Cultural Critique
Food, we need it, we love it, God bless America. Americans are getting wider every year and they’re not getting any taller. Obesity, technically defined as being 30 percent over the ideal weight based on height, is a term that represents one in every five Americans today, about 60 million adults.
The primary blame is often passed to the larger fast food corporations like McDonalds and Burger King, who prey on fast paced and financially unfortunate families with well-advertised large portions and low prices and take advantage of low food production standards. Regular consumption of these types of foods often results in widespread obesity as well as many other dietary problems requiring extensive medical attention.
Many people argue that the fast food industry should be held liable for the health risks and costs of eating Big Macs. One man, Caesar Barber, attempted to sue the fast food industry, claiming they addicted him to their unhealthy products, resulting in his weight condition.
"I trace all [my health problems] back to the high fat, grease and salt, all back to McDonald's, Wendy's, Burger King - there was no fast food I didn't eat, and I ate it more often than not because I was single, it was quick and I'm not a very good cook. It was a necessity, and I think it was killing me, my doctor said it was killing me, and I don't want to die." – Caesar Barber
It’s also argued from the other side that since fast food isn’t scientifically addictive; therefore the production companies aren’t responsible for their client’s loss of control that results in overeating and contracting dietary diseases. Caesar Barbers case never made it to court.
As obesity became more common throughout the United States, there was an awareness increase to ensure that consumers knew the risks of continually eating fast food. And yet, people continue to eat their chicken McNuggets and the 17 grams of fat that comes with it. In 2003, fast food induced...