Americans Shouldn't Be Threatened with Obesity

Ever since fast-food companies rose to the top, obesity in America has also risen--dramatically. Fast-food is known for being convenient and cheap and has become a part of Americans' everyday diet. Although these restaurants have a positive effect in American' lives, they have a negative effect on America's over all health. Now, "60 percent of all Americans are either overweight or obese." The fast-food industry is the one to blame for America's increase in--children and adult--obesity, because they continue to serve unhealthy food, continue to increase portion sizes, and target vulnerable children in their advertisements.

Food sold at fast-food restaurants are known to be one of the worst type of food that a person can put into their body. "Constant and regular consumption of fast food can lead to an overall unhealthy condition," the main one being obesity. Fast-food companies are aware of the large amounts of calories and fats their food holds and even Trans fat, which shouldn't be consumed at all. These foods are also served with high amounts of cholesterol that can lead to the clogging of the arteries. Since the foods have a lot of sugar, statistics show that "one in every three children...will develop diabetes in their lifetime." Fast-food has been the reason that in recent year the number of Type 2 Diabetes has increased and "accounts for at least 30% of all new childhood cases of diabetes in this country." The health risks associated with eating fast food are not worth it. One meal at these fast food restaurants "contains between 800 and 1,100 calories." Considering that the daily intake for one day is 2,000 to 2,500 calories, a person would only be able to consume two meals a day. If the person was to consume three of these meals, they would be exceeding the amount of calories a person is to consume, which then leads to obesity. Obesity is an obvious effect of eating fast food that is a danger to everyone.

Fast food companies are aware of how harmful their food, but they continue to increase portion sizes. Since "...price competition [has] grown so fierce that..." fast food restaurants use portion increase in order "...to keep profits up..." These corporations aren't thinking about the harm this can do to the consumers, all they are concerned about is their profit. Though fast food restaurants only care about their profit, these restaurants want to keep the consumer thinking that the increase in portion sizes is for their benefit not the company's. The way fast food companies make increasing portion sizes look beneficial to the consumer is by selling "...a significantly larger-size portion...for a very small extra cost." When the consumer sees the small increase in price, they won't mind paying that extra money. Fast food restaurants want the consumer to believe they are getting more food with less money, but since the company doesn't want the consumer to realize that the increase in portion size also increases the chances of becoming obese, so they begin having deceiving nutrition facts.

For example, one company's Web site lists its chicken salad as containing 150 calories; the almonds and noodles that come with it (an additional 190 calories) are listed separately. Add a serving of the 280-calorie dressing, and you've got a healthy lunch alternative that comes in at 620 calories. But...read the small print on the back of the dressing packet and you'll realize it actually contains 2.5 servings. If you pour what you've been served, you're suddenly up around 1,040 calories...And that doesn't take into account that