Fast Foods Impact

Fast food is an extraordinary blessing to society. Fast food restaurants originally were places for travelers to stop on their way to their destination. The first fast food restaurant, White Castle, opened in 1921. White castle, serving greasy burgers and fries, became a major attraction in the early 1900s. As more fast food chains opened, society became infatuated with the idea of someone else preparing their meals. Once people began to gain weight, these restaurants were blamed. Society is currently debating whether fast food restaurants are the reason for this rapid weight gain or if it is simply lack of exercise.

Fast food contributes to the rapid weight gain in today's society. Fast food products consist of saturated fat and Trans fats which contribute to high cholesterol levels, which increase risks of artery blockage (Hagen). Fast food is very easy for society to adopt because it allows families to purchase a full meal within minutes and can be consumed along the way. As society becomes more occupied, fast food becomes a necessity rather than a desire. Although technology does play a major impact in the lack of exercise, the food that society is consuming still harms the body whether one exercises or not. Fast food restaurants have double the amount of food portions within the last few years, and society is convinced that the whole meal should be eaten, therefore they eat it no matter the size (White).Humans continue to consume this unhealthy food creating more heart attacks, strokes, and weight gain.

Others argue that the fast food industries are not the primary cause of weight gain. In earlier generations, many families ate hamburgers and cheeseburgers from Sissy's Café, Ferrell Bros., and the Wagon wheel. Although families did not dine out on a regular basis, majority of food was cooked in lard, which is very fattening (Austin). Children and their parents were consuming unhealthy foods, but they continued to stay fit because they exercised. Today's society is filled with advanced technology. The video games, internet, television, etc. restrict children from playing outside and adults from exercising. It is argued that society is also moving rapidly, so when in a rush, it is easy to pick up fast food. Some people are convinced that this food is not the cause of weight gain; it's the lack of exercise due to new advances in technology.

Fast food is a major reason for the weight gain in today's society. Fast foods are prepared with unhealthy ingredients and made to be prepared within minutes. The main goal of fast food is quantity not quality.