Fast Food v.s Obesity

   Nowadays, fast food became a way of life. Fast food culture is spreading like a fire around the world, with the wide range of fast food include breakfast sandwiches, fries, burgers, nuggets, condiments like ketchup or mayonnaise rich food, salads with rich cream dressings all link to a higher risk of obesity and it can enhance the chances of obesity by 50%. It is not only quickly, low-cost and convenient, it also tastes very good, creating it harder to resist. However, the question of whether or not “Fast food causes obesity” is still a controversial issue.

Fast Food Cause Obesity?

  Most people prefer fast food restaurants for their convenience but they don’t know that how much they have to pay for this convenience in shape of obesity. 

How Does Fast Food Contribute to Obesity?

• High calorie intake: Even a small amount of fast food can increase your calorie intake considerably.Average fast food meals can contribute 1000 kcal or more.

• Large portion sizes: Nowadays, fast foods are available in large portion sizes, which again encourage you to overeat. With just 15% more money spent on a normal sized fast food, you get a large portion size containing 50% more fat.

• Super-size combination: Combo with free cola drinks are actually "Bad Deals" in term of nutrition providing extra ordinary large serving size to one person.

• Toxic food environment: high levels of sodium, refined sugar, oil, and refined flour as well as high fat and high calories foods.

• Fried preparations contribute to indigestion and acidity: Metabolic malfunction arising from the frequent intake of fast foods can result in uncontrolled overeating tendencies.

• Deficient in fiber: Fibers are essential for proper digestion, and help in preventing constipation and irregular bowel movements.

• Replace healthy eating habits: People who consume fast foods are less likely to eat fruits, vegetables, milk, etc. 

• Extra toppings, soft drinks, etc: While consuming fast foods, we may get tempted to have some extras too.

Fast Food “Does Not” causes Obesity?

  Although fast food gets blamed for causing obesity, the fact is that it is not a “cause” of obesity. Fast food is high in calories and typically comes in large portions, but a person could eat fast food on a regular basis and not become obese. In some cases, people can lose weight while eating fast food if they burn more calories than they consume.

• Consuming more calories from food than the body can burn is what causes weight gain. While environmental factors, such as regularly eating fast food, may increase the risk of obesity, they are not a cause of obesity, but a “risk factors”.

• Fast food and consumes more calories from food then one is able to burn are not cause of obesity. They are risk factors that increase a person’s chance for obesity, but do not “guarantee” obesity.

In my opinion, I agree to the argument that fast food “Does Not” causes obesity. Since what really causes weight gain is consuming more calories from food “than the body can burn”. This means that you could eat fast good on a regular basis and not become obese. However, the fast food industry relies heavily on the human trait of taking the easy and quick option. It is far simpler to pick a tasty dish than to read recipe books, buy the ingredients and spend time cooking. Therefore, it is not fast food that causes obesity, but it is your choice to eat unhealthy food and become overweight.

References 

Clinaero, Inc. (2008). Fast Food and Obesity. Retrieved June 21, 2011, from http://weight-loss.emedtv.com/obesity/fast-food-and-obesity.html

Childhood Obesity. (2011). The Relationship Between Fast Food And Obesity. Retrieved June 21, 2011, from http://www.savebabiescanada.org/the-relationship-between-fast-food-and-obesity.htm