Fast Foods Essay

 Obesity among kids in the coupled States is on the rise. Many studies occupy shown the correlation between corpulency and the unfluctuating food. The statistics show that in the joined States al puff up-nigh six out of e precise ten people decimate solid foods. The habit of extinguishing fast foods is non a new-fashioned development. History has it that the practices could date as early as 512BC (think quest).During this catamenia, almost Egyptian restaurants offered a single dish of wild fowl, cereal, and onions. Ever since that, time restaurants discombobulate completely and progressively changed. Today there be thousands of restaurants all oer the world. Most the fast foods sold always kick in some characteristics in common, in whichever part of the world the restaurant is located.It has been established that in most adults eat more fast foods because of the increasing working hours and non determination time for home cooked meal (Morgan, 2004). The other re ason is that there be so many a(prenominal) tasty pickaxs for one to choose from. Furthermore, it does non replication long to get the fast foods when one is in a hurry. fashioning it quite convenient for students and kids.Many Ameri peck kids love fast foods handle the specially created combo meals that are sold by the many restaurants specifically for them. The meals are always colorfully boxed and sometimes toys included for attracting the kids. Many kids wait to love the idea of dismissal out with their friend and parents because they know that in process they get to buy the foods and snacks. nipperren would nag and insist on going out and have assorted kinds of of fast foods rather than having the homemade food.This is not surprising for they are easily lured by the attractive advertisement of fast foods oblivious of the dangers associated with them (Buzzle articles).The nutrition content of most fast foods is a worrisome thing. Most of them have proven to be very unhealthy for kids and chairs in the increasing incidences of obesity among the them. These foods are sold cheaply something that consistently tempts the consumers to them.  It is a known fact that most of the fast foods are usually towering in luscious, cholesterol and sodium. Eating of these fast foods over along period of time confidential information to many health problems analogous the high riptide pressure , eye diseases and obesity.Research dataVarious look intoes have been through with(p) to determine the extent to which fast foods are contributing to obesity not only in children but also in the entire charitable community. For lesson, a study by the USDAs agricultural research service on some 90000US citizens established that over a tush of adults in age group above 20 years eat fast foods daily. These foods are highly sugary chase away(predicate) fats, carbohydrates and too many proteins (food navigator, 2004).Furthermore, research by a squad lead by Me ndoza aimed specifically at the content of the kids fast food. They targeted the meals arranged at some ten headspring-known regional restaurants situated in Houston. In their studies, the team found that only three pct of the food offered at these eating-places met the sevener key standards set by the national school tiffin weapons platform for meals intended for children in the kindergarten and through third grade. The meals which were referred to as the best choice were only made up of deli-style sandwich,-turkey, ham, roast beef or tuna-combined with a fruit, such(prenominal) as apple slices or raisins (ARS, 2009).Other meals include obviously hamburger, fruit s, and low fat milk as well as a beverage. The meals that failed to meet the school lunch guidelines had more than 65 pct of fat. Furthermore, 75 per cent of the meals had too, olive-sized calcium, 82 percentage had too little iron and 85 percent too little vitamin. Also match to Mendoza, the energy density of the fast foods not meeting the school lunch standards was 2.3 calories per gram compared to only 1.5 calories recommended by the standards.These findings though obtained from Houston alone qualify well to represent the reality nationally. According to the researchers, Houston is the fourth largest city in the United States. In addition, 10 of the restaurants there are among the 13 of the nations regional national fast food shackles, which sell kids fast food (ARS, 2009).Most of these researches were spurred by the increasing levels in the get of obesity case among children. In fact, it has been established that more than 16 percent of children in the United States were overweight. In addition, there was a doubling in the estimated incidences of overweight among children and triple in the rate among adolescents. there was also the fill of by the pediatricians and other health care professionals that found the child obesity trend quite alarming and its potential death consequences.Th ese findings related to the issuing of meals eaten absent from homes. The rate of meals eaten away from home has grown from 20 percent in the        1970s to more than 30 percent presently. In a Further survey by the department of agriculture food surveys of Americans, 25 percent of us children aged between four and eight would on a typical day take fast food (ARS, 2009)The personal personal effectsThe main consequence of this fast food has been the increase in the enactment of overweight children. These yummy tasty and low costs happy foods are the attributes. One big challenge associated with this fast food is that it is becoming socially accepted (Milos, 2010). Many purple would decide to overcome guilt by giving themselves a treat by going to consume these food. There are commercials all over urging people to get up-to-the-minute desserts and other food. This has made it look superficially right but that is not the case. The various ingredients of these foods have distinct health effects. Some people conclude that we are in an era of junk food. The children have been driven away from the green leafy vegetable and only relish these fast foods. The effects that come out are irreversibly harmful. The excess sugar in these fast foods and the sodas laed to diabetes in the childrens clay. They may develop the type 2 diabetes that is more prominent with the grand parents and parents (my child health    ). In this case, the body fails to produce adequate insulin that controls the sugar levels and the body metabolism.In addition, the fats and saturated fats lead to high levels of cholesterol in the slant. The cholesterol is associated with many heart complications. such heart problems can lead to increase in major heart diseases. Furthermore, the fats can ale to a condition known as dyslipidemia, which occurs when the LDL levels and triglycerides are abnormally high (Buzzle). These can put the children in a very preca rious situation of coronary heart diseases.Some of these fast foods contain excess sodium that is a big contributor of high blood pressure. Increase in the blood pressure can lead to pluck and cracks in the blood vessel walls. The human body uses lipoproteins in recompense of these walls converting it into substance that contains cholesterols hence lead to increase in the cholesterol levels ( Eric, 2005). As children, indulge more and more in this fast food, their bodies require lacking(predicate) of vitamins and iron.This is because most of these foods do not contain such nutrients. They therefore constrain anemic. This makes them lethargic and get tired so easily. This is because their diets always almost become completely deficient of green vegetables and fresh fruits causing great wishing of both macro and micro nutrient supplements in their bodies (my child health). The result of this is reduced immunity making the children to become highly susceptible to various diseases and ailments. The body also becomes deficient of calcium that makes their teeth to be very weak, nails and bones brittle. The various preservatives used in these foods may also be carcinogenic.Remedy to fast foods problemsIt is important to note that there is no such a thing as bad food. Any food can fit into a healthy meal plan. The fast food chains should therefore revamp their menus to respond to the customers comments. These has been observed in some restaurants for  example there are those that do not serve food with trans fat, but alternatively have more fruits and vegetables .According to the CYWH Staff, the adjacent tips can be helpful in setting up a healthy diet. It is advisable to choose boiled foods over fried ones likes the barbecued lily-livered sandwich instead of fried chicken or chicken nuggets. Secondly, one should   choose soups hat are not cream based. This elbow room that if the names of these soups include something like creamy tomato soup or an y of that kind, then they should be avoided. The foods should have low fat salad instead of fullfat salad kind. One should choose low fat milk, or diet sodas instead of regular sodas, fruits drinks, milkshakes, or whole milk. If you can penetration fruits and vegetables, they should be added to the meal. For example, have lettuce and tomato on sandwiches or burgers. When one orders for foods like pizza its good to add veggies instead of meat , as well as getting thin crust instead of deep fish. codaSince many researches have clearly established that restaurants selling fast foods have great contribution into the effects of these foods like the obesity, there should be a regulation into their activities. A study by the NBER established that the proximity of these restaurants s to work places and learning institutions have had a big impact into these.For example for pregnant women, having such a restaurant within 0.10 miles increases the probability of gaining 20 kilos during the ir pregnancy( NBER). As for children, having the restaurants within proximity of 0.25 to 0.50 miles had the same implications. It follows that such restaurants should be away from children. Policies should be laid in place to restrict the availability of fast food in residential areas and schools.ReferencesEric S, speedy Food Nation, Harper Perennial, (2005).Morgan S, (2004), ace Size Me, Movie ReviewsAgricultural research service, kids fat food and obesity. Accessed on August 2, 2010    from http//www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archive/oct09/kids1009.htmBuzzle, Fast Foods and the Child Obesity. Accessed on August 2, 2010 from                             http//www.buzzle.com/articles/fast-food-and-child-obesity.htmlMilos P. (2010), Are fast food and obesity, accessed on grand from                   &nbs p                        http//ezinearticles.com/?Are-Fast-Food-and-Obesity-Related?&id=357337Think quest, Welcome to the Real Truth about Fast Foods and Nutrition, Accessed On              August 2, 2010 from http//library.thinkquest.org/4485/My child health, Effects of Fast foods on children, Accessed on August 3, 2010 from                http//www.mychildhealth.net/effects-of-fast-food-on-children.htmlNBER, the national bureau of economic research, Accessed on August 3, 2010 from             http//www.nber.org/aginghealth/2009no1/w14721.html