http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19439895/site/newsweek/page/0/
Recently, Newsweek has published an article called “A Generation at Risk,” which underlines the possibility that our generation could be the first generation to have a shorter lifespan than our parents. They blame this feat on multiple issues. They say that the media represents food in a way that allows people to just keep eating. They add that parents aren’t doing enough to keep their kids healthy as well as that the availability of food has increased dramatically in the past 10 years. I say they are absolutely correct. It is appalling that one third of our adults are overweight and that almost 20% of our children are overweight (HealthGoods 2007). But since not doing anything hasn’t really helped, I believe we should take an active approach to help the youth of this country.
The one thing everyone doesn’t seem to realize is that this is our American culture, the fast food culture. Our “American-ness” has stemmed from the label that Americans, in general, overeat and are overweight because of it. The only way to get a renewed American identity is to defeat the corporations and systems that are encouraging our children to overeat. You visit almost any other nation in the world, and you will see a vast difference in not only the amount of fast food restaurants but a difference in the average waist size.
After reading this story, I decided it would be fun to drive around and see just how many fast food restaurants there are within 10 min of my house. I was astonished to find 9 different restaurants where this unhealthy food is being served. I say, let’s not only help this epidemic by helping our children make the right decisions about eating and exercising, but let us go one step further and fight the bulge right at its home. We NEED to target these fast food, or fat food, restaurants and have them stop this plague of obesity. They will all respond the same way, “we do understand that these obesity levels need to be lowered, that is why we are introducing our new and improved low fat hamburgers and these healthy choice salads.” Have you ever looked at the nutrition facts that most fast food restaurants have hidden away in the corner where no one will look. I went into a McDonalds and looked at the “healthy choice” salads, which have been introduced by a lot of today’s fast food chains, and they have close to the same or more calories than some of the hamburgers. The CEO’s of the multinational corporations seem to think that just by adding more green food into their meals that it would be perfectly healthy for everyone to eat. Obviously not.
Now I know that this wave of fat is not just the fault of the fast food industry. I admit, that every once and a while, even though I know the consequences of my actions, that I will pull up to the drive through at my local McDonalds or Taco Bell and grab lunch. So I understand that more needs to be done about changing our culture. To create this new identity, we need to recognize that this fast food society we live in is only causing us problems, and that something needs to be done to educate our youth and their parents about the consequences of being overweight and about the options they have to stay healthy. But to start our new and improved culture out right we also need to get rid of the people who encourage us eat unhealthy, who provide us with options to be lazy, and who draw us in with colorful buildings and fuzzy store mascots all which make us grow more and more overweight. Let us make a new identity for ourselves, and let us regain what is rightfully ours. Smaller clothes. (644)
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4 comments:
I’m impressed with the topic you choose and cannot express enough how much I agree with you. Did you know that one BigMac gives you a quarter of your daily value of calories (540 I think!). A large point you’ve made is to teach our children, I think this is the best place to start. Our generation is has already “succumb” to this “fast food nation” but if we can teach the future generations the important facts about what fast food does to our bodies, I can see a large turn-around in the future. (94)
Our fast food culture is disgusting! Have you seen the documentary Super Size Me? This movie changed me last year. I refuse to have my kids eat this unhealthy food and be pulled in to its mass marketing scheme. Do you know about high fructose corn syrup? This sweetener is in EVERYTHING! Beware of what you put in your body. We should all eat as the Japanese do, I read an article last week, (sorry, no link) that their increase life span, 100+ years, is due to the foods they eat, vegetable, fish and rice…not fatty burgers with fries and a milkshake. (102 words)
It’s sad to think of how the “fast food culture” has hit American’s. I think of the marketing dollars that are spent to glorify the fact that you can get tons of food for such a low price. Take McDonald’s for example. How much is it to super size your meal? 39 whole cents?! Who needs to super size anything that is so unhealthy to begin with? Has anyone ever eaten at Claim Jumper? They give you enough food in a single serving to feed a small village. Again, who needs it? I strongly agree with your statement that we need to start educating our children that this way of eating is not healthy and will post significant health risks to them in the future. Great topic and excellent ideas! (130)
This fast food culture the Americans have created has created a disgusting epidemic. In the past, families would work together,cook together, and eat together. Now how offen do you see kids and their parents even eat together let alone make dinner together? The American fast paced culture has driven our traditions and customs away which has resulted in less family time in teach a healty living practices. Take into account, that 60 years ago, bread was still make with the basics, yeast, flour, water, salt, and maybe some sugar. Now we choose to eat breads and buns that contain high fructose corn syrup. Look closely because even your "whole grain" breads may contain the sugar alternative. Then take a look at our food pyramid and compare it to other ethnic groups. Some include water and exercise as essentials. Their foods don't contain the additives and perservitives as ours do, unless it comes from us. Other countries still eat fresh foods and eat together. Why can't we?
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