Fast Food vs. Healthy Foods

Fast Food vs. Healthy Foods Is fast food causing obesity? It is an important topic, but who is causing it and responsible, is more important. Parents are blaming fast food industries for the fault of their children’s overweight, when in reality, parents are not taking the blame for their child’s obesity and exercise problems. Now in days obesity is becoming more and more common in a child’s childhood and considered important. According to Daniel Weintraub, “A public health group called last week for Governor Gray Davis to declare childhood obesity a state emergency and take immediate steps to reduce it” (42, 1). Obesity is becoming more and more common in childhood and should be declared an emergency. People must try to help reduce it before it grows even more and becomes more of a bigger problem than it already is. Who is actually responsible for this rapidly growing problem? “It’s the fault of parents who let their kids eat unhealthy foods and sit in front of the T.V or computer for hours at a time” (42, 5). Parents are in charge and responsible for a child’s exercise habits and what they eat. They should be teaching children healthy eating and exercise habits. Parents should face the fact that they are in charge for what their kids eat and what they do to exercise. Fast food access is becoming easier, everywhere from offices and campuses to busy street corners, instead of healthier foods and exercise, in the vending machines. “The center blamed the problem on the increasing consumption of fast food and soft drinks, larger portion sizes in restaurants, the availability of junk food on campus, advertising of junk food to children and their families, and lack of consistent physical education programs in the schools” (42, 8). There are resulting more vending machines of fast foods on school campuses and less exercise or less time on the Physical Education programs. The vending machine also makes it a lot more “affordable” and a “great” snack. Since there is less exercise, of course people are going to start gaining weight “And more minorities than white children were overweight, though the study’s authors said the data didn’t allow them to draw any conclusions as to why that was so” (42, 7). Race doesn’t affect if a child is overweight, not just white children are overweight and obese. In result of more fast food industries less farmers’ markets are available that led to less access to fresh vegetables. As a result, there is less access to healthy, freshly picked foods like fruits and vegetables. When it comes to eating healthy, it is hard because healthy foods take long to make and fast food is well, fast! “It’s not easy, especially when both parents are working or there is only one parent in the home” (43, 13). The children tend to exercise less when parents are around often to push them to do exercise well. Some kids eat and eat and eat but never exercise which leads to a lot of weight gain and eventually leads to overweight and obesity. Fast food may sound good and inexpensive but it results to be the complete opposite. “Fast food is fast. It can also seem cheap, at least before you start adding the fries and sodas and desserts. And a T.V or video game can be like an opiate that quiets a restless child so a weary parent can get some rest of his own” (43, 13). Fast food is fast and ready in minutes and on the other side healthier foods take longer to make and prepare. If they order fast food, parents can rest a lot more often from hectic work schedules. Lastly, parents are just plain tired and lazy to make a healthy dinner or lunch, do they decide to order fast food or take out. When the parents are blaming fast food industries for the fault of their children’s childhood obesity they should really just face the fact and step up to the plate and admit it is their own fault because they are responsible what their kids eat and their exercise habits. Parents are the real reason why the percentage of obese kids is so high here in this country. They are in charge of what they feed their kids and their plans to exercise habits. Parents actually have the nerve to say that fast food is “healthy” for their kids? That’s amazing how people or adults would even think that. It all begins at home on what the parents feed their children and what they teach them to be their exercise for working out, keeping in shape and not putting on weight, put to stay constantly on a healthy weight. Next time parents go to buy fast food for their children just think,”If my children gain weight I know it is my fault and I won’t blame anyone but me. Now is it really worth risking my children to childhood obesity?”

Weintraub, Daniel. “The Battle Against Fast Foods Beings in the Home.” The Sacramento Bee 17 December. 2002. Print

Word Count: 856