(no subject)
here it is...12 weeks of work...or something like that. it sucks tho. i need about 2000 revisions.
Lacy Walden
Mr. Coppedge, 4th block
November 27, 2005
Expository Paper
Fast food and its Negative Effects on the Body
Fast food has become Americas cheap and quick solution to a problem considered deadly in other countries, hunger. But is this cheap solution deadly itself? What does it do to the children raised in this fast food society? Americans are getting fatter and fatter each year, and the age at which children get obesity related disease is dropping. Accordingly, fast food consumption has gone up greatly in the past 30 years. What is causing this? Advertisements directed at kids pulls them into a fast food is healthy mindset, and creates problems for them as they grow to love it and grow as they eat it. Obestiy, a large problem in itself, contributes to a variety of diseases, a few being diabetes and an increased risk for cancers and strokes. Americans need to learn that this can be helped, with a little effort.
Fast food companies are advertising genuis’. They know who their target audience is, children, and they know what their target audience wants: toys and sugar. Every year, McDonalds distributes more toys than Toys R Us, and only seven items on the menu are sugar free (“Super-size Me”). The companies also know that kids watch television, and that they see the advertisements put on there. A study in the European Nations found that 95% of the ads on television were selling foods high in fat, salt and sugar. The companies with the highest numbers of ads were fast food companies, with McDonalds in the lead (Schlosser, 243). Sweden realized the fact that most advertising aimed at children was unhealthy, and in 1991 banned television ads directed at children under 12. In 2001, McDonalds spent over 1.4 billion worldwide; while the 5-a-day fruits and vegetables campaign sponsored by the United States government spent a mere 2 million in comparison (“Super-size Me”). This helped McDonalds embed their image in to the minds of the American children.
In a survey of five first graders on Morgan Spurlock’s documentary, “Super-size Me”, showed how much influence the advertising had on children. They were showed pictures of various well known people, such as Jesus, George W. Bush, George Washington, Wendy of the fast food chain Wendy’s, and Ronald McDonald. One of them knew George Washington was the first president of our country. The rest had no clue. One thought Jesus was George W. Bush. Four knew Wendy was a girl on a sign. But all immediately knew Ronald McDonald was from McDonalds. One boy even said that Ronald was his friend, and he knew what was good for him. In Australia, the number of fast food restaurants has tripled since 1990, and a survey found that half of the 9 and 10 year olds surveyed thought that Ronald “knew what kids should eat”. In China, all the kids in a primary school recognized an image of Ronald. They like Uncle McDonald, and claim he is funny, gentle, kind, and understands kid’s hearts. The most popular soft drink in China is Coca-Cola, which McDonalds sells (Schlosser, 231). Fast food companies are just trying to do their job though, right? If they were selling apples and oranges with this much zeal, everything would be fine. But because the nutrition value of so many items sold is so negative, it’s a problem.
An internal company memorandum at McDonald’s headquarters reads “We can’t really address of defend nutrition. We don’t sell nutrition and people don’t come to McDonalds for nutrition,” (Kovel). In response to the heightened health awareness through out the nation, McDonalds recently added new things to its menus, including a variety of salads. The Crispy California Cobb salad with just the chicken and lettuce is 380 calories and 23 grams of fat. Add the croutons and dressing, the total jumps to 720 calories and 54.5 grams of fat. In comparison, a Quarter-Pounder with cheese and medium fries has 880 calories, but only 50 grams of fat (Crane). Often, it’s cheaper to get more calories. It costs eight cents more to buy a Quarter-Pounder, small fry, and small Coke than to buy the Quarter-Pounder large extra value meal, with a large fry and Coke. The latter has 490 more calories, but costs 8 cents less (Wootan). Forty-five out of 100 nutritionist across the country said people should never eat fast food. Stephanie Billings, of Health Zone Weight Management agrees, adding that there’s no reason to with so many alternatives. Yet one in four Americans eats fast food every day (“Super-size Me”).
The one in four Americans eating fast food everyday are putting themselves at risk of a wide variety of problems, the biggest and most obvious being obesity, but also including early diabetes, various cancers, cholesterol and blood pressure problems, and increased chances of heart disease and heart attacks. And it’s not just Americans, or only adults. Both kids and adults are affected world wide, even in traditionally healthy Asian countries.
Human bodies are finely tuned thorough millions of years of evolution to store fat for the times when food is scarce. But in today’s world, a body that’s more efficient at gaining weight than loosing it costs over $240 billion in health care costs each year (Schlosser, 242-3). Obesity is second only to smoking in the amount of deaths each year, with 4 million Americans dying each year. 100 million Americans are over weight, and over 60% get no form of exercise (“Super-size Me”). Body weight has increased steadily since the late ‘60s, coinciding with the expansion of fast food. In just 1991, there were four states with an obesity rate of 15% or more. Now there are 37 states (Kovel). Severely overweight people are four times more likely to die young than people of a normal weight, and are at a much higher risk for cancer of the colon, stomach and breast, heart disease, and diabetes (Schlosser). People are trying to fix their problems, but since they’re going for the cheap solution, just like they do by eating fast food, it doest work. Americans spend 30 billion a year on weight loss schemes, such as “miracle” diets and pills, but they spend only half of that on exercising (“Super-size Me”).
The man who brought McDonalds to Japan, Den Fujita, was quoted as saying, “If we eat McDonald’s hamburgers and potatoes for 1000 years, we will become taller, our skin will become white, and our hair will be blonde.” In the 1980s, the sale of fast food and the rate of obesity in Japan both doubled. One-third of the Japanese men raised during then are overweight (Schlosser, 242). What the Japanese will soon realize is that by eating fast food, their hair isn’t getting any blonder, and they’re not getting any taller. They are growing, but instead of up, it’s out. The fast food epidemic has affected not only the children in the United States, but in other countries also. Chinese, Japanese and British children have all been growing with the rise of fast food. Since fast food entered their countries, the amount of overweight Asian teens has tripled, and from 1984-1993, the rate of fast food restaurants doubled, along with the obesity rates of teens (Schlosser, 242-3). In America, a direct association was found between the amount of fried foods eaten and obesity rates for children aged 9-12. It was worst for girls of all ages and older boys (Woznicki). Fifteen percent of kids aged 6-19 were considered obese, and 10% of children age 2-5. This exponentially increases their chances of hypertension and diabetes, among other things. Diabetes in children before age 15 takes 17-25 years off of their life span, and if the current trend of overweight children continues, 1 in 3 kids born in 2000 will have diabetes (“Super-size Me”).
Aside from obesity, fast food poses many other dangers to health. Its been said for years that a diet high in fat, sugar, animal products and salt and low in fiber, vitamins and minerals is linked to cancers of the breast and colon and an increased risk for heart disease, stroke and diabetes. When asked about his reaction, McDonald’s cancer expert Dr. Sydney Arnott replied, “If it’s being directed at the public, then I would say that it is a very reasonable thing to say,” (Kovel). It is also proven that McDonald’s food can become addictive. The high amount of sugar and sodium in their products make you feel great if you’re eating it, but sick if you’re not (“Super-size Me”).
There are many factors in the fast food epidemic that has swept the globe. One big one is the advertising to the kids that sucks them into the idea that fast food is good for them. This is furthered by the lack of education about the dangers of fast food, from both the government and parents. McDonalds and other cheap restaurants cause a large variety of health problems, with the worst being obesity since it leads to so many other problems with health. This cheap solution is killing everyone who eats it, and it has to stop before the whole world is fat and dead.
Lacy Walden
Mr. Coppedge, 4th block
November 27, 2005
Expository Paper
Fast food and its Negative Effects on the Body
Fast food has become Americas cheap and quick solution to a problem considered deadly in other countries, hunger. But is this cheap solution deadly itself? What does it do to the children raised in this fast food society? Americans are getting fatter and fatter each year, and the age at which children get obesity related disease is dropping. Accordingly, fast food consumption has gone up greatly in the past 30 years. What is causing this? Advertisements directed at kids pulls them into a fast food is healthy mindset, and creates problems for them as they grow to love it and grow as they eat it. Obestiy, a large problem in itself, contributes to a variety of diseases, a few being diabetes and an increased risk for cancers and strokes. Americans need to learn that this can be helped, with a little effort.
Fast food companies are advertising genuis’. They know who their target audience is, children, and they know what their target audience wants: toys and sugar. Every year, McDonalds distributes more toys than Toys R Us, and only seven items on the menu are sugar free (“Super-size Me”). The companies also know that kids watch television, and that they see the advertisements put on there. A study in the European Nations found that 95% of the ads on television were selling foods high in fat, salt and sugar. The companies with the highest numbers of ads were fast food companies, with McDonalds in the lead (Schlosser, 243). Sweden realized the fact that most advertising aimed at children was unhealthy, and in 1991 banned television ads directed at children under 12. In 2001, McDonalds spent over 1.4 billion worldwide; while the 5-a-day fruits and vegetables campaign sponsored by the United States government spent a mere 2 million in comparison (“Super-size Me”). This helped McDonalds embed their image in to the minds of the American children.
In a survey of five first graders on Morgan Spurlock’s documentary, “Super-size Me”, showed how much influence the advertising had on children. They were showed pictures of various well known people, such as Jesus, George W. Bush, George Washington, Wendy of the fast food chain Wendy’s, and Ronald McDonald. One of them knew George Washington was the first president of our country. The rest had no clue. One thought Jesus was George W. Bush. Four knew Wendy was a girl on a sign. But all immediately knew Ronald McDonald was from McDonalds. One boy even said that Ronald was his friend, and he knew what was good for him. In Australia, the number of fast food restaurants has tripled since 1990, and a survey found that half of the 9 and 10 year olds surveyed thought that Ronald “knew what kids should eat”. In China, all the kids in a primary school recognized an image of Ronald. They like Uncle McDonald, and claim he is funny, gentle, kind, and understands kid’s hearts. The most popular soft drink in China is Coca-Cola, which McDonalds sells (Schlosser, 231). Fast food companies are just trying to do their job though, right? If they were selling apples and oranges with this much zeal, everything would be fine. But because the nutrition value of so many items sold is so negative, it’s a problem.
An internal company memorandum at McDonald’s headquarters reads “We can’t really address of defend nutrition. We don’t sell nutrition and people don’t come to McDonalds for nutrition,” (Kovel). In response to the heightened health awareness through out the nation, McDonalds recently added new things to its menus, including a variety of salads. The Crispy California Cobb salad with just the chicken and lettuce is 380 calories and 23 grams of fat. Add the croutons and dressing, the total jumps to 720 calories and 54.5 grams of fat. In comparison, a Quarter-Pounder with cheese and medium fries has 880 calories, but only 50 grams of fat (Crane). Often, it’s cheaper to get more calories. It costs eight cents more to buy a Quarter-Pounder, small fry, and small Coke than to buy the Quarter-Pounder large extra value meal, with a large fry and Coke. The latter has 490 more calories, but costs 8 cents less (Wootan). Forty-five out of 100 nutritionist across the country said people should never eat fast food. Stephanie Billings, of Health Zone Weight Management agrees, adding that there’s no reason to with so many alternatives. Yet one in four Americans eats fast food every day (“Super-size Me”).
The one in four Americans eating fast food everyday are putting themselves at risk of a wide variety of problems, the biggest and most obvious being obesity, but also including early diabetes, various cancers, cholesterol and blood pressure problems, and increased chances of heart disease and heart attacks. And it’s not just Americans, or only adults. Both kids and adults are affected world wide, even in traditionally healthy Asian countries.
Human bodies are finely tuned thorough millions of years of evolution to store fat for the times when food is scarce. But in today’s world, a body that’s more efficient at gaining weight than loosing it costs over $240 billion in health care costs each year (Schlosser, 242-3). Obesity is second only to smoking in the amount of deaths each year, with 4 million Americans dying each year. 100 million Americans are over weight, and over 60% get no form of exercise (“Super-size Me”). Body weight has increased steadily since the late ‘60s, coinciding with the expansion of fast food. In just 1991, there were four states with an obesity rate of 15% or more. Now there are 37 states (Kovel). Severely overweight people are four times more likely to die young than people of a normal weight, and are at a much higher risk for cancer of the colon, stomach and breast, heart disease, and diabetes (Schlosser). People are trying to fix their problems, but since they’re going for the cheap solution, just like they do by eating fast food, it doest work. Americans spend 30 billion a year on weight loss schemes, such as “miracle” diets and pills, but they spend only half of that on exercising (“Super-size Me”).
The man who brought McDonalds to Japan, Den Fujita, was quoted as saying, “If we eat McDonald’s hamburgers and potatoes for 1000 years, we will become taller, our skin will become white, and our hair will be blonde.” In the 1980s, the sale of fast food and the rate of obesity in Japan both doubled. One-third of the Japanese men raised during then are overweight (Schlosser, 242). What the Japanese will soon realize is that by eating fast food, their hair isn’t getting any blonder, and they’re not getting any taller. They are growing, but instead of up, it’s out. The fast food epidemic has affected not only the children in the United States, but in other countries also. Chinese, Japanese and British children have all been growing with the rise of fast food. Since fast food entered their countries, the amount of overweight Asian teens has tripled, and from 1984-1993, the rate of fast food restaurants doubled, along with the obesity rates of teens (Schlosser, 242-3). In America, a direct association was found between the amount of fried foods eaten and obesity rates for children aged 9-12. It was worst for girls of all ages and older boys (Woznicki). Fifteen percent of kids aged 6-19 were considered obese, and 10% of children age 2-5. This exponentially increases their chances of hypertension and diabetes, among other things. Diabetes in children before age 15 takes 17-25 years off of their life span, and if the current trend of overweight children continues, 1 in 3 kids born in 2000 will have diabetes (“Super-size Me”).
Aside from obesity, fast food poses many other dangers to health. Its been said for years that a diet high in fat, sugar, animal products and salt and low in fiber, vitamins and minerals is linked to cancers of the breast and colon and an increased risk for heart disease, stroke and diabetes. When asked about his reaction, McDonald’s cancer expert Dr. Sydney Arnott replied, “If it’s being directed at the public, then I would say that it is a very reasonable thing to say,” (Kovel). It is also proven that McDonald’s food can become addictive. The high amount of sugar and sodium in their products make you feel great if you’re eating it, but sick if you’re not (“Super-size Me”).
There are many factors in the fast food epidemic that has swept the globe. One big one is the advertising to the kids that sucks them into the idea that fast food is good for them. This is furthered by the lack of education about the dangers of fast food, from both the government and parents. McDonalds and other cheap restaurants cause a large variety of health problems, with the worst being obesity since it leads to so many other problems with health. This cheap solution is killing everyone who eats it, and it has to stop before the whole world is fat and dead.