Fast Foods: Health Risks You Should Know - Essay Sample

Introduction

Fast foods have become an assimilated part of life for everyone. However, very few people consider the health issues associated with this particular brand of products despite their appealing nature. Although the consumption of fast foods once in a while is not necessarily harmful, continuous consumption of these foods may result in adverse health issues for the consumer as multiple health risks are associated with these foods. The health risks associated with fast foods are connected from the original production point to the final detail of preparation before the consumer is served with the delicious and quickly prepared meal. Although fast foods are easy to buy and very cheap for the consumers, the health risks overshadow the five-minute satisfaction that the meal will bring the person.

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Despite the tasty, easy, and fast nature of the fast foods, the consequences of continuous consumption of these foods can be life-threatening. Fast foods are created from fats and calories that are highly saturated. Failure to exercise the body accompanied with continuous consumption of fast food can result in obesity. Even the smallest amount of these foods consists of highly saturated fats. Therefore, people should not be deceived that if they consumed these foods in little amounts frequently, there is no chance of being at risk (Fitness Trends, par 1). Aside from obesity, high accumulation of fats and calories along blood vessels can affect the consumer's heart and result in heat diseases. According to Robin, whatever individual eats can affect the health of their heart as well as the individual's chances of triggering life-threatening heart diseases (2). Additionally, continuous consumption of fats, salts, and sugars within fast foods can weaken the heart and result in conditions such as hypertension.

Fast foods have also been linked to higher body mass index as well as less-successful weight-loss maintenance as compared to the traditional foods that are prepared at home. According to Mandal, fast foods can reduce the quality of diet and provide unhealthy choices among children and adults, thus increasing the risk of obesity. Furthermore, she notes that the continuous consumption of fast foods among children and adolescents has negative consequences more severe as compared to adults as there are high chances of childhood obesity as well as unnecessary heart diseases (par 11-13).

Fast foods can also be a source of food-borne diseases. If the animals are mishandled before, during, and after slaughter, the meat can come into contact with different types of bacteria that may be harmful to people. For instance, Gutierrez noted that pigs and chicken are being cramped in enclosed spaces while the cows are hung upside before slaughter (par 3). Furthermore, Merchant reported that a study indicated that 48% of the soda fountains within the fast-food restaurant encompass caliform bacteria, which grows on feces. Moreover, 11 % of the fountains also contained the Escheria Coli bacteria, while and over 17% contained Chryseobacterium meningosepticum (par 2).

Taking time to prepare a healthy meal has become severe in this fast-paced world since people have hectic routines and even busier social lives. As a result, fast foods emerged as an alternative that is prepared and served quickly and can be served as a takeaway. As a result, fast foods are mostly preferred as an easy and cheap way to eat. According to Myers, fast food restaurants have been categorized as one of the most convenient, as indicated by the success of the fast-food industry (par 3). From this analogy, it is apparent that fast foods are the fastest way of satisfying hunger, but at what cost? Food-borne illnesses are estimated to result in between 6-81 million diseases as well as up to 9,000 deaths each year in the United States (Mead, par 4).

On the whole, fast foods can be very convenient due to their natural and quick preparation methods. Their convenience is especially noted among students and adults who are in a hurry to get back to work or are tired after a long day at work. Furthermore, indulging in fast foods once in a while is not entirely frowned upon. However, everyone should make clear considerations before they make a decision to eat fast food. Consuming large amounts of fast foods can have severe effects on one's health, which is an unnecessary risk. Furthermore, the animals that are slaughtered in the slaughterhouses are mistreated and hygienically neglected, which results in the transmission of unhealthy bacteria and other substances that can affect the health of the consumers in the form of food-borne diseases. Aside from that, fast foods contain high cholesterol, fats, sugars, and salts that contribute to increased weight gain to the point of obesity, among other conditions such as heart diseases, which may result in the death of the consumer. Therefore, despite their convenience, continuous consumption of fast foods may eventually translate to a lot of money spent on hospital bills, which can be easily avoided by eating healthy meals.

Works Cited

Fitness Trends. "How Does Fast Food Cause Obesity?" Fitness, Fitness Trends, Fitness Exercises, Aerobic Exercises, Strength Training Exercise, 2 Mar. 2011, fitness.ygoy.com/2008/11/27/how-does-fast-food-cause-obesity/>.

Gutierrez, David. "Think eating "organic" meat is okay? Think again." NaturalNews, 17 May 2010, www.naturalnews.com/028804_organic_meat_investigation.html.

Mandal, Ananya. "Obesity and Fast Food." News-Medical.net, 27 Feb. 2019, www.news-medical.net/health/Obesity-and-Fast-Food.aspx.

Mead, Paul S. "Food-Related Illness and Death in the United States." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Web, 3 Mar. 2011, www.cdc.gov/ncidod/eid/Vol5no5/mead.htm>.

Merchant, Brian. "48% of Fast Food Soda Fountains Contain Bacteria That Grew in Feces." TreeHugger, 1 Mar. 2011, www.treehugger.com/files/2010/01/48-percent-fast-food-soda-fountains-contain-bacteria-grew-feces.php>.

Myers, Bill. "The Convenience of Fast Food." Bill Myers Online, Web, 6 Mar. 2011, www.bmyers.com/public/1109.cfm>.