Fast Food and Health

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Fast Food and Health
Everyone is aware that a healthy diet is essential to maintain a healthy life. The best foods for our health are those rich in protein and contain little fat. When it comes to our health especially what we consume, we must be responsible for our actions. Eating foods with many calories causes obesity (Rossen 276). Foods, which are higher in fats and sugar, can also cause heavyweight. Foods from fast food restaurants are the major cause of obesity in Americans teenagers. This is because the fast food restaurants are cheap and are everywhere but unhealthy. The higher percentage of teenager’s obesity is caused by taking food from fast food restaurants. The only problem is who to be blamed for the overweight of the children because of daily consumption of food from fast food restaurant. The following paper describes how Zinczenko’s both agrees and disagrees with reference to the people to blame regarding fast food consumption and its effects.
In the article, Zinczenko argues that it is not the consumer’s fault to get obesity from fast food, which I tend to disagree. Fast food restaurant does not make consumers fat; it is the consumers themselves that decide to take unbalanced diet hence they become fat. People eating fast food are always advised not to consume too much fast food, and they are aware of the risks of consuming such foods. However, they keep on consuming these foods in the restaurants around. Youths are more attracted to delicious meals form the fast food companies forgetting their negative results in their body.

There is an alternative to preparing healthier and good meals from home, but people tend to take the shortest and most risky ways claiming to be saving time and that they are delicious. Most youths are always lazy to prepare their food, hence, go for fast food, which is tastier and readymade. It is the consumer’s choice to take food from fast food restaurant knowing that they are not good for health. It is everyone’s responsibility to choose what he or she takes; therefore, becoming overweight from such diet is very easy.
According to Zinczenko, there is no other option of maintaining good health, as cheap and convenient as fast food restaurants. I disagree with his opinion because the market offers individuals a chance to buy groceries at an affordable price. One can prepare healthy quality meals at a cheaper price than the fast food, which has too many calories. Foods from grocery stores also have nutrition facts printed on them. Hence consumers will always know what they are taking. There are also some alternatives to healthier and cheaper foods like buying turkey sandwich and an apple. Parents also have a choice to consider that their children eat healthier food. “My parents were split up, my dad off trying to rebuild his life, my mom working long hours to make the monthly bills” (Zinczenko 1). Parents should have time to ensure good health for their children even if they are divorced. Most teenagers are the ones affected by consuming the fast food; if only their parents can have time to prepare food for them or teach them how to prepare one instead of giving them an option of buying ready foods, this problem can have reduced.
The fast-food restaurant is also to be blamed for youths’ fatness. “They are occasionally the only option for children whose parents are always working mostly during the day or youths with single parents who are always busy,” (Zinczenko, 1). I agree with Zinczenko point where to some extent fast food restaurants are to be blamed for American youths overweight. Most of the teenagers may not have any alternative, hence, fall victim to cheap and delicious food offered by fast food restaurants. A good number of youths may not even know the effect of taking these foods on a regular basis. There is no education on effects of the number of ingredients in the fast food, especially calories and sugar. The problem with the fast food restaurants is that customer is always the king, serving them with delicious food without warning them of the effects. Their main concern is to make sales, and they assume that the customers will take care of themselves after that, which most do not. They have the option of adding healthier foods on the menu or letting people know what they are consuming. David Zinczenko stated that fast food companies make it hard for consumers to know how much calories they are consuming.
In conclusion, everybody should be blamed because all play a part in fast food companies for teenage obesity. Parents need to make their children aware of the healthier food to eat; youths should take control of their health and know the kind of food to choose. On the other hand, managers form fast food restaurants should make their customers’ health to be the priority. The advertisement has played a big role in thinking that it is okay to eat fast food, but they are leaving out adverse effect. Confusion from dozen new diets and foods being advertised make people find it hard on which foods to eat (Sterm 52). Taking the companies to a lawsuit will not make any change because there might be no medical proof that they cause the overweight. Everyone has a significant role in choosing what he or she is consuming.
Works Cited
Rossen, Lauren M, and Eric A. Rossen. Obesity 101. New York: Springer Pub. Co, 2012. Print.
Stern, Judith S, and Alexandra Kazaks. Obesity: a Reference Handbook (contemporary World Issues). ABC-CLIO Interactive, 2009. Print.
Zinczenko, David. “Don’t Blame the Eater.” nytimes, David Zinczenko, 23 Nov. 2002, www.nytimes.com/2002/11/23/opinion/don-t-blame-the-eater.html.