No longer in America can a person pull into a burger joint such as McDonald’s, Burger King or Wendy’s and buy a mere small fry or soda. Nor can people eat at a fast food restaurant and feel good about the food they just ate.
This is the beginning of a growing trend that has made this nation a “fat” nation.
As fast food began a downward slide in quality, the prices increased, and customers continued to buy, buy, buy and eat, eat, eat.
It is the vast market created by Americans that continues to flourish at the expense of the health of our country and the world.
A misconceived notion exists that the problem is caused entirely by the industry itself. A small part is their fault. But the problem is perpetuated by the incredible number of customers who keep on buying the junk.
There would be no fast food industry if the populace would stop buying the filth. There would be fewer obese people if everyone would take responsibility for their own lives.
A study completed by freelance director Morgan Spurlock documented the effects of eating three McDonald’s meals a day for 30 days.
It didn’t take 30 days for the problems to set in.
Spurlock’s documentary illustrates how the usually healthy 33-year-old man fell into depression, began struggling with headaches and threw up continuously.
“The liver test was the most shocking thing,” said Daryl Isaacs, a doctor assigned to monitor Spurlock. With his cholesterol and his weight increasing, Spurlock proved that fast food can destroy the human body.
Spurlock points out that one in every four Americans visits a fast food restaurant each day. This illustrates out the fact that the issue of unhealthy fast food affects the majority of the American populace.
In another study, the Medical Research Council found that fast foods were designed in a manner that “encourages intentional overeating.”
The article went on to say, “Foods with a high energy density can cause people to accidentally eat more calories than they need.” Not surprisingly, fast foods are extremely high in energy density.
The problem is more serious for children that have not “developed any of the learned dietary restraints” that are needed to begin a healthy life.
Along with personal responsibility, better parenting and proper labeling from the industry, fast food consumers can begin the effort to make a healthier, happier country.
With the advent of Subway’s Atkins diet wraps, Burger King’s veggie-burgers and low-carbohydrate burgers at Hardee’s, perhaps the tides are turning and the “fat” nation will become the “less fat” nation.
Just remember, next time you go out to eat grease-filled, overpriced burgers four times a week that you will be happier and healthier if you opt for a better choice.
Charlie Swanson is a freshman business administration major. He can be reached at [email protected].