Introduction
Fast food, as a reflection of the accelerated pace of life, entered the mainstream long before the term itself was established in the minds of citizens worldwide. Nevertheless, in the U.S., this eating style acquired clear criteria, standards, the right to global expansion, and unquestionable popularity among the people.
Discussion
One does not need to be an economist to comprehend the success of fast food and its survival, even in times of crisis. The high demand for junk food is one of the reasons for the prevalence of obesity, a problem that has not been solved for decades (Taillie et al., 2019). At the same time, one of the factors in favor of choosing fast food is the low price compared to other catering. Since the cost of such institutions for space, equipment, and products is minimal, the price of ready-made meals is low and available to everyone.
It means that the demand for unhealthy food is elastic concerning price, and an increase in cost or taxation can reduce consumption. Demand will react to changes in price tags, as consumers are sensitive to money issues and prefer to buy alternatives to expensive, unhealthy products. However, at the same time, the deadweight loss will not be high, and the reasons for a slight change are the eating habits (Taillie et al., 2019). Even if the level of demand drops, it will not be very large compared to the supply.
Taxation is a positive idea, which could lead to an increase in healthy food consumption, but this process requires a long time. Consumption of products containing free sugars is now one of the major global contributors to the growth of obesity and diabetes (Taillie et al., 2019). Reducing the consumption of foods containing free sugars would improve nutrition and reduce the number of people who are overweight and suffer from related diseases.
Conclusion
However, consuming junk food leads to obesity and diabetes only in conjunction with low or even very low physical activity. Moreover, some factors contribute to the low nutritional culture instilled since childhood. Price increases alone are unlikely to change the situation with obesity and related diseases for the better dramatically (Taillie et al., 2019). To make the change more tangible, additional measures are needed, particularly promoting a culture of healthy eating from a young age.
Reference
Taillie, L. S., Busey, E., Stoltze, F. M., & Dillman Carpentier, F. R. (2019). Governmental policies to reduce unhealthy food marketing to children. Nutrition Reviews, 77(11), 787-816. Web.