In the war on obesity, fast food is the number one public enemy. And nowhere is the battle more fiercely fought than in New York City, where Mayor Michael Bloomberg recently banned super-sized sugary soft drinks in order to combat the city's high obesity rates.
But while fast food may be a tempting target, it is not the real problem. We will never achieve lasting weight loss as long as we focus on "blaming and shaming" and bans. Many such programs and policies can make the problem worse.
Obesity and calorie intake
The country's health leaders are trying to tackle the problem by proposing a range of measures.
This includes a "fat tax" on unhealthy foods, legislation to make it harder for children to buy junk food, and a ban on advertising unhealthy food before 9 pm.
But is it really that simple? Will this war on obesity succeed?
Fast foods affect children and youth much worse than adults
Fast foods often have a greater negative impact on children and youth than on adults. This is because a prolonged period of junk food consumption - from childhood to adulthood - can lead to several problems, including obesity, digestive issues and other health concerns. Many fast foods are marketed directly to children, which makes it harder to steer clear of them.
Food choices and consumer behaviour
Food choices of individuals depend on various factors such as behavioural, cultural, environmental and socioeconomic influences.
In the modern age, one of the biggest challenges in nutrition has been how to feed our rapidly-growing population while sustaining a healthy environment and protecting animal welfare. The answer that many have come up with has been to encourage people to eat a balanced diet, as per government guidelines.
Fast foods are generally:
- High in calories
- High in fat
- High in simple carbohydrates
- High in sodium (salt)
- High in saturated and trans fat
- High in sugar
The problem is so bad that many health experts argue that the fast-food industry should be regulated like Big Tobacco. The Center for Science in the Public Interest has called for a tax on sugary soft drinks, which would make them less affordable to kids. Some consumer advocates want calorie counts on menus, while others argue that the government should do more to regulate advertising to children.
Snapshot: Fast food and the war on obesity
- Fast food is linked to higher body mass index, unsuccessful weight-loss and consistent weight gain.
- Fast foods affect children and youth often worse than adults.
- Societal Influences that Shape Food Choices and Obesity Risk
FAQs
What effect does fast food have on obesity?
Weight gain can be caused by eating too many calories in fast-food meals. Obesity may result from this.
Cancer and obesity: Is there a connection?
Obesity is a risk factor for cancer, and the incidence of cancer continues to rise in association with rising rates of obesity.
Can obesity be cured?
From a scientific perspective, obesity is a disease. It can be cured. The cure is simple: eat less and exercise more.
Why should you stop eating fast food?
You are more likely to develop obesity, heart disease, depression, digestive problems, strokes, cancer, type 2 diabetes, and early death from a poor quality diet high in junk food.
How to win the war on obesity?
We can't change the way we eat without changing everything else. It sees obesity as a matter of "energy balance": If energy in exceeds energy out, you gain weight. If energy out exceeds energy in, you lose weight.
