Are We Taking It Too Far by Blaming Fast Food Restaurants for Obesity? When Is It Individual Responsibility and When Is It Appropriate to Place Blame?
The blame for obesity is almost always placed on fast food restaurants alone. However, the rise in obesity is contributed by several factors – a change in lifestyle, less exercise, bigger food portions and targeted marketing.
To be fair, the presence of fast food industry is fueled by a major change in the lifestyle of today’s generation. The advancement of technology and modern appliances has changed the way we live, harming us in some ways. We drive to work or school instead of walking or cycling. We sit in front of the computer or television for long hours instead of running at the neighborhood with friends. The same goes with our choice in diet. Rather than preparing meals in the kitchen, we would opt for a convenient and time-saving meal at the fast food restaurant (Nutracheck.co.uk, n.d., para. 9). Eating at fast food restaurants eventually becomes an acceptable trend in the current society even though most people are well aware that fast food is bad for them (Whatscookingamerica.net, 2002, On the Other Hand section, para. 2). This comes down to a matter of choice and individual’s responsibility. For our part, we decide on what we eat and we are responsible for our choice (Nutracheck.co.uk, n.d., para. 10). We are responsible for the choice we made, not the company that provides the food (Whatscookingamerica.net, 2002, On the Other Hand section, para. 2).
In a typical family setting, one would discover that both husband and wife are working. Otherwise, they would not be able to afford to buy a house or even fund their children’s higher education. With more women joining the workforce, they no longer have the luxury of shopping for fresh grocery at the local market and preparing healthy meals for the family (Whatscookingamerica.net, 2004, How We Got So Fat section, para. 3). In order to feed their families, these women have not much choice left but to opt for buying fast food. This is the easiest, most convenient and most affordable option for most
To be fair, the presence of fast food industry is fueled by a major change in the lifestyle of today’s generation. The advancement of technology and modern appliances has changed the way we live, harming us in some ways. We drive to work or school instead of walking or cycling. We sit in front of the computer or television for long hours instead of running at the neighborhood with friends. The same goes with our choice in diet. Rather than preparing meals in the kitchen, we would opt for a convenient and time-saving meal at the fast food restaurant (Nutracheck.co.uk, n.d., para. 9). Eating at fast food restaurants eventually becomes an acceptable trend in the current society even though most people are well aware that fast food is bad for them (Whatscookingamerica.net, 2002, On the Other Hand section, para. 2). This comes down to a matter of choice and individual’s responsibility. For our part, we decide on what we eat and we are responsible for our choice (Nutracheck.co.uk, n.d., para. 10). We are responsible for the choice we made, not the company that provides the food (Whatscookingamerica.net, 2002, On the Other Hand section, para. 2).
In a typical family setting, one would discover that both husband and wife are working. Otherwise, they would not be able to afford to buy a house or even fund their children’s higher education. With more women joining the workforce, they no longer have the luxury of shopping for fresh grocery at the local market and preparing healthy meals for the family (Whatscookingamerica.net, 2004, How We Got So Fat section, para. 3). In order to feed their families, these women have not much choice left but to opt for buying fast food. This is the easiest, most convenient and most affordable option for most
References: Nutracheck.co.uk (n.d.). Who 's To Blame For Obesity?. [online] Retrieved from: http://www.nutracheck.co.uk/Library/WeightLoss/who-s-to-blame-for-obesity_1.html [Accessed: 31 May 2013]. Protraineronline.com (2011). Obesity. Who’s to Blame?. [online] Retrieved from: http://www.protraineronline.com/nutrition/obesity-whos-to-blame/ [Accessed: 31 May 2013]. Whatscookingamerica.net (2004). Super-sizing America: Obesity Becomes An Epidemic. [online] Retrieved from: http://whatscookingamerica.net/HealthBeauty/SuperSizingAmerica.htm [Accessed: 31 May 2013]. Whatscookingamerica.net (2002). The Super-sizing of America: Are Fast Food Chains to Blame for the Nation 's Obesity?. [online] Retrieved from: http://whatscookingamerica.net/HealthBeauty/SuperSizingAmerica.htm [Accessed: 31 May 2013].