Fast+Food+Benchmark

The way humans eat has been relatively the same throughout the course of history. But this all changed about 40 years ago because of the introduction of fast food. At first, fast food wasn’t a problem because it was only eaten occasionally, but as time went on fast food establishments dropped their prices. This caused a boom in sales, and soon people thought fast food was a reliable and cheap food source. But fast food is extremely unhealthy so people became fatter and fatter. Now this epidemic is sweeping the nation and there is a huge controversy over who is to blame for this obesity plague that is sweeping our nation. The most targeted group is the fast food companies themselves, the idea is being that they sold us the food and it is their fault. I can see how people would think this, because ever since the invention of television McDonald’s has put in up to 15 million dollars a year to have their commercials on T.V. The worst part is that McDonald’s spends all this money on putting their commercials on kid’s channels, brainwashing them to want MORE McDonald’s. This isn’t even the worst part: nowadays McDonald’s has started using schools as major marketing sites. Because of budget cuts schools have turned to fast food for quick, profitable solutions. I could see if the food was healthy but as Mr. Willet of the big food markets say, “The vast majority of what they sell is junk”. But are fast food companies really to blame? If you think it’s bad for you just don’t eat it. It’s not like they are force-feeding you. So is it fair to say that they are the primary cause of this obesity epidemic?

The second most targeted group is the consumers. If you think it is bad for you don’t eat it, as I have said before. Some say it isn’t just the company’s brain-washing commercials, it is irresponsible parents. Parents complain about their children being unhealthy from fast food, when THEY are the ones allowing it in the first place. The parents need to understand that they need to be responsible and accept their role in fighting obesity. As Daniel Weintraub states in his article “The battle against fast food begins at home, “We have laws against parents leaving a loaded weapon where their children can find it and harm themselves”. This is the same with fast food. It is a weapon and parents are allowing their children to use it.

My opinion about this obesity epidemic is this: I think it is a combination of the parents and the fast food companies that are causing this. Of course the fast food companies are getting closer and closer to children, and selling their food in schools is just ridiculous. And sure, some people can only afford fast food and money is an issue but that too is no excuse. I’m pretty sure you can make a homemade meal from the market at just about the same price as a Happy Meal. But once again it all comes down to lazy parents allowing children to use that loaded weapon.

So I think we can solve this problem. If fast food companies stop targeting children and putting their junk in schools we can make this better. But as I have said before the parents need to step up and lay their role in fighting obesity. I believe if everyone made these steps we may have a chance at stopping this epidemic that is sweeping our nation.