Fast Food and Improper Diet - Essay Example

Introduction: The modern industrial era has brought about many things with itself which were not part of the routine life in past. These items range from commercial applications to domestic to the food items. Fast foods are one of the gifts of modern times. They are characterized as such food which is quickly prepared, and quickly absorbed and digested. They have certain characteristics and producing recipe which make them different from the conventional form of foods. Fast foods have taken place of an industry in form of fast food restaurants, these restaurants are not just limited to any particular region or country and town, rather all over the world fast food is quite common and strongly followed and like all over the world. However being the most ubiquitous form of food that is available in every nook and corner, it has resulted in plenty of criticism from the experts over ages and has been tested for many cases of improper diet. Fast food popularity amongst teens in USA: American teen agers are perhaps the most frequent ones and most fond of fast food. For this reason this generation is called the fast food generation (Schlosser). They are fonder of this food than the conventional form, be it their schools, their evening outings, all around they would prefer fast foods. Obesity is a serious concern amongst the teens of U.S.A, and the main reason that is being attributed to the obesity through the studies is that of fast food. Fast food facts and statistics: The modern generation and modern times are termed as fast food generation and fast food era respectively. Since every individual is enrolled and associated with the consumption of fast food in one way or the other, therefore they have become an integral part of modern day civilizations. They have a direct negative impact on the pregnant women as well. A multi billion industry that cannot be packed up by any means, and statistics showing the business being expanded by very high proportion around the world. In the United States, one out of three adults is a regular eater of fast food and as a result are not able to stop their children from eating the junk food. Other survey conducted in this regard resulted in showing that some of them ate the food in company of their children; as a result the children are in direct line of attack as well whenever their parents visit the fast food chains. Study conducted over number of school students and their usage of fast food showed considerable percentage of increase in obesity due to the amount of fast food intake, and the amount of weight gained is staggeringly alarming(Currie, Moretti, et.al). While fast foods may not be all unhealthy food items, the problem associated is that of extremely high energy food intake in form of fast food and further on, there is little utilization of the energy intake. For this reason, a balance between the intake and metabolism of food is required, otherwise it becomes a direct source of obesity. According to a student, even the imbalance of 2 percent in the intake and the required metabolism can result in chances of obesity. Media influence and its contribution to obesity: For the purpose of promotion of fast food, different measures and methods have been adopted. The best and most prominent ones are those of media usage. Media is the best source they could use for this purpose, and so far it’s paying maximum amount of dividends. The reason for high success over media is the fact that large segments of society, ranging from children to adults to middle age to older people, all are associated with the media viewership and this industry ensures its sufficient presence around whenever there is an opportunity. Every major event on the television comes along with fast food industry promotion. The fast food products and their subsequent owners have targeted major events both of sports and other regional and international events for promotion of fast food. While media ensures targeting all sections of society and all age members, the children are in front line of attack. As a result the present generation is termed as an obese generation. Since children get attracted to such offers most frequently, the promotional campaigns are designed in such a way to maximize the capturing of children (Kirsh, 133). Some of the fast food chains have established children corners in their outlets, while others have special promotional packages in form of kids meals and toys along with which leaves no margin of any child skipping out on their favorite meals. The large variety of items being provided is another aspect of it. Medical research and government support: the heavy amount of investment in the incumbent field, and the subsequent attraction of customers towards this field make it more attractive for the government to support this industry. Medical research conducted in this regard reveals that apart from obesity, certain other serious problems may result due to the eating of fast food. This can be in form of heart problems, blood pressure, low stamina, diabetics and various other problems(Grier, Mensinger et.al ). On other side, government and the health department has gradually realized the impact of fast food and there by reverted their policy of full support to the fast food industry, instead they have sought more consideration from the fast food agencies with regard to the absorption of fast foods, their promotion and overall field of fast food industry. Obesity awareness and prevention methods: Without any doubt, the fast foods are direct source of obesity. Many researches and studies have shown that. They are rich in fats, and other cholesterol ingredients as a result direct threat to the health. Their impact is not just limited to the old age people who might not be in position to use such content of food, rather the children as well. It can lead to laziness, weakness in longer run, low development of body bones and many other factors. Awareness can be created in form of informing the fast food eaters about the negative impacts of these foods. Many a time, the customers use and eat the products without knowing the negative impact of them. Media can be used to positive effect in this regard, overall awareness may be generated in the masses to avoid obesity. Prevention methods can be introduced by introducing punitive measures. The Food department should introduce policies that are driven towards safe foods, and reduction of pure fat and cholesterol in the fast food. Fast foods are not all bad, even they provide energy, yet the ratio of fats and other insoluble items used over weigh the good content of the fast food. Parents have a lead role to play in this regard, they at home can provide the awareness, can help the children from visiting the fast food chains more regularly, their visits may be divided on the monthly basis and daily or weekly eat outs should be discouraged. Fast food industry’s response: Considering the criticism and overall movement driven towards discouraging the usage of fast food, the fast food industry has from time to time aimed at coming up with policies and items that are less prone to the health consideration. They have tried improving their image in between and aimed at promoting items and food material that is not complete junk in nature. A move in this regard was that of providing the details of all the constituent recipe and calories and fats being used in the items, as a result they would have fulfilled their moral obligation and provided awareness and true picture to the children and those who might not be aware of the fats and other products that are not too safe for health. ➢ Conclusion: Fast foods are here to stay, despite their negative impacts, the business of fast food and its related industry is blossoming at a more fast pace every growing day, they cannot be eliminated completely, what can be done best in such situation is reduce their intake, introduce relatively strict laws and consideration which enable practices of more healthy food habits. The content of food must be thoroughly checked, and just for the sake of making an item more spicy, and crispy, it must not be compromised on quality and healthy ingredients. while children themselves might not be aware of the direct negative impacts of the fast food, the onus falls upon the parents directly in ensuring that their children reduce the consumption of such foods and not only start eating proper food, but also find activities for materializing the food taken in. media’s role should be defined, the dos and don’ts should be highlighted, and direct promotional campaigns that results in children being driven every day to fast food outlets should be taken in to account. Government as well as the civil society and parents in particular have role to play in protecting the future generation from falling to the decay of food in form of fast food. Works cited: Currie, Janet, Enrico Moretti and Vikram Pathania. "The Effect of Fast Food Restaurants on Obesity." 2009. Grier, Sonya A., et al. "Fast-Food Marketing and Children’s Fast-Food Consumption: Exploring Parents’ Influences in an Ethnically Diverse Sample." 2007. Kirsh, Steven J. Media and Youth: A Developmental Perspective. John Wiley & Sons, 2010. Schlosser, Eric. Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal, Volume 1000. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt,, 2001. Read More