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Jordan Hampton

Professor Sipes

English 1201-K02

21 March 2021

Why is fast food so popular and is it negatively affecting society?

There are many people worldwide who have eaten fast food before. There is at least one

fast food restaurant in every state of the U.S. This food is not the healthiest option for a meal, but

people still love and will eat from fast food restaurants. Although some fast food restaurants have

“healthy” choices on their menu, is it actually healthy for you? Is fast food the main cause for

obesity worldwide?

A large reason as to what sparked the invention of fast food restaurants is the highway

systems built in the 1950’s and 1960’s (Diamond). People in America started driving more often

which caused people to rearrange cities based on car travel (Diamond).

Common reasons people lean toward eating fast food are because it is quick, inexpensive,

and for the taste. A survey was conducted in 2011 by 403 participants to show people’s

reasonings for choosing fast food over other food options. According to the survey, 86% of those

surveyed, admitted to eating fast food (Lauva 37-40). The rest of the results showed the main

reasons those who admitted to eating fast food chose that option which were because it is fast,

cheap, and delicious food (Lauva 37-40).

Long-term negative effects of fast food intake are health problems, a common one being

obesity. Fast food is usually poor in nutrition due to the fact it is high in sugar, salt, saturated or

trans fats, and many processed preservatives and ingredients (Huzar). Studies on fast food and

heart health showed having fast food more than once a week is connected to a higher risk of
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obesity and consuming fast food more than twice twice a week has a connection to a higher risk

of metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes and death from coronary heart disease (Brissette).

Many researches have found fast food to be having a negative impact on society through

noticed an increase in childhood obesity as well. In an article about childhood obesity, Megan.M

Kluge, states there are multiple factors that contribute to childhood obesity, but fast food is the

“most complex” one (Kluge.) Obesity within children is occurring worldwide, not just in the U.S

(Kluge). According to a study done in Brazil, there was a strong connection between the

prevalence of overweight and obesity and the number of McDonald restaurants was found for

Brazilian children that was most important within the group of youngest children (Reuter).

Although there are many studies, surveys, and statistics supporting fast food consumption

being a primary cause of obesity and health problems, other researchers beg to differ. In an

article, Todd G. Buchholz, argues fast food restaurants are not to blame for obesity within people

and that it is caused by people eating snacks at home or eating at sit-down restaurants

(Buchholz).

An agreeable reason for the popularity of fast food restaurants and consumption of fast

food is because it is something convenient being that is quick, inexpensive, and tasteful.

Although others may argue fast food restaurants are not to blame for obesity and other health

problems, there is plenty more evidence supporting this type of food has had primary negative

effects on people’s health worldwide.

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Works Cited

Brissette, Christy. “This is Your Body on Fast Food.” TheWashingtonPost, 1 Mar. 2018,

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/wellness/sneaking-a-little-junk-food-doesnt-m

ean-all-is-lost/2018/02/26/828b75fa-1b36-11e8-9de1-147dd2df3829_story.html.

Accessed 7 Mar. 2021.

Buchholz, Todd G. "Fast Food Should Not Be Blamed for Obesity." Food, edited by Laura K.

Egendorf, Greenhaven Press, 2006. Opposing Viewpoints. Gale In Context: Opposing

Viewpoints,

link.gale.com/apps/doc/EJ3010432221/OVIC?u=dayt30401&sid=OVIC&xid=121a98eb.

Originally published as "Burgers, Fries, and Lawyers," Policy Review, 2004, pp. 45-59.

Diamond, Anna. “A Crispy, Salty, American History of Fast Food.” SmithsonianMagazine, 24

Jun. 2019,

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/crispy-salty-american-history-fast-food-18097

2459. Accessed 21 Mar. 2021.

Huzar, Timothy. “What Happens When You Eat Fast Food?” MedicalNewsToday, 1 Apr. 2019,

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324847. Accessed 7 March 2021.

Kluge, Megan M. "Fast Food Is a Major Cause of Childhood Obesity." Childhood Obesity,

edited by Tamara Thompson, Greenhaven Press, 2016. At Issue. Gale In Context:

Opposing Viewpoints,

link.gale.com/apps/doc/EJ3010964206/OVIC?u=dayt30401&sid=OVIC&xid=d282d667.

Accessed 21, Mar. 2021. Originally published as "Childhood Obesity: Relationship to

Fast Food,", Spring 2012.

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Lauva, Zinta, and Velta Basevica. “Causes of Long-Term Consumption and Popularity of Offers

in Fast Food Companies.” Economic Science for Rural Development Conference

Proceedings, no. 29, Oct. 2012, pp. 37–40. EBSCOhost,

search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=e5h&AN=77483998&site=eds-live.

Reuter, Paul-Georges, et al. “Young Children Are the Main Victims of Fast Food Induced

Obesity in Brazil.” PLoS ONE, vol. 14, no. 10, 22 Oct. 2019, p. e0224140. Gale In

Context: Opposing Viewpoints, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0224140.