Fast food and obesity

Fast Food and Obesity




















Fast Food and Obesity

In the world we live in today it is sad to say that fast food is the leading cause of obesity in Western countries, it is not healthy for any age group and is setting bad examples for our youth. We want to teach our children to be happy and healthy not obese and sick. Childhood obesity is a current public health problem.
Data suggest that almost 15% of young Americans and 1/3 of adults are overweight. Obesity is known to cause health problems like type 2 Diabetes, hypertension, poor circulation in legs. Obesity is also associated with a higher risk of some cancers, including cancer of the breast, colon, endometrium, esophagus, kidney, pancreas, gall bladder, thyroid, ovary, cervix, and prostate, as well as multiple myelomas and Hodgkin's lymphoma. Obesity also results from an imbalance in the amount of energy, through eating and drinking, and the amount of energy used in metabolism and physical exercise. According to the CDC the percentage of children aged 6–11 years in the United States who were obese increased from 7% in 1980 to nearly 18% in 2012. Similarly, the percentage of adolescents aged 12–19 years who were obese increased from 5% to nearly 21% over the same period. In 2012, more than one-third of children and adolescents were overweight or obese.
Almost 1/3 of children aged 4 to 19 eat fast food, which likely packs on about six extra pounds per child per year. The consumption of fast food has been associated with obesity. 33.8% of the current population is affected by being overweight, and 19% of children and adolescents are affected as well. It is very easy to take in 1,500 calories from just one meal. Keep in mind the USDA recommends that a general caloric intake is 1,500-1,800 calories-per-day and around 50-60 grams of total fat for Americans. Fast food consumption in the western countries has risen, it has undoubtedly contributed...