Creating a Fast Food Epidemic - Essay Example

? Creating a Fast Food Epidemic Introduction Food habits essentially refer to the behavioural pattern that an individual demonstrates while choosing and consuming his/her desired kind of foods. The health status of an individual can be regarded to be significantly dependent upon the nature of the food that he/she consumes. During the recent times, a greater emphasis is likely to be given on the food habits as it has been noticed in several researches that the changing lifestyles and food habits have resulted in several diseases among the people (Barzegari, Ebrahimi, Azizi, & Ranjbar, 2011). The college students are likely to form the greater section of people who display traits of practicing a poor eating habit. The major reason behind such food habits amongst the college students might be attributed to the environment of the college which seems to have a significant effect on the students. It is worth mentioning that there are certain factors in the college environment that are closely linked to the cultivation of poor food habits (Payne, 2008). Thesis Statement The objective of the paper is to design an intervention in order to reduce the consumption of fast food amongst the students of the Oakland University. Certain theories regarding the behavioural patterns related to consumption among the individuals will also be mentioned in this paper. This paper will even include the various techniques to implement the designed intervention with the intention to reduce fast food consumption among students. Literature Review According to Fortin and Yazbeck (2009), during the recent years, obesity has become a matter of concern for the policy makers of health in the United States (US). Furthermore, this has increased the threat of other diseases to occur among the individuals. Researchers state that the major reason behind such kind of a situation in the US could be owing to the increased rate of fast food consumption. It can be further mentioned that the eating habits of the individuals are found to be extensively dependent upon their social background. The individuals those who are in their adolescent stage are supposed to get more motivated by one another in terms of food habits which also include the consumption of fast food (Fortin & Yazbeck, 2009). According to Jeffery and French (1998), a significant amount of fast food consumption takes place among the individuals while they are watching television. Furthermore, it has been mentioned that the amplified easy accessibility of fast food and an increase of viewership for watching television entertainment have likely resulted in the increased rate of fast food consumption and eventually augmented the chances of obesity among the individuals (Jeffery & French, 1998). According to Brunner (2006), poor eating habits are probable to result in an undesirable bodyweight. It is worth mentioning that certain researches have revealed the fact that almost 17% of the total adolescent individuals are overweighted. This kind of over weightiness among the adolescent individuals can continue to exist in their adult age as well. This problem of over weightiness is observed to be triggered from the food habits that are generally learnt during the childhood and in most of the cases it can be noticed that the individuals seem to practise those food habits in their adult age as well. Moreover, an over weightiness in the childhood or adolescent age might result in an early death among the individuals. Therefore, it can be perceived to be quite imperative to educate individuals regarding good food habits. This would facilitate them to make right choices in terms of food which would further help them to meet their nutritional requirements in a better way (Brunner, 2006). Method Section Social Cognitive Theory Social Cognitive Theory suggests that the behavioural patterns of the individuals are significantly influenced by the external forces such as society, friends and family (Communication for Governance & According Program, n.d.). This theory of behavioural change can be directly related to the food habits of the students as they are likely to get motivated by their colleagues or peers in terms of food habits. Therefore, it can be suggested that certain campaigns should be conducted to educate people about the aftermaths of consuming fast food. The individuals should be provided with information about the nutritional requirements of human beings. This would facilitate the individuals to make appropriate choices of food which would result in lesser consumption of fast foods as well. In this context, it is worth mentioning that if few individuals could be educated and motivated to avoid fast foods then it might even aid to influence their colleagues as well to trim down the consumption of fast food (Communication for Governance & According Program, n.d.) Theory of Planned Behaviour Theory of Planned Behaviour states that the behavioural prototype of the individuals is supposed to be reliant upon their intention of performing such activity or behaviour. This theory holds a sociological approach and affirms that behaviours of individuals depend upon what their colleagues think they should do. The theory also mentions that the behavioural patterns with regard to the individuals are notably dependent on the nature of the environment in which they act (Communication for Governance & According Program, n.d.). Hence, in this context, it can be affirmed that a reduction in the availability of fast food may reduce the consumption of fast food among the individuals. Implementation In order to reduce the consumption of fast food among the students, the colleges and the universities need to conduct various educative sessions inside the campus for the reason of educating the students about the hazards of consuming fast foods. The colleges may also conduct certain sessions that would demonstrate the nutritional necessities of a human-being and would also educate him/her regarding the right sources for acquiring those. These strategies might prove beneficial for motivating the students to avoid fast foods (Rouhani, Mirsefinezbad, Omrani, Esmaillzadeh, & Azadbakht, 2012). The other strategy which can be adopted by the universities such as Oakland University in this context is to minimise the availability of fast food in the campus. This can be done by excluding or removing the fast food items from the menu of the college canteen. The administrative officials of the colleges and the universities should also instruct the college canteens to include healthy food items which would provide an adequate amount of nutrition to the students. The application of this strategy is likely to make it quite difficult for the students to access fast foods and may consequently result in bringing down the rate of fast food consumption among them. Apart from these strategies, the universities and the colleges may even adopt certain other strategies which can be regarded as quite aggressive in this context. The institutions could take certain punitive measures against the students who are significantly involved with the consumption of fast foods. The Oakland University may impose a fine on those students who would be noticed to consume fast foods inside the college campus (Kelly-Gagnon, 2011). As a result of this strategy, the students would probably avoid fast foods in order to evade fines. The strength of the intervention through educative sessions in the university might assist in educating larger groups of students at a time. Furthermore, limited availability of fast food within the university campus may perhaps compel the students to avoid fast foods and choose healthy foods available in the university campus. In addition, the strategy of imposing fine on the students holds certain strengths as it would also prevent them from consuming fast foods as the students are not likely to be willing to face penalties. Apart from these strategies, few other processes which can be utilised to reduce the consumption of fast food among the students can be categorised as below: 1. Stimulus Control This may include the removal of those objects from the campus which might remind the students about fast food (Norman, Abraham, & Conner, 2000). 2. Counter Condition The university may offer the student various kinds of substitute of fast food such as healthy snacks among others (Norman, Abraham, & Conner, 2000). 3. Reinforcement Management Reinforce management process fundamentally includes rewarding procedures. The university might opt to reward the students for not taking fast foods (Norman, Abraham, & Conner, 2000). Limitations In case of the educative strategy which has been mentioned in this paper, the major complexity which might arise could be in terms of understanding. The students may not understand the explained facts clearly and many a times it could result in the inattentiveness of the students in relation to the sessions. These factors would result in limiting the extent of success of the strategy. In terms of reducing the availability of fast food in the campus, the major difficulty which could arise has been measured to be the uncertainty of this strategy. It would not be possible to keep a check on the consumption of fast foods by the students outside the university campus. The punitive measures taken against the students for consuming fast food might lead to the acceleration of mental stress amongst the students causing a chaotic situation within the campus. The efficacy of the interventions can be measured from the facts that whether it is apparent that through the proposed strategies, chance of ill health among the individuals have reduced by a certain extent or not. As a result of the reduced ill health, a comparatively elevated number of students may be noticed to attend the classes. Regular health check-up can also aid to provide the updated health scenario of the students after the execution of the interventions. Conclusion The individuals in the adolescent age i.e. the college students tend to consume a higher amount of fast foods in comparison to the general individuals. This kind of a food habit may result in over weightiness among the individuals causing early deaths. It has been noticed that the environment that prevails inside the college campuses pose a significant degree of influence on the students and motivates them to consume fast foods. The reason behind this can be the sociological impact upon the students. Consequently, in order to reduce the consumption of fast food among the students, the universities such as Oakland University needs to take certain corrective measures including educative sessions as well as other punitive measures. References Barzegari, A., Ebrahimi, M., Azizi, M., & Ranjbar, K. (2011). A study of nutrition knowledge, attitudes and food habits of college students. World Applied Sciences Journal 15(7), pp. 1012-1017. Brunner, M. J. (2006). A comparison of food habits of middle school students. Retrieved from http://www2.uwstout.edu/content/lib/thesis/2006/2006brunnerm.pdf Communication for Governance & According Program (n.d.). Theories of behaviour change. Retrieved from http://siteresources.worldbank.org/EXTGOVACC/Resources/BehaviorChangeweb.pdf Fortin, B., & Yazbeck, M. (2009). Peer effects, fast food consumption and obesity. Retrieved from http://www.ub.edu/sea2009.com/Papers/128.pdf Jeffery, R. W., & French, S. A. (1998). Epidemic obesity in the United States: Are fast foods and television viewing contributing? American Journal of Public Health 8(2), pp. 277-280. Kelly-Gagnon, M. (2011). Will a junk food tax work in Canada? Retrieved from http://www.iedm.org/fr/36225-will-a-junk-food-tax-work-in-canada- Norman, P., Abraham, C., & Conner, M. (2000). Understanding and changing health behaviour: from health beliefs to self-regulation. London: Psychology Press. Payne, K. F. (2008). A comparative study of dietary habits among college students at risk and not-at-risk for eating disorders and how such habits compare to the dietary guidelines. Retrieved from http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-05112008-222537/unrestricted/KatePayneThesisMay30.pdf Rouhani, M. H., Mirsefinezbad, M., Omrani, N., Esmaillzadeh, A., & Azadbakht, L. (2012). Fast food consumption, quality of diet, and obesity among Isfahanian adolescent girls. Retrieved from http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jobes/2012/597924/ Read More