Is Fast Food the New Tobacco?

              In 1906, the Food and Drug Administration was established by the United States’ federal government (“A Brief History of the FDA,” n.d.). The purpose of this branch of the United States Department of Agriculture is to regulate the products that we consume, specifically food that we eat (Office of the Commissioner, 2022). They enforce inspections in the places that make the products that we consume and have even introduced the nutrition label one may see on the produce they buy. (Office of the Commissioner, 2022) (Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, 2022). The whole premise of the nutrition label is to clearly tell the consumer what exactly they are putting into their bodies (Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, 2022). This includes sugars, fats, sodium, and all the other factors that come with eating certain foods (Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, 2022). The Food and Drug Administration have made it essential that this is based on “scientific information, new nutrition research, and input from the public” (Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, 2022). The Food and Drug Administration have also made it so that if there are any violations in the regulations that are set, there will be severe consequences. This includes, but not limited to, the shutdown (whether it be temporary or permanently) of the food business in general, the excessive fines per violations which can be in the thousands, and even the jail time of the people involved. With all of this in mind, why is there a sudden rise of blame being placed on the government for the rise of obesity in the United States? The denial of responsibility from United States citizens regarding their own weight and overall health is itself becoming a pandemic.

American culture has become one that revolves around very rapid consumerism. When it comes to food, the bigger and faster it comes out, the better, which is why it comes at no surprise that fast food restaurants are as popular as they are. In fact, “over a quarter of American adults eat fast food daily” (Smead, 2018). “There are many factors that contribute to America’s obsession with fast food. Fast food is extremely easy to obtain, in most cases you don’t even need to leave the comfort of your car to enjoy a meal” (Smead, 2018).  Fast food also offers a cheap alternative for a source of food that is filling with its excessive calories. Nearly half of the population, 48% or 1 in 2 people, are poor or low income (Kairos Center, n.d.). One may think fast food is just more sensible to buy compared to healthier food, but there are still other options to provide oneself with healthier options. Farmers markets and corner stores are oftentimes much more affordable than supermarkets like Whole Foods. 

Food is not the only factor that comes with obesity; exercise is also another big factor to consider. Any nutritionist or trainer will tell you for a healthy lifestyle, one needs to engage in a reasonable amount of exercise. However, fewer than 1 in 4 Americans get the recommended amount of exercise (Perry, 2018). Even if Americans are getting enough exercise, who is to say they are doing it correctly? It is quite hard to pick up a daily exercise routine because it requires dedication and motivation, which many don’t have. 

Americans are to blame for their own obesity. They are the ones making themselves consume fast food. Even with the food they consume, they control their weight more if they exercise, which the majority don’t even do. If they really were concerned for their wellbeing, they would put the effort into bettering themselves without looking for a scapegoat.

Sources

Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. (2022, April 13). The New Nutrition Facts Label. Retrieved October 4, 2022, from https://www.fda.gov/food/nutrition-education-resources-materials/new-nutrition-facts-label

Office of the Commissioner. (2022, January 18). What does FDA regulate? Retrieved October 4, 2022, from https://www.fda.gov/about-fda/fda-basics/what-does-fda-regulate

A Brief History of the FDA. (n.d.). Retrieved October 4, 2022, from https://crstoday.com/articles/2011-oct/a-brief-history-of-the-fda/

Kairos Center. (n.d.). Current US Poverty Statistics. Retrieved from https://kairoscenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Poverty-Fact-Sheet-Feb-2015-final.pdf

Perry, S. (2018, July 3). Fewer than 1 in 4 American adults get enough exercise, CDC report finds. Retrieved October 4, 2022, from https://www.minnpost.com/second-opinion/2018/07/fewer-1-4-american-adults-get-enough-exercise-cdc-report-finds/

Smead, S. (2018, October 29). America’s Fast Food Obsession. Retrieved October 4, 2022, from https://web.colby.edu/st297-global18/2018/10/29/americas-fast-food-obsession/