Drive-up restaurants, milkshakes, fries, and time-honored burgers and dripping Coney Island, that's what makes the American cuisine since the 1950s. This has been America's characteristic manner of preparing food, fast food, the epitome of the American life. Yet should tradition hinder improvement?
When it comes to health, the answer should be a big NO. When America is at risk of the fast food and obesity outbreak, the consumer should think twice before he takes a huge gulp of his sweet soda.
Fast food and obesity has been a major link that makes the American dinning experience and unfortunately American Health most noteworthy to world specialists. About 60M of the American population is considered obese. Australia only comes second in the fast food craze and obesity maze. Most significantly is that the impending danger of fast food and obesity concern has become a world phenomenon.
The problem of obesity has crept quickly as fast as the spurt of fast foods all throughout the world. Though, we could not blame McDonaldization and Globalization.
What makes fast food so appealing not only to Americans is that it's not just hot, tasty, and greasy; it's also constant and convenient. The cheeseburger that you so loved since childhood have never changed a bit; a constancy that is so hard to find in the constantly changing society. Additionally, the fast-paced lifestyle of the current generation only leaves fast food in the high-ladder for convenience. Preparing everything with minimum fuss has just become so valuable. You can also add the joy of indulgence. However, what about the cons?
Primary is over-indulgence. Not only is fast food expensive and isolating; it is also over-eating tolerant. It's true that it is sometimes a wonderful thing to be able to overcome your guilt to have yourself a treat, yet can you take the guilt of burdening your body with fast food and obesity?
The problem with fast food and obesity is that it has become socially acceptable, even encouraged. Some call it expression, even freedom, equality. You see commercials of all sorts urging you get the latest dessert. You go to the mall and there's a special line of plus sizes. It all seems purely natural but it doesn't mean it's totally right. This isn't to say that fast food can't be consumed occasionally, and that fat people should be detested. The point is that these can be avoided, and that there are better choices.
Sure you can look at fast food as just a way of life; but also look at obesity as what it is, a disease, and a serious one, something you wouldn't want to indulge in.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Use better English: there is a distinction between "healthy" and "healthful"
By: rbankson | 19-08-2008
To the AOL editors: Please learn the difference between "healthy" and "healthful."
I'd like to know how many calories are in a small ...
By: cjw2355 | 19-08-2008
I'd like to know how many calories are in a small wendy's chocolate frosty? How about a medium!!!
WHY?
By: Kel | 18-08-2008
So why aren't we as a nation demanding healthier foods from these restaurants? A McDonalds just opened in my neighborhood, but why? We don't need another option for unhealthy eating. I think we should have standards that these restaurants should have to meet. If their food could be killing us, and it is, then they should have to do something about it.
Krystal w/cheese; Krystalchick; Reg. Krystal ...
By: Big Red 1 VET | 18-08-2008
Krystal w/cheese; Krystalchick; Reg. Krystal; Krystal chilli
Okay I'm scared to EVER eat AGAIN! lol because ...
By: abercrombie4me03 | 18-08-2008
Okay I'm scared to EVER eat AGAIN! lol because according to AOL HEALTH nothings Healthy!?
When you are a little hungry and bored and you ...
By: kimberly | 18-08-2008
when you are a little hungry and bored and you kind of feel like eating... wht should yu eat to make you full for a longer period of time? ANYTHING HEALTHY(easy snack)? PLEASE HELP!!
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