decades, fast food has caused obesity, not just in the United States, but all around the world. Besides obesity, fast food can affect the body in many different ways, which can include lethargy and acne. This can be due to carb-heavy foods such as French fries and potato chips. People can also experience high cholesterol from foods filled with trans-fats, such as fried chicken and baked goods. Too much fast food in one’s diet can result in these problems and lead to long-term health issues.
Access to fast food in recent years has become increasingly easier and has had a much larger social impact than when it first began. The origins of the fast-food restaurant were founded over 100 years ago in Wichita, Kansas. The restaurant that started it all was called White Castle. White Castle was a burger joint founded in 1921 and is still active today in over 13 states, with over 345 stores still open as of May 17, 2024. Today, the fast-food experience has expanded worldwide with massive chains like McDonald’s and Burger King. As of 2023, there are 542,006 fast food restaurants all around the globe, with a 2025 estimated global market size of $1.1 trillion.
Fast food has had extensive damage and an impact on the United States society. First off, labor practices, the fast-food industry is known for low wages, minimal benefits, and poor working conditions. Many fast-food workers struggle with job insecurity and lack access to adequate healthcare, and a lack to sustain economic inequality. Second, the environmental impact, the fast-food industry significantly impacts the environment. The mass production of meat, especially beef, contributes to deforestation, greenhouse gas emissions, and water pollution around the globe. In addition, fast food packaging creates substantial amounts of waste, since they are usually made of plastic and Styrofoam, much of which is not recyclable and ends up in landfills.
Fast food restaurants and obesity have caused many problems, such as child obesity. Child obesity occurs when you have an irregular imbalance of energy in the body. About 2% of children with an irregular energy intake will begin to become obese. In addition, about 1 in 5 American families is obese. Luckily, there are many ways to set a good example for children to prevent this. First off, a parent can model a healthy eating pattern, they can give their children many chances to eat fruits and vegetables throughout the day. Another way a parent can set a good example is by setting a consistent sleep routine for their children. Good sleep helps prevent type-2 diabetes, obesity, injuries, and problems with attention and behavior. Researchers are still working to find out how sleep corresponds with obesity. Lastly, another way parents can set a positive example for their kids is to replace screen time with family time. During childhood, too much screen time can lead to poor sleep, weight gain, lower grades in school, and poor mental health. Reducing screen time can free up time for family activities and can remove cues to eat unhealthy food, such as fast food.
Fast food and obesity are major problems; without some help to stop a good amount of it, children and many adults will continue to become overweight and develop health problems. Raising awareness of this is very important to many. If we don’t, the fast-food industry will continue to substantially grow, giving more and more people access to it without a solution for maintaining a healthy intake balance.
Neil Mc Millan is a 7th-grade student who is passionate about health and medicine. He aspires to set a good example for his family and friends and learn how to help others.
Sources:
- CDC. (2024, June 7). Preventing childhood obesity: 6 things families can do. Obesity.
- FDA. (2024, February 5). Food industry. U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
- Gulabani, Y. (2024, May 28). The rise of fast-food culture: Health and society. Fikrah.
- Mandal, A. (2023, January 23). Obesity and fast food. News-Medical.net.
- Pietrangelo, A. (2018, July 25). Fast food’s effects on 8 areas of the body. Healthline.
