Food is an important part of our every system. This is because it forms the basis of our health and consequently our ability to function normally in the society. As human beings we need fuel to live. Food is our fuel and our bodies work best if they are topped up with a mix of different types of food. Humans can eat fruit, vegetables, meat, fish, dairy products, eggs, grains such as wheat and rice, seeds and nuts. This is a more varied diet than most other animals. Humans are omnivores. This has helped us to survive in many different environments from hot humid forests, through to deserts and temperate lands and right into the freezing cold lands of the Arctic. Food provides the energy the body needs to grow, keep warm, stay active and think. All food originates from plants (Baines). Green plants are the only organisms in the natural world that can manufacture their own food through a process known as photosynthesis. If our bodies do not have enough of the right types of food then they will not work properly because they will be malnourished. We can become ill and in extreme cases we can die. Our bodies can manage without food for several days without too much harm, but we need water much more frequently (Baines).
Despite this, there are cases where the kind of food has had a negative impact on our very being. This has been orchestrated by the type of food which the population has been feeding upon (Swilling). Rapid changes in the lifestyles of human beings have also been noticed in the food industry. People have changed their feeding habits. For instance, most city dwellers argue that they do not have time to prepare food so they end up having snacks to keep them going. This has brought to the fore that fast food culture which has gained prominence in the western world.
Most people believe that they have an adequate diet and nutrition and are shocked when confronted with statistics that in spite of obesity, 40% Americans suffer from malnutrition (Swilling). Not from lack of food, but from poor nutrition and diet. More shocking is a lack of awareness of the importance of good nutrition and diet to achieve normal weight and good health. Fast food has become a way of life that has caused obesity due to unnatural food consumption, sugar, refined flour, heated fats, meat grown in unnatural environment the use of growth hormones and antibiotics (Swilling). The fast food industry has become a commercial industry whereby companies are busy marketing their fast food products to unsuspecting customers (Schlosser). The rapid growth of the fast food industry has led to the high consumption of fast food by many people. This has also been accelerated by the marketing strategies which the industry has brought to the fore and what has been taking place in this sector.
Over the last three decades, fast food has infiltrated every nook and cranny of the American society. An industry that began with a handful of modest hot dog and hamburger stands in southern California has spread to every corner of the nation, selling a broad range of foods wherever paying customers may be found. Fast food is now served at restaurants and drive – through, at stadiums, airports, zoos, high schools, elementary schools, and universities to mention just but a few. In 1970, Americans spent about $6 billion on fast food; in 2000, they spent more than $110 billion. Americans now spend more money on fast food than on higher education, personal computers, computer soft ware, or new cars. The fast food companies have invested millions of dollars in advertisements alone. For instance, The McDonald Corporation which is one of the leading companies in the fast food industry spends more money on advertising and marketing than any other brand (Schlosser). As a result it is competing for the top most brands in the world. The success of these companies has led to other business ventures coming into the market to compete thus contributing to an increase in the fast food which is available for human consumption.
Fast food and its consequences have become inescapable, regardless of whether you eat it twice a day, try to avoid it, or have never taken a single bite. The extraordinary growth of the fast food industry has been driven by fundamental changes in American society (Schlosser). It is worth noting that despite the fact that the facts are on the table with regard to the effects of fast foods, the industry is growing at a very fast rate. This has led in an increase in aliments which are associated with food. For instance, there has been an increase in health conditions such as diabetes and obesity. This increase is alarming and it is upon the policy makers to ensure that the plight of the unsuspecting people is safeguarded. It is therefore important to ensure that the policy protects the populace by drafting and enacting policies which will regulate the commercial fast food sector.
In conclusion, without these measures, the commercial fast food sector will continue to grow while the health implications of the population will dwindle. This will not only harm the populace, but it will also have an impact on the health budget of the country’s health sector. It is important to make these businesses accountable to some of the consequences of the products that they are exposing the populations to.
Works Cited
Baines, John. Food for life. California: Evans Brothers, 2006.
Schlosser, Eric. Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal. New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2001.
Swilling, Jacob. Beyond Bypass and Chelation for Heart Problems and Cardiovascular Disease. California: Lulu.com, 2004.