Fast Foods Argumentative Essay Samples

Is Fast Food the New Tobacco?

There is a growing debate that obesity, diabetes, and increased cases of heart diseases among the Americans is directly attributed to the widespread availability of fast food restaurants. For this reason, policymakers in different regions of America have implemented efforts aimed at restricting the content of fast foods. To do this, fast food restaurants are required to post the caloric content of their meals in order to encourage customers to consume healthier foods. Scientific findings have also shown that consumption of fast foods is associated with some addiction tendencies. Such addiction tendencies have led to endless debates comparing addiction of fast foods to the tobacco addition. Some eating habits and behaviors are very addictive to an extent that individuals find it difficult to do away with such eating habits. This paper investigates the health consequences associated with the consumption of fast foods and relates the addiction of fast foods to addiction to tobacco. To achieve this objective, the influence of fast foods, and its relations to obesity, heart disease, and diabetes.

Beverage companies and fast food outlets have played a significant role in contributing to the increased weight gain among most Americans. The contemporary generation is fed with information from different fast food companies in efforts aimed at encouraging consuming such foods. From increased advertisement to endless food trucks serving food products, the consumer has been forced to engage in addictive food consumption behaviors. In the writing of “They Say, I Say,” Zinczenko (389) places the blame on the fast food industry for the increased obesity cases in the United States. The media plays a powerful role in engraining certain images into the minds of people, especially when it comes to food. You may not be in a mood to consume anything that is high in calories. Billboards and streets are full of tempting pictures and captions that inevitably attracts you to buy a burger and fries. Zinczenko (392) states that the lack of calorie information on food packages does not help the consumer decide if what they are consuming is healthy or unhealthy. Unlike grocery items where you are able to see the calorie information chart, fast food companies do not bother to put such crucial information. Food chains and restaurants seem to convince consumers that all foods are good provided consumers are able to balance between the consumption of junk food and whole foods. Most foods produced across the United States have become biologically addictive. While people can be told to stay away from drugs, there is no way individuals can be convinced to stay away from food. Food items like soda, cookies, and ice cream are some of the most popular foods that have become addictive to most consumers. Tobacco smokers continue to consumer tobacco even after knowing the dangerous aspects associated with the consumption of tobacco. Biological addiction can be the major issue to blame in such scenarios.

Obesity

Foods such as Wendy’s Bacon Deluxe Double, Medium fries, McDonald’s Big Mac, Taco Bell Nachos Bell Grande, Onion rings, and Burger King Whopper have large calorie and fat contents. Consumption of high calorie foods can be attributed to the increased cases of obesity across the United States. While fast foods are easy to access and cheap, people tend to undermine the consequences associated with fast foods. The extra fat consumed from fast foods is retained in their systems thereby contributing to obesity. In a different argument, Will Haygood speaks from a point of personal testimonies from the town of Kentucky of how obesity has become a problem. He notes that “part of the problem is the food that is set down in front of the child”(411). In an unveiling of findings by First Lady Michelle Obama some of the highlights that were mentioned is that the places to buy nutritious food are not enough and the percentage of children adding weight is on the rise. Many areas that lack space for playing and taking walks (Haygood, 407). In a testimony given by Scott Robinson connects obesity with emotional turmoil. Robinson split up with this wife and their daughter resulted to eating to ease the pain. She also spends time on her computer or in her room to escape. Doctors advise Robinson that his daughter should lose weight or risk becoming diabetic (Haygood, 408). Obesity can also be influenced by ethnic/racial factors. Different cultures have different eating habits and behaviors. Such tendencies largely influence their food consumption patterns. Gone are the days where people used to give much attention to eating healthy foods. The contemporary food industry largely encourages individuals to consume fast foods given the numerous forms of advertisements found in virtually every place. In most cultures, individuals lack the ability to make informed choices when it comes it eating healthier foods or when it comes to making the right food choices. Over-eating, lack of self-control, and inability to reduce the in-take of food rich in sugars seems to be the norm among most cultures. Processed foods that are readily available and easy to access is among the main reasons why addiction to fast foods is on the increase.

Diabetes

Research findings show that the number of fast food outlets in most American neighborhoods has grown at an alarming rate over the last few years (Fleischhacker e462). Research findings from the University of Minnesota have shown that individuals who consume fast foods more than three times a week are likely to develop Type 2 diabetes. Most fast foods are associated excessive sugars leading weight gain. Similarly, consumption of fats from fast foods is directly associated to increased weight gain. Diabetes is commonly associated with increased weight gains. One of the main risk factors associated with Type 2 diabetes is excessive weight. Excessive weight makes body tissues to develop resistance to insulin thereby inhibiting the body from making efficient utilization of insulin. Inability to utilize insulin causes increased production of insulin and eventually, the pancreas wears out. Increased sugar levels are retained in the blood stream. Alternatively, junk food is associated with high calorie levels and tend to be deficient in minerals and vitamins are often low in fiber.

Heart Disease

Studies on populations have identified an increased link between death related cases and fast-food consumption. However, scientists have been unable to provide an unequivocal relationship between fast foods and heart disease. Eating junk foods has been found to cause coronary heart disease. Eating foods rich in cholesterol, calories, sugar, and saturated fat is likely to alter metabolic factors associated with heart disease. Increased waist circumference, increased BMI, and declined levels of high-density lipoprotein. Fast foods supply the body with an imbalanced volume of macronutrients because increased consumption of fast foods causes obesity. As individuals gain increased body weight, their risks of getting heart disease increases. High levels of fat consumption in the human body causes increased levels of cholesterol accumulation. Cholesterol has been known to be a leading factor in strokes and cardiovascular diseases.

Conclusion

The paper has found out that information technology and its advent continues to serve as both a merit and a demerit. Just as Zinczenko argues in his article “They Say, I Say,” Zinczenko (389), I also agree that the fast food industry contributes immensely in the escalation of obesity cases. Sadly, not all people can stop their eating habits abruptly because of lack of self-control. This is common in most foods rich in sugar. Such eating habits continue to be eaten even in situations where such individuals do not have any desires or tendencies to eat. While nutritional experts and doctors recommend that individuals should embrace routine exercises and minimize the consumption of excessive foods, sticking to such advices becomes very difficult for most individuals (Jaworowska 315). Showing resistance to sugary foods or foods with excess fat levels is likely to bring about long-lasting chains to the brain. Such changes in the brain are comparable to what happens when individuals are addicted to high nicotine or foods rich in high levels of caffeine. The resultant effects of such bingeing methods is food addition. The human body then becomes reliant to ingredients or food particles obtained from the consumption of junk food. The government should be involved in the obesity crisis thought the government may have good intentions; they end up doing more damage than good (Weiss, Hayne, and Smith). Comparing to the governments stand during prohibition, people are capable of making their decisions and are fully aware of the consequences. There is a need for authorities in different countries to investigate the causal issues to the issue of fast foods.

Work Cited

Fleischhacker, S. E., et al. "A Systematic Review Of Fast Food Access Studies." Obesity Reviews 12.(2011): e460-e471
Haygood, Wil. Kentucky Town of Manchester Illustrates National Obesity Crisis.
Jaworowska, Agnieszka, et al. "Nutritional Challenges and Health Implications of Takeaway And Fast Food." Nutrition Reviews 71.5 (2013): 310-318
Linn, E.S. “Food Marketing to Children in the Context of a Marketing Maelstrom.” Palgrave Journal of Public Health (2009). 25, 367-378. doi:10.1057/palgrave.jphp.3190036
Weiss, R. I. Hayne, C. L., and Smith, A. J. “Legislative Approaches to the Obesity Epidemic.” Palgrave Journal of Public Health. (2009). 25, 379-390. doi:10.1057/palgrave.jphp.3190037
Zinczenko, David. Don’t Blame the Eater.