Create a 4 page essay paper that discusses Fast food: Are we taking it too far by blaming fast food restaurants for obesity.This essay "Fast food: Are we taking it too far by blaming fast food restaur

Create a 4 page essay paper that discusses Fast food: Are we taking it too far by blaming fast food restaurants for obesity.

This essay "Fast food: Are we taking it too far by blaming fast food restaurants for obesity?" describes the impact of the fast food on the level of obesity among the USA's citizens. That obesity is increasing amongst all age groups and genders in the United States is an established fact. However, that fast food is responsible for this increasing rate of obesity cannot be inferred from this fact alone. In order to link fast food to obesity it is first necessary to demonstrate that fast food contributes to obesity by providing meals that have an inordinately high fat content and/or contribute to excessive caloric intake.

This fact becomes apparent when the content of typical fast food meals is considered. A McDonald's' Quarter Pounder with Cheese contains 510 calories, 26 grams of fat and 12 grams of saturated fat. That comprises 40% of an adult's daily intake of fat and 61% of their intake of saturated fat in that one item. (McDonald's, “Nutrition Exchange”) Presumably, it constitutes even a higher percentage of a child's daily intake.

A large order of french fries adds another 500 calories, 38% of daily fat intake and 17% of daily saturated fat intake. (McDonald's, “Nutrition Exchange”) In total then, a Quarter Pounder with Cheese and a large order of fries amounts to 1010 calories, 78% of daily fat intake and 78% of daily saturated fat intake. In other words, a person would have to eat virtually no fat in the remainder of the day to not exceed their recommended daily intake of fat and saturated fat.