Obesity In America Essay

Over the last few decades, obesity rates have increased by a large margin. In the 1970s, only five-percent of American youth were considered obese. However, as of 2017, this percentage has increased to nineteen percent. Many blame fast food chains for this epidemic, but fail to recognize that a large portion of American eating habits are also a major contributor to the issue at hand, specifically the amount of food that is consumed. The average calorie intake in the 1970s was around two thousand per day, but in 2010 it was twenty-five hundred calories. Fast food restaurants are only partially responsible for the obesity crisis in modern America because of American eating habits, the food is more available and convenient, but they prepare their

Fast food items are extremely easy to access and afford. In America alone, there are roughly thirteen thousand McDonald’s locations, all in strategically located positions that make them easily accessible and quick to get to, for most people at least. These food items are addicting, as the average American gets fast food an estimated one to three times a week (eighty-three percent of American families get fast food at least once a week). This is due to the convenience and speed of the fast food industry, as it only takes a couple minutes for your food to be ready. On top of that, the food is typically very inexpensive and affordable, so anyone can get it. The popularity of fast food is also increasing, as fast food consumption increases by roughly two percent every year. This high consumption rate is also a primary factor for increasing obesity rates over the last half century. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many people faced a problem with their eating habits: they could not go out to eat. This caused a surge of cooking at home, and that is continuing to be a normal thing for many people. In the US, seven in ten consumers claim that they will continue to cook at home. This is gaining popularity due to the fact that it is cheaper, boosts self esteem, and is a healthier alternative to eating fast food many days of the week, alongside the fact that people were at home significantly more during the 2020 pandemic. Cooking

The food is prepared in a very large and unhealthy manner, it is extremely accessible and cheap, but because of these things American eating habits are at a decline. Since the food is so cheap and in every town, the restaurant basically invites people to come eat at the fast food place. These prices are convincing, and the food is addictive due to the unhealthy ingredients; it just tastes good. However, all of that comes at a big cost: declining health, both mental and physical. Your body is not meant for junk food, and it benefits greatly from eating properly. Instead, junk food increases risk for heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and more. Despite all of this, we saw change with the COVID-19 pandemic because people were eating at home more often, and that food was typically significantly more healthy than what is sold at the average fast food joint. This cooking at home stuck with people, and many continue to do it because of the many benefits that it does provide. People’s eating habits and self control are only partially to blame for the high obesity rates in America for these reasons, as it was shown people can eat healthy when given the choice. But since the popular restaurants prepare their food in such an addictive manner, people keep coming back to consume just one more Big Mac. Some of it is a lack of self control, but it is not wise to direct all of the blame to the people. Fast