Essay on Is Fast Food the New Tobacco?

Words: 946
Pages: 4

Is Fast Food the New Tobacco?

When you have a dollar in your pocket for lunch, do you chose the tiny side salad consisting of lettuce and a few vegetables, or a warm, juicy double cheeseburger. The burger will hold you off until dinner and is much more convenient for an employee or student on the go while the salad has the tendency to leave you feeling unsatisfied. The answer seems obvious. We are on the go all the time welcome to 2012, with no time to stop and peel an orange or slice an apple. We need pre-packaged fruit salad for a tasty, convenient, healthy snack. What may not be noted is our “healthy” snack is probably packed in high calorie syrup and added sugar. If you’re counting calories you should check the ingredients… who has
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Fast food companies, in a capitalist society, are increasing sales by introducing products in schools and by hefty advertising aimed at children which is affecting the health of our youth in terrible ways. This may lead to disease and other health related illness before they reach adulthood. There is also a stipulation that goes along with obesity related ailments in which we may have to look at ourselves for the answer.
One would say that the obesity epidemic blame may lie within ourselves. Although obesity is a public issue, it is also a matter of choice. People eat on the go. They have a craving for something seen on a television commercial, and are usually too tired to get to the gym, or don’t have time and energy to exercise. Unfortunately, disease and illness eventually catch up to the person who eats fast food everyday. Radley Balko points out that insurance companies are prevented from charging higher premiums to obese people which removes any financial responsibility from the consumer. He supports this by saying “…if the government is paying for my anti-cholesterol medication, what incentive is there for me to put down the cheeseburger.” In order to make better choices, nutritional labels should be more abundant and explanatory so it is better understood. This may prevent future consequences of society’s health and well-being.
Whereas some are some are convinced that obesity is the result of relentless food stuffs pushed on us by food corporations tempting