It is clear American culture has a growing problem in its
citizens’ waistlines. According to the CDC, 37% of adults are obese. The use of
fast food advertising drives this issue by promoting laziness and eating
unhealthily. What is the problem that needs addressed or ultimately fixed? To become more proactive of the
situation, our duty as Americans must start by addressing the massive truth that
lies before us: obesity in the United States.
In the United States, obesity has tripled for children and adolescents
since 1980. The truth is revealed all around us blatantly; obesity is consuming
almost half of our US population and is growing more and more each year. The
implementation of these fast food advertisements to families at home from the
internet, television and any other technological devices plays a role in this
problem. The increased opening of fast food conglomerates around the nation has
caused the self-destruction that we, as individuals are succumbing to in our
everyday lives is another contributor. McDonald’s is a prime example of
corporate takeover. McDonald’s serves millions upon millions of people everyday
around the world and has more than their fair share of restaurants in the United
States with almost 13,000 (nationmaster.com). Also according to their website,
almost ¾ of McDonald’s menu consists of food that contains over 600 calories
(even the salads!) which is in my opinion a shocking statistic seeing that
millions of Americans eat this every day. Regardless, US citizens cannot just
blame McDonalds for its health issues when it is clearly our own fault for
eating and maintaining this diet on a daily basis. Americans are contributing to
the opening of new fast food restaurants due to the increased consumption that
fast food companies have manipulated Americans
into.
McDonalds’ is one of many examples of food production that is seen in a
negative light but should be. McDonalds has people convinced to skip their
original home cooked plans and get a fast, effective meal for the right cost.
The use of the happy meal is heavily seen in commercials telling kids to get a
free toy that is cheaply manufactured in China to draw in kids to enjoy a
delicious overdose of fat, carbs and sugar. This is a key example because
parents can keep their kids happy (with toys) and feed them too! Marketing and
advertising schemes play major roles in adding to the obesity factor the United
States.
Also, with these commercials and cheap prices, Americans have
become lazy and dependent upon these faster options. With health activists
arguing about the injustice of the “Fast Food Nation”, restaurants such as
McDonalds to show the calorie content on the menu options before they are bought
by the costumer. While this helps the customer on being more knowledgeable, it
still does not hide the fact that fast food is unhealthy altogether and that
processed and deep fried food can attribute to a large weight problem that has
increased vastly for decades.
Another reason why obesity is such a large issue in the United
States is the hole it has put in our pockets. With obesity, is the increased
chance of health problems which only causes an increase in medical bills for the
US citizen. With this financial burden, US citizens have to downgrade to a lower
lifestyle of living. According to the CDC, 1 in 7 obese children live in low
class poverty.
The fact that lower class citizens cannot afford produce and use their
food stamps on fast food for themselves and their children is the growing
epidemic. In simpler terms, if lower class individuals cannot access healthier
food sources then the obesity rate will
increase.
The facts are in front of us but there is the way of stopping
obesity and this is by stopping our “drive thru” lifestyle in an honest effort
to change our eating habits for the better. What are ways to develop better
eating habits? Eat your daily calorie intake, eat healthier and lastly, exercise
at least once a week to prevent obesity. Obesity has become a clear problem in
US economy but it can be solved. With the increase of fast food advertising, the
United States and its citizens must look at the bigger picture. Is this really
how Americans want to live their lives? Well, we control our decisions and
ultimately, we control our outcomes for generations.