Is America A Fast Food Nation Research Paper
Is America a Fast Food Nation?
U.S History II Honors
Mrs. Robbins
April 11th, 2013
April 11th, 2013
U.S History II H
The latter half of the 20th century brought the birth of many household fast food names. McDonalds, Wendy’s, Burger King, etc. have all become common names across the country. Since then, they have helped to create the unhealthiest, most fast food obsessed nation in American history. From the typical suburban family, to the businessmen of Manhattan, fast food has provided the chance to eat half-decent tasting food, even while wrapped up in the busy lives most Americans live. The content and nutritional values are not given a second …show more content…
It can be argued that fast food has contributed a great deal to a generation with the highest childhood obesity percentages. The creation of the fast food industry has not only had direct effects on people’s health due to the content of the food they are serving, but they also have had the ability to alter lifestyles. Nowadays the fastest company wins. Anyone who can deliver the most hassle free experience has the upper hand. This has inserted a similar mindset into all of their consumers, posing thoughts like: “Why exert my energy to cook a healthy meal when I could hop in my car and grab a burger from a drive through?” for example. The combination of thoughts like that and the nutritional value of the food have created an epidemic for this generation. Either the food itself or the life style it is promoting needs to change before the future sees even worse effects of fast food than in the past and …show more content…
Childhood obesity rates are at an all time high. The percentage of children aged 6–11 years in the United States who were obese increased from 7% in 1980 to nearly 18% in 2010. Similarly, the percentage of adolescents aged 12–19 years who were obese increased from 5% to 18% over the same period. (cdc.gov, 2013). The time frame these statistics were taken from corresponds well with the boom in the fast food industry. People may argue there is no way to prove it is directly a result of fast food. This may be true, but how can they justify advertising directly at children? It is no secret that fast food is not healthy, and at a young age many children will not know that. All they know is they want to go out to lunch and get the action figure from the newest movie or video game around. In an article titled, “Just How Happy Does the Happy Meal Make McDonald’s?” (2010) the author, Maureen Morrison tells reader’s happy meal sales account for 10% of their revenue, and to put into perspective the monstrosity that is the McDonald’s industry, that 10% would equal more than all of Panera Bread or Ihop in 2009. (Morrison, 2010, p.4). Essentially, the Happy meal or any other kid’s meal is taking advantage of a child who doesn’t know any better and selling them unhealthy food. And that is something the
U.S History II Honors
Mrs. Robbins
April 11th, 2013
April 11th, 2013
U.S History II H
The latter half of the 20th century brought the birth of many household fast food names. McDonalds, Wendy’s, Burger King, etc. have all become common names across the country. Since then, they have helped to create the unhealthiest, most fast food obsessed nation in American history. From the typical suburban family, to the businessmen of Manhattan, fast food has provided the chance to eat half-decent tasting food, even while wrapped up in the busy lives most Americans live. The content and nutritional values are not given a second …show more content…
It can be argued that fast food has contributed a great deal to a generation with the highest childhood obesity percentages. The creation of the fast food industry has not only had direct effects on people’s health due to the content of the food they are serving, but they also have had the ability to alter lifestyles. Nowadays the fastest company wins. Anyone who can deliver the most hassle free experience has the upper hand. This has inserted a similar mindset into all of their consumers, posing thoughts like: “Why exert my energy to cook a healthy meal when I could hop in my car and grab a burger from a drive through?” for example. The combination of thoughts like that and the nutritional value of the food have created an epidemic for this generation. Either the food itself or the life style it is promoting needs to change before the future sees even worse effects of fast food than in the past and …show more content…
Childhood obesity rates are at an all time high. The percentage of children aged 6–11 years in the United States who were obese increased from 7% in 1980 to nearly 18% in 2010. Similarly, the percentage of adolescents aged 12–19 years who were obese increased from 5% to 18% over the same period. (cdc.gov, 2013). The time frame these statistics were taken from corresponds well with the boom in the fast food industry. People may argue there is no way to prove it is directly a result of fast food. This may be true, but how can they justify advertising directly at children? It is no secret that fast food is not healthy, and at a young age many children will not know that. All they know is they want to go out to lunch and get the action figure from the newest movie or video game around. In an article titled, “Just How Happy Does the Happy Meal Make McDonald’s?” (2010) the author, Maureen Morrison tells reader’s happy meal sales account for 10% of their revenue, and to put into perspective the monstrosity that is the McDonald’s industry, that 10% would equal more than all of Panera Bread or Ihop in 2009. (Morrison, 2010, p.4). Essentially, the Happy meal or any other kid’s meal is taking advantage of a child who doesn’t know any better and selling them unhealthy food. And that is something the