The harmful value of value meals - Essay Example

The Harmful Value of “Value Meals” Introduction People should stop their fast-food-eating habit, for eatingtoo much of it is like exposing themselves to faster death. Along with the rise of the demands of fast food products, is the rapid increase in the number of fast food outlets internationally. For instance, Yum! Brands Inc. (which includes KFC and Pizza Hut), has established 38,000 restaurants globally; and McDonalds has set-up a total of 33,000 chains from all over the continent (Pan, Malik and Hu 163). Hence, it is no surprise why fast food is already served at restaurants, drive-through, schools and universities, bus stations, airports, and even at hospitals. People’s fast food preference may be due to the fact that it is served quicker; thus, allowing them to maximize their time and become more efficient in their daily tasks. Likewise, others opt to buy fast food for their meal because it is delicious and very affordable. However, little did they know that as they consume more and more fast food each day, they are putting themselves in high danger of acquiring various fatal diseases. Obesity Obesity (i.e. a body mass index of greater than or equal to 30) is one of the detrimental effects of too much fast food consumption. According to Brindal et al., fast food contains highly dense and high level of fats and calories per serving high (113). Thus, over-consumption of fast food makes people more susceptible to gaining weight, which usually exceeds the normal status. According to the World Health Organization (“Obesity and Overweight”), since the year 1980, the total number of global-wide obesity has doubled; and just recently, the total number of people who are obese has reached more than 500 million. Obesity makes people’s life more difficult and hassle because people with a very heavy weight cannot move freely, which makes less mobile. As an effect, they may develop other complications like being bow-legged (especially for obese children), sleep disturbances like sleep apnea, asthma, arthritis, and poor surgical and childbirth outcomes (for mothers) Clarke (“Health Risks”). The worst is, WHO (“Obesity and Overweight”) made it clear that obesity is more deadly than being underweight. Aside from the physical danger brought by obesity to people, it may also put them in a state of emotional crisis. Obesity may lead to depression because of the hormonal imbalance that happens inside the body as more fats are consumed (Bessesen, Hill and Wyatt). Aside from that, being obese, unfortunately, increases their chances of being the subject of negative judgment, severe bullying, and social discrimination. Considering the societal norm of beauty and ideal body structure, being obese does not qualify to the established standards. Thus, obese individuals need to handle those emotional and social challenges in which only few may endure. Some may resort to suicide because for them, it is better to end their lives than to continuously experience the trauma of being rejected. Apparently, this is how far fast food eating can throw people. By merely wanting to experience the comfort fast food offers, they need to carry the physical and emotional burden it brings. However, this is just one of the reasons why it is practical to abolish the practice of eating fast food. Type 2 Diabetes Type 2 diabetes is another health problem that may arise as a result of fast food eating. Fast foods such as soft drinks or soda, French fries, shakes, sandwiches, burger, pizza pies, etc. are rich in carbohydrates (Clarke “Why is Fast Food”). Too much carbohydrate intake increases the level of the blood component triglyceride, which results to either, failure of the pancreas to produce enough amount of insulin or body system’s improper insulin use (Clarke “Why is Fast Food”). This scenario exposes individuals to the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, for sugar in their body will build up in the bloodstream instead of being utilized for energy. For instance, in the USA alone, there is a total of 25.8 million children and adults who have type 2 diabetes; and in the year 2007, such kind of disease was discovered to be the cause of the death of approximately 71,382 individuals in the country (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases). Regardless of age, sex and other demographics, people with diabetes have higher death potential than those who do not have the disease because of the complications it bring (NIDDKD). Type 2 diabetes may result to various complications that may disallow individuals from experiencing the positive things life could offer. People with type 2 diabetes are in high risk of having nerve damages or neuropathy (i.e. they may experience various bodily disturbances like weakness, digestive problems, rapid heart rates, hypotension, bladder infection, burning sensation), and other fatal complications like kidney infection, foot amputation, eye complication, and mental complications like dementia or problem in memory and attention (Simon). More than the physical aspect being affected by type 2 diabetes, the emotional aspect is likewise affected, for diabetes also elevates the risk of depression due to hormonal imbalance brought by the abnormal rise of blood-sugar level inside the body (Clarke “Why is Fast Food”). These complications hinder people from doing their daily tasks. It may affect their studies, work, and even their relationships with others. Thus, behind the comfort fast food offers to people is the discomfort that it actually provides after frequently consuming them. This is another reason why people should stop their fast-food eating habit. Cardiovascular Disease Cardiovascular disease is another negative impact of fast food eating. Fast food contains a large amount of saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol, and when tremendous amount of these components enter the body system, they distort normal body processes. Those components are mismanaged by the system, and they eventually clog the arteries, which causes a sudden increase of blood pressure (Odegaard et al. 182). This may lead to fatal heart attacks and congestive heart failures. According to the WHO, in the year 2008, there was a total of 17.3 million individuals who died due to the different cardiovascular diseases like heart attacks and heart failure caused by too much cholesterol, trans fat, and saturated fat in the body brought by fast food products (WHO “Cardiovascular Diseases (CVDs)). There is a high tendency that the number of deaths due to such kind of diseases will increase in the near future because of the widespread of unhealthy fast food restaurants. In fact, unhealthy diet is one of the factors responsible for 80% of cardiovascular disease occurrence, aside from other unhealthy practices like smoking, and physical inactivity (WHO “Cardiovascular Diseases (CVDs)). Cardiovascular diseases may also lead to various complications that make one’s life more difficult to handle. Heart failure, heart attack, stroke, “peripheral artery disease” (i.e. the body’s extremities fail to receive enough amount of blood, thereby causing abnormal pains), and aneurysm (i.e. a complication associated with the sudden bulging of the artery anywhere in the body, which may cause fatal internal bleeding once bulge bursts) (Mayo Clinic Staff). Cardiovascular disease is deemed as a disease that suddenly steals one’s life for some of its complications occurs suddenly just like heart attack, stroke, and sudden cardiac arrest. This type of disease literally exposes one’s life to quicker death. This must serve as a reminder to the people that eating too much fast food is dangerous. With people’s aspiration to acquire time-efficient food products, they are soaking their own lives in the time-efficient death, which robs them of their opportunity to spend the rest of their lives with their loved ones. Cancer Cancer, the leading cause of disease globally, is another harmful impact of too much fast food intake. Fast food contains chemicals that have high potentials of destroying the healthy cells in the human body. These substances may include trans fat, preservatives, food coloring, and saccharin (Haris). Such fast food components increase the likelihood of people from acquiring cancer cells in the different parts of the body like bladder, ovaries, blood vessels, skin, intestines, uterus, and liver (Clarke “Why is Fast Food”). According to the WHO (“Cancer”), 13% of all deaths is caused by cancer. In the year 2008, people who died due to cancer reached the staggering number of 7.6 million around the world; and 30% of such death is caused by the unhealthy eating behaviour like fast food consumption. It is projected by the WHO that the number of death occurrences caused by cancer will continue to increase to an estimated figure of 13.1 million in the year 2030 (WHO “Cancer”). This increase is becoming more possible with the widespread of fast food outlets in the world. The lives of people who have cancers are in high risk of death. Although cancer may allow them to live a little longer, yet having the idea that their lives on earth will soon end may be the cause of trauma, pessimism, and depression (American Cancer Society). Acquiring cancer is very dangerous, for aside from the expensive chemotherapy that kills cancer cells, the direct and more efficient treatment of combating those cancer cells is not yet discovered. This is one of the reasons why cancer victims are more depressed and have a higher sense of learned helplessness. Oftentimes, psychological impacts may distort their social life and positive worldviews. This is another valid reason why it is reasonable for them to abolish fast food from their diet. Preparing healthy and nutritious food may consume more time and is more expensive, but the safety they offer must not be relegated. Conclusion People may think that fast food choice is practical, yet there is no more practical than to put an end to their habit of consuming such kind of food. Fast food may be delicious, and economically good, but such benefits will be overshadowed by the hazards it posed to their very own health. They may experience obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer. These diseases must not be taken lightly because of the complications they bring. Aside from the physical burden they put on an individual’s shoulder, they also put people in a social and emotional dilemma. The worst of all, individuals may find their very own selves six feet below the ground after enjoying the taste of the upsized fast food they purchased. Therefore, if they want to enjoy more the things life can offer, they must stop eating fast food. If they wish to stay longer with their loved ones, they have to abolish fast food from their diet. If they aspire to live longer, they must take note of the life-threatening effects of fast food, for looking at the bigger picture, ‘value meals’ are not valuable in the end, and ‘happy meals’ do not make them happy after all. Works Cited American Cancer Society. “Coping With Cancer in Everyday Life.” American Cancer Society. American Cancer Society, Inc. 18 Jul. 2012. Web. 21 Nov. 2013. Bessesen, Daniel, James Hill, and Holly Wyatt. “Hormones and Obesity.” The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. The Endocrine Society. 1 April 2004. Web. 20 Nov. 2013. Brindal, Emily, Philip Mohr, Carlene Wilson, and Gary Wittert. “Obesity and the Effect at a Fast Food Restaurant.” Obesity Research & Clinical Practice 2.2 (2008): 111-117. Print. Clarke, Nancy. “Health Risks Involved When Eating Fast Food.” Jillian Michaels. Jillian Michaels. n.d. Web. 21 Nov. 2013. ---. “Why is Fast Food Not Good for Health?” Jillian Michaels. Jillian Michaels. n.d. Web. 21 Nov. 2013. Harris, Nadia. “Dangerous Chemicals in Fast Food Other Than MSG.” The Nest. The Nest. n.d. Web. 21 Nov. 2013. Mayo Clinic Staff. “Heart Disease: Complications.” Mayo Clinic. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. 13 Jul. 2013. Web. 20 Nov. 2013. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. “National Diabetes Statistics, 2011. National diabetes Information Clearinghouse (NDIC). U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 9 Sep. 2013. Web. 20 Nov. 2013. Odegaard, Andrew O., Woon Puay Koh, Jian-Min Yuan, Myron D. Gross, and Mark A. Pereira. “Western-Style Fast Food Intake and Cardiometabolic Risk in an Eastern Country.” Journal of American Heart Association 126 (2012): 182-188. Circulation. Web. 21 Nov. 2013. Pan, An, Vasanti S. Malik, and Frank B. Hu. “Exporting Diabetes Mellitus to Asia: The Impact of Western-Style Fast Food.” Journal of American Heart Association 126 (2012): 163-165. Circulation. Web. 21 Nov. 2013. Simon, Harvey. “Type 2 Diabetes.” The New York Times. The New York Times Company, 22 May 2012. Web. 21 Nov. 2013. World Health Organization. “Cancer.” Media Centre. World Health Organization International. Jan. 2013. Web. 20 Nov. 2013. ---. “Cardiovascular Diseases (CVDs).” Media Centre. World Health Organization International. Mar. 2013. Web. 20 Nov. 2013. ---. “Obesity and Overweight.” Media Centre. World Health Organization International. Mar. 2013. Web. 20 Nov. 2013. Read More