Are Fast Food Establishments Making Americans Fat

Are fast-food establishments making Americans fat?.

Journal of Controversial Medical Claims 10.4 (Nov 2003): p1(10). (7875 words)
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COPYRIGHT 2003 Aspen Publishers, Inc.
Address correspondence to:
Todd G. Buchholz
U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform
1615 H Street, NW
Washington, DC 20062-2000
Phone [phone]; Fax: [phone] www.LegalReformNow.com Americans have gained weight over the course of the last century. This increase stems from a variety of factors, primarily more consumption of calories and less vigorous activity. From a historical perspective, a rising caloric intake was a positive event for the first half of the twentieth century. Though the fast-food industry has proliferated since
Until recently, employers paid employees to exert energy and burn calories. In contrast, employers pay workers to stay in their seats. For many, the most vigorous exercise comes from tearing off a sheet of paper from a printer or walking to the refrigerator. Furthermore, I would suggest that the decline in factory work--with its fixed lunch and coffee break schedule--enables people to eat more often. Less factory work means less foremen supervision. According to Bureau of Labor Statistics data, manufacturing employment fell from about 24.4 percent of civilian employment in 1970 to merely 13 percent in 2000. A woman who spends her career sitting at a desk may "end up with as much as 3.3 units of BMI more than someone with a highly active job.
ALTERNATIVES
Very few defenders of fast food would tell moms and dads to throw out the home-cooked meal and instead eat 21 meals a week at a fast-food restaurant. But it is a mistake to stereotype fast food as simply a cheeseburger and large fries. Fast-food restaurants have vastly expanded their menus for a variety of reasons, including health concerns and demographic shifts. The increasing role of Hispanic Americans in determining national food tastes has inspired many fast-food franchises to offer tacos, burritos, and salsa salads.
Wendy's, traditionally known for its square-shaped hamburgers, offers a low-fat chili dish that the Minnesota Attorney General's office recommended as a "healthier choice" in its fast-food guide. (18) McDonald's has continuously revamped its menu in recent years. On March 10, 2003, the company unveiled a new line of Premium Salads that feature Paul Newman's Own All-Natural dressings. In its publicity blitz, McDonald's facetiously asked, "What's Next? Wine Tasting?" Meanwhile, Burger King features a Broiled Chicken Teriyaki in addition to its traditional fare. Judge Sweet notes that the Subway sandwich chain, which boasts of healthy choices, hired a spokesman who apparently lost 230 pounds of weight while eating the "Subway Diet.