Obesity and Fast Food

Cause& Effect: Fast Food & Obesitity

In a study of 6,212 children, found that every day, nearly one-third of U.S. children aged 4 to 19 eat fast food, which likely adds on an extra six pounds per child per year and increases the risk of obesity. The numbers, though alarming, are not surprising since billions of dollars are spent each year on fast-food advertising directed at kids. Over 20,000 ads a year are brodcasted about junk food. An average of 13 billion hamburgers are consumed each year. That's enough to circle the world more than 32 times.

Fast-food lovers consumed more fats, sugars and carbohydrates and fewer fruits and vegetable. They also consumed 187 more daily calories, which likely adds up to about six pounds more per year. The FDA found that, 15 percent of U.S. children and almost one-third of adults are obese.

What would happen if you ate nothing but fast food for a month? Would your body react in a way where it puts you life at risk? Morgan Spurlock put this to the test. He produced a documentry called Super Size Me, where for 30 days he cant eat or drink anything that isnt on the McDonalds menu. He must try everything at least once and supersize his meal if asked. Morgan gained about 25 pounds and saw his cholesterol level shoot up to dangerous levels. Three doctors and a dietician were hired to check his vital signs and give him physical exams throughout this experiment. More than half way throught all three doctors and the dietician advised him for the sake of his health to stop eating, Big Macs and fillet o' fish sandwiches, milk shakes, sodas, fries diet.

What makes fast food so appealing? It's not just hot, tasty, and greasy; it's also convenient. Twice as many adults in the U.S. are obese today as in the 1960s. More than half are people between the ages of 20 and 50 and a quarter are children between the ages of 4 to