The epidemic of fast food and its effect on the health of Americans.

           It is said that the first fast food chain to have started it all was white castle. White Castle was founded in 1921 and played an important role in the development of fast food. During the time it was founded, many people thought hamburgers came from spoiled meat and slaughterhouse scraps. White Castle helped change the public opinion and gave hamburger meat a better reputation nationwide. McDonalds was also a notable key contributor in popularizing the hamburger to the point where it is today McDonalds wanted to take advantage of the rising popularity of cars and developed a system that worked less like a restaurant and more like an automobile assembly line.  They called it a speedy service system.  

                    Mass production is essential for making the fast food restaurant appeal to so many people. Mass produced foods are higher in fat, calories, sugar, salt, and are lower in fiber.  The high content of trans fat, salt, and fats are part of the reason why the food tastes so good.  Researchers suggest that the foods ability to deliver a large amount of calories and fat content in one sitting also gives the food an addictive quality.  The process of mass production involves sending large amounts of food through a factory in a short period of time.  Because of this, the food can become contaminated very easily with just one sick animal or piece of waste.  So when it does get contaminated, it can affect a large amount of people.

     As was just stated, mass produced foods contain a higher content of fat and salt than otherwise home cooked meals.  For example, if you consume a big mac, a large order of fries, a

baked apple pie, and drink a large coke, you will be consuming 1,701 calories, 72 grams of fat, and 1,630 mg of sodium.  The United States Department of Agriculture recommends that most adults limit their daily consumption to about 2,000 calories, 65 grams of fat, and 1,779 mg of sodium.  It goes without being said that food on a regular basis from a fast food restaurant can be damaging to your health.

             In America, 60% of people are either overweight or obese.  Fast food is a driving force behind childhood obesity and plenty of other diet related health problems, including type II diabetes, which used to be rarely found until just recently.  Also, if you are obese, the changes are increased of having asthma and you are 92% more likely to experience asthmatic symptoms.  An unhealthy diet can also lead to cardiovascular disease, which is the number 1 global cause of death.  Research also suggests that almost one-third of cancers are diet related.  Obesity increases the risk of developing cancer in the color, esophagus and kidney.  Fast food can also cause an array of different psychological effects, ranging from depression to hyperactivity.  The trans-fatty acids in the food are the culprit, which have been shown to cause depression, clog arteries, and set the stage for poor mental and physical health.

               Fast food is definitely not going anywhere, so it is up to the consumer to develop self-control and carefully watch what they eat or obesity will surpass smoking as the leading cause of preventable death in America.