast food should be avoided to conserve better our environment and our health. It is your choice to continue eating fast food or not.

Works-Cited

Rifkin, Jeremy. Beyond Beef: The Rise and Fall of the

Cattle Culture. Mammersmit, London: Thorsons, 1994.

B. Elizabeth. “How much fat is in Fast Food?”

Netscape. Internet. 7 Oct. 1998. Available:

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Food is made somewhere it can be produced and sold. Americans want their food as fast as they can with little payment. It is the Industry's job to work with the customers and make it easier for them by selling the products cheaper. They make the food that intrigues the people. Whatever the customers want, they will receive because money is all corporations want. It is a good Idea to give what people want but is it okay to manipulate the for the money? Many customers choose to pay something cheaper

The Consumption Of Fast Food

essentially unchanged. Americans are eating more unhealthy food and intaking more calories, causing this nationwide epidemic. The big fast food chains market their foods to Americans constantly. On average, teens see three to five fast food ads per day (Muntel). Fast food is ingrained into the minds of children and the craving for it stays with them even when they are adults. Americans should eliminate the regular consumption of fast food because the fast

Food is a necessity in life. In making the right choices, we can have a healthy life. Sadly, America is not making those healthy choices. Contrary to our education and information about junk food, the fast food industry is still ever growing to this day. The fast food industry in America is an excellently funded, well-oiled machine that will not stop until we make better choices as consumers. Big business is winning, profits are garnered but unfortunately Americans are losing years of their lives

Advantages Of Fast Food

modern era, there are many fast food outlets worldwide and continues being a popular choice for majority of the population, mostly due to it being fast and ready to go anytime and anywhere. However, obesity being caused by fast food restaurants has been the subject of worldwide debate for many years now as there have been campaigns and boycotts against several fast food restaurants such as McDonalds, Burger King and KFC. This essay will go more into detail about how fast food is one of the main contributors

Healthy Fast Food

television or radio and not be hit with advertisements introducing the latest fast food trend fresh and healthy food options. More often, the media bombards us with slogans such as Subway 's common pitch to "eat fresh" or McDonald 's million-dollar advertisement campaign to try the new fruit and walnut salad. Attention has made an abrupt turn from the greasy, deep-fried originals at the fast food chains to more health conscious food choices. Even a documentary of a man named Morgan Spurlock made headlines

Fast Foods : Fast Food Risks

FAST FOOD RISKS Fast foods pose a great risk to the society and with the society functioning at a high speed; it has become the preferred food of choice. Fast foods are coming up at a very high rate with their adverts taking over the media. Every corner of the town has a fast food restaurant and in the next block, there is an advert about a fast food restaurant. Obesity is now the largest health concern in the society with children being the hardest hit. Obesity increases the risk of high-fat streak

Fast Food America

Fast food has become a major phenomenon here in America. According to Eric Schlosser, he writes in the New York Times, on average $301,369,863 is spent a day on fast food. As Schlosser shows, American people are abusing fast food. In accordance with fast food binging, obesity has become a widespread epidemic. According to Joseph Mercola M.D., on a personal website states obesity is, "A chronic condition that develops as a result of an interaction between a person 's genetic makeup and their environment

Entitlement For Fast Food

was completed. Then, when one is essentially sixteen years of age, he or she would be able to obtain a job in fast food as a crew member. This new fast food job is glamorous to the sixteen-year-old; however, it is not seen as an advanced career opportunity. Nevertheless, Fast food employees believe they are entitled to a higher wage than state minimum wage. The crew members in fast-food are demanding fifteen dollars an hour. There are many

Fast Foods : Fast Food Restaurants

Fast Foods in America Fast food restaurants have always been extremely successful and are experiencing an increase in popularity in America. The ongoing question all consumers have is which one is the best. Everyone has their opinion on which one they like best, but what about the actual quality and health of the foods served? When one is choosing to eat at one of these restaurants, they may just simply choose one without evaluating things such as food quality, prices, and service experience. Two

Fast Food And The Food Industry

turn you see one of the fifty thousand fast food chains in the United States alone (Ransohoff). It might be easy to resist the cheap and easy deliciousness of a McDonald’s cheeseburger for a while, but then you have a long day and cooking seems too tedious for the amount of energy you actually have. Or you are out with friends and the only food options are fast food. That is okay! Today, healthier food options are more accessible in and out of the fast food industry. In today’s world of technology

Fast Foods : Fast Food Consumption

Fast Food Consumption Alshahrani Abdullatif Fast Food Consumption FAST FOOD CONSUMPTION Introduction The nutriment companies have set up plenty of poor force in present ages, having the duty for groining excess fat prices and alternate fitness trouble additionally as for sending-off great ecological effects like multiplied greenhouse gasses. This features impressed an abundance of individuals to start inquiring

Fast Food is Unhealthy Food Essay

10 Works Cited

literature on the causes of food poisoning is full of euphemisms and dry scientific terms: coliform levels, aerobic plate counts, sorbitol, MacConkey agar, and so on. Behind them lies a simple explanation for why eating a hamburger can now make you seriously ill: There is shit in the meat.” ― Eric Schlosser, Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal According to Morgan Spurlock's documentary Super Size Me, one in every four Americans visits a fast food restaurant each day. America

Fast Food And The Food Meal Essay

A fast food meal may not be so simple after all considering the ingredients that go into a meal. We aren’t fully aware of what all the ingredients are in our food. We just see either a short or a long list of words that is just scientific jargon to us. We do become more concerned of what we are eating if there is a long endless list of contents. One ingredient that we all know if high fructose corn syrup. There are high amounts of it in our fast food which explains why we can get so addicted to fast

The Effects Of Fast Food On The Food Industry

present themselves (What Causes Obesity, 2006). Advertisements in the fast food industry are persuading people to eat their greasy, fat, salty, unhealthy foods (McDonald’s Advertising Themes, 2013). In order for people to live a happy, healthy life, they must change their eating habits. However, fast food advertisements are contributing to what is making eating habits so hard to change, with their misleading advertising. Fast food is slowly but surely killing us, yet we hardly notice until it finally

accordingly. Here we apply the dimensions of a Market Analysis to McDonalds corp. 1) Emerging submarkets; McDonalds failed to recognize the changing trend in customer’s preferences to better tasting, fresher food. This trend led to new sub markets emerging for tastier, fresher and fast food perceived as healthier. A few of the smaller/privately owned competitors (Cosi and Quizno’s) were able to operate in niche markets

essay about fast food and human health

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