Fast Food Chains - Research Paper Example

Fast Food Chains Introduction The ongoing debate waged by critics regarding the fact that fast food chains are toblame for the increasing rates of obesity cases has attracted the concerns of the various stakeholders involved in the delivery of quality public health care. Critics argue that fast food chains are to blame for this increase in obesity and diseases associated with this societal risk especially for children and young adults. The percentage of these young people battling obesity has tripled from 5% to 17% while the fraction of adults speculated to be obese is two thirds of the population. The number of fast food chains has also been on the increase since the early 1970s with the number of operational food chain stores having doubled over the years (Schlosser 3). With this, researchers have blamed the increase in the number of fast food chains to blame for the increase in obesity reported cases across the US. However, two sides exist in the debate in which others argue that fast foods also allow people that have lower income rates or the homeless to access affordable food (Bagchi & Preuss 854). As much as critics have suggested that obesity and fast food chains have a direct correlation, it has been difficult to establish empirical evidence supporting or negating this fact hence making the debate to be inconclusive. With this as a basis, this research essay will delve intowhether fast foods are legally or socially responsible to blame for their influence on consumer obesity because they do not disclose the ingredients or calorie levels in the foods that they sell. Further, the essay will assess the ways in which this scenario is likely to affect the economy of the US in terms of profit generation and customer oriented services. Linking obesity and fast food establishments In a definition, obesity refers to having a condition in which a person’s body fat is more than 30% of the ideal body weight in relation to their height. Over the years, children with obesity have received a diagnosis of chronic conditions such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and hypertension among a list of many other preventable diseases. In the past, these lifestyle conditions only afflicted adults but the emerging trend has been that children and young adults alike have developed these conditions over time. The costs of treating obesity related conditions have been soaring over the years and critics have shifted focus to the possible cause of obesity rather than preventing the gain of unnecessary body weight of the young population. For one, critics argue that fast food chains are to blame for the increased rates of obesity because of the many offers that they give to their customers in order to edge out market competition for themselves. For instance, McDonalds and Burger King have in recent times introduced offers on oversized burgers as a way of reciprocating customer loyalty where they dished out large servings of fizzy drinks and French fries at discounted prices. Further, families that have incredible busy work schedules also rely on fast food for ready-cooked meals as they do not have time to prepare home cooked meals for their young ones. Therefore, many families rely on taking out from fast food establishments because of the convenience and the minimal costs attached to acquiring meals from these joints. Subsequently, the consumption of greasy foods on a regular basis without engaging in active physical exercises leads to increase in a person’s BMI hence making them to become obese. In relation to litigation suits, lawyers have sought to establish the link between obesity and fast food joints in the same way that they illustrated that tobacco companies are partly to blame for the increased rates of complications associated with cigarette smoking. The argument that lawyers present is that fast food companies sell greasy foods to unknowing consumers without disclosing the calorie percentage in the foods that they retail. Therefore, fast food companies withhold valuable information from the consumer that can be able to allow them to make informed decisions on whether they should consume foods that are likely to make them obese in the future. On the other hand, critics argue that the food servings offered by fast food chains are relatively higher than the recommended portion as required for most foods. The implication of this to the uninformed consumer is that they spend minimal on food because the quantity that they receive for their money appears to be more than satisfying to them. On the contrary, a majority of obese adults had prior engagements with fast food in their childhood because their mothers were too busy working hence bringing them up with processed foods. Their childhood tastes continue to their adulthood because they would rather have fast foods than also rely on homemade foods for themselves hence influencing their eating choices (Paxon 170). In many of the urban regions in America, buying from fast food establishments is the most affordable alternative to buying fresh produce from the retail markets because the cost implications of these products are quite unattainable. Therefore, supersizing took precedence as the most lucrative practice because people opted for large servings of food with additional calories with this being much friendlier to their pockets (Pearce & Witten 98). Other than French fries, the servings of muffins and those of pasta have exceeded the size recommended by the USDA hence the obesity culture not to go away anytime in the future or in the present. The danger posed by this is that the American population seems to have accepted that being obese is the latest definition of the US culture hence making people to apply minimal effort in ensuring that they maintain healthy weights. The increase in obesity related complications has also influenced the health care insurance to go up because a significant part of the population relies on insurance to access health care services. However, this has been costly to employers as they have had to introduce measures aimed at curbing the rising costs of health care insurance. Other than this, the population has a significant role to play in ensuring that fast food establishments do not coerce them into having more than the recommended body mass index(BMI). Fast food joints are not to blame for the increased obesity rates in America As health care service providers would say, living a healthy life is a personal choice hence intimating that fast food chains are not to blame for America becoming obese in recent years .(Bushman & Baumeiste 53). The argument embedded in this is that being obese is a personal choice because most of the American young population spends most of their time seated playing video games and using computers without engaging in active play. Therefore, the blame should be on the parents that opt to bring up their children using the fast food option rather than finding time in their busy schedules to prepare properly and nutritive foods for them (O’Dea & Eriksen 139). As for the young adults that consume the greasy foods, they are entirely to blame for making the choice to have unhealthy eating options as the fast food chains do not sell their food to them forcefully. The other alternative to reducing the rates of obesity witnessed in America rather than eating healthy is exercise in which the population has become lazy. Critics from other quarters also argue that the high rates of obesity cases witnessed across the American population cannot have fast food chains as the cause as they only serve as catalysts to unhealthy eating habits (Jelalian & Steele 152). As much as there are many unhealthy eating habits and options, a significant number of the opposite of these two also exist making this to have a basis on choice rather than vision. In recent years, the emerging trend has been that fast food establishments have also ventured into offering healthy eating options such as foods low on calories and fresh fruits, but the American population has not bought into. For instance, people accessing fast food chains may not ask for the healthy options on sale because the quantity that tags along with the money that they have to spend. According to the laws of trading, selling of goods, products or services are subject to the demands of the consumers meaning that many businesses strive to achieve customer satisfaction in order for them to achieve their organizational objectives. Therefore, McDonalds and other food chains selling these perceived greasy foods did not decide to take up this line of supply because they saw it fit. Ideally, Americans have shown immense support for fast foods because of their affordability, large servings, and the time required to prepare them hence making these joints to respond only to the demands of their targeted market. The other argument that those supporting that fast food chain should take social and legal responsibility for the increase in obesity is that these establishments do not give the calorie content of the products that they sell but this is not substantive. In essence, most of these chains have posters and pamphlets displayed in their restaurants detailing the nutritional facts, but most consumers do not bother to read them. Therefore, when those mounting cases against fast food restaurants for them misleading consumers into buying greasy foods uses this as a basis then their arguments are baseless making them to be at fault. Like some other beautiful things in life, fast food is addictive, but this does not mean that a person can use this as an excuse for developing unhealthy weight. For instance, some people might have shopped addiction, but this does not mean that the manufacturers of clothing and shoes have to be sued because people cannot stop themselves from buying their items. Using this as a basis for the claim that fast food restaurants can influence the addiction to greasy foods is weak because people can use their self-control to fight of these habits before one becomes obese. The obvious implication of this is that fast food restaurants are not entirely to blame for the increase in obesity rates across America because other factors come into play before a person develops unhealthy weight attributes. On the other hand, the progressive eating out culture has also been a huge contributor to the rise of fast food joints in that many people feel that eating out is relatively cheaper than preparing a homemade dinner for their family. In this debate, the focus should shift from fast food restaurants to the manufacturer’s the products that high calorie content that finds its way to the tables of consumers. The advertising firms are also to blame for the increased uptake of high calorie food products hence enticing customers to continue using them as much as they would rather not buy them. In essence, the advertisement contents and slogans used aim at children because they are highly likely to be influenced to want these products as compared to any other fraction of the population (Buchwald, Cowan &Paris 62). Ironically, advertisements for fruits and other healthy food options are almost non-existent because a significant percentage of the American population prefers fast food as compared to any type of food. As many critics would say, fast food restaurants sit in the same category as elements such as lack of exercises, uninformed food choices, eating disorders, among a list of other factors that can influence the young and productive population to become obese (Stettler & Shelly 17). Therefore, forcing them to take up the entire social and legal responsibility for the cases leveled against them by the lawyer and their obese clients is not justifiable because other factors also come into play before an individual becomes obese. In the end, manufacturers of food products should explore other ways of incorporating healthy food percentages in their products in order for them to exempt themselves from the ongoing excess weight blame game. Further, the responsibility also lied in the consumers as they have the power to decide not consume unhealthy foods or exercise more often in order for them to maintain healthy weights. In so doing, the American population will inch closer to realizing a healthy population, one that will not incur tremendous medical debts because of obesity (Banda, Kristen & Lee 25). The economic impact should the fast food restaurants become legally and socially responsible for contributing to consumer obesity Essentially, the economic impact that would result from fast food restaurants taking up the social and legal responsibility for its influencing of consumer obesity is a twofold scenario. From an economist's perspective, the amount of money that goes into maintaining the health consequences resulting from obesity total to billions of dollars annually, making it to be an expensive venture. According to surveys conducted, the obese population spends more on health care access as compared to the elderly population meaning that they are highly likely to influence the health insurance premiums (Andresen & Bouldin 422). Other than the cost implications attached to this societal risk, it also influences a reduction in the productivity levels for the dependable population (Sassi 101).Therefore, when fast food restaurants take responsibility for their contribution to consumer obesity, they might be helpful in footing the financial implications that come along with being obese. With this stakeholders in the healthcare provision arm of the American population are looking for ways of influencing people to take up healthy eating practices. On the other hand, fast food restaurants provide goods at affordable prices hence explaining the reasons surrounding the popularity that has gained over the years (Watson 16). In the event that fast food joints take up the social and legal blame for consumer obesity, then food prices in America are might go up. After the global recession, the living costs for the average American went high, but the prices for fast foods kept did not go up making life to be bearable for the low-income earners. Many of those involved in the debate are advocating for fast food companies to indicate the ingredients and calorie intake levels per serving on their products to allow consumers to make decisions that are more informed. Essentially, having this information on the menus of restaurants is highly likely to influence customers to substitute their orders for foods that have lesser fat and calorie content, which translate to operational losses. In the past, this information used to be voluntary for restaurants to provide, but the Patient Protection and Affordable Act established in 2010 made this to mandatory practice. The economic implication of this scenario is that it may influence people to eat healthy hence translating to losses. However, most consumers do not pay attention to the ingredient and calorie information displayed by fast food restaurants hence questioning whether this is the right approach to dealing with this increasing risk factor. On the other hand, the claims of personal injury that a plaintiff may present in a court are likely to influence some sort of change to the way that a fast food restaurant chain operates in order to prevent similar litigations in the future. Presently, consumers and health insurance firms bear the costs influenced by obesity through the medical care access and purchase of weight-loss equipments and products (Eckel 536). In the event that plaintiffs prove a link between their health conditions resulting from obesity and their consumption of products from these companies then they are likely to split the costs among themselves. Further, taking up of legal and social issues may also influence fast food chains to impact some change on their products in order to provide healthier options to their consumers. Some of these changes in the industry may include the reduction of saturated fats in French fries, muffins, and chips among a list of many other products. In many cases, tort litigations brought forth by individuals or by mass does so with the aim of attracting the interest of the relevant government authorities in order for them to establish stringent laws that may protect consumer safety (Gostin 505). Using this as the basis, obesity would seize to be a personal health challenge and grow into a political issue. Subsequently, successive litigations against these industry players would influence consumers to re-evaluate food contents before deciding on what they can eat and the ways that these greasy foods can make them obese. Using the Pelman v. McDonald’s 2002 as a reference case, consumers through their lawyers are constantly targeting fast food chains for compensation as a way of influencing them to be accountable for the choices that the American population makes on the food they eat (en159). The implication of this is that fast food companies are likely to experience future litigations arising from claims of their influence towards consumer obesity. In turn, this will attract hefty penalties and litigation costs in an attempt to defend their images and reputation in the eyes of the consumers and the targeted market. Conclusion As per the arguments presented above, a number of factors can influence unhealthy weight gain meaning that eating from fast food restaurants is not the contributor to consumer obesity. Rather than focusing blame on fast food chains, the American population should be exploring other options of staying healthy and minimizing the expenses associated with being obese. However, when fast food chains take social and legal responsibility for the involvement in influencing obesity rates within the American dependable population, then they will be helpful in footing the medical expenses. Of course, this is subject to providing proof in a court of law of the direct contribution that the products sold from their establishments influenced their unhealthy conditions. In addition, taking responsibility for their contribution in making the American population would help other fast food chains that have not attracted lawsuits against them to re-evaluate their food ingredients in order to avoid such problems in the future (Kayne 332). The American population should also not blame fast food restaurants for their unhealthy BMIs because a significant number of them do not engage in active physical exercises aimed at burning calories. In the end, the decision to eat healthy foods lies squarely on people at personal levels because as much as fast foods may market themselves they do not force people to eat from their establishments. Therefore, the American population should also explore other factors as contributors to obesity such as irresponsible eating habits, lack of physical exercises, and poor food options. Subsequently, people making tort litigations against fast food joints are not likely to influence the American population to have healthy weights, but can play significant roles in ensuring that the federal states establish legislations that can protect consumers even more from advertising practices and sale of unhealthy products. Works cited Andresen, Elena, and Bouldin, Erin D. F. Public Health Foundations: Concepts and Practices. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass, 2010. Internet resource. Bagchi, Debasis and Preuss, Harry, G.Obesity: Epidemology, Pathophysiology, and Prevention, Second Edition. 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