How drastic is too drastic?
Imagine walking into your neighborhood McDonalds. Instead of seeing a long line of busy people scattered throughout the restaurant, you see multiple people working out on treadmills. Think about the effects that would occur if the only way that people could eat at a fast food restaurant would be if they burnt the amount of calories they were going to consume before eating. Would people continue eating fast food? Would this strategy help the obesity problem in America?
Maybe the treadmill idea is a little drastic, but something needs to be done to stop America’s obesity problem. In recent discussions, a controversial issue has been whether fast food directly relates to this obesity problem. On the one hand, some argue that people have the option to eat whatever they wish. According to this view, people believe that because we live in America, we have the freedom of choice. Freedom of choice means that we have the choice to do whatever we want and this includes eating whatever we want. However, others argue that fast food is unavoidable and people are forced to eat it. This view supports we have no choice and because fast food is everywhere people have to eat it. In the words of Eric Schlosser, one of this views main proponents, “Over the last three decades, fast food has infiltrated every nook and cranny of American society.” The word infiltrate means to filter into, and Schlosser is trying to say that fast food has filtered into every part of America. Because fast food has infiltrated every part of America, people are forced to eat the food because there are simply no other alternatives. In sum, the issue is whether or not the government should prohibit people from purchasing fast foods.
My own view is that the government should not be allowed to stop people from eating whatever they choose, because we live in a free country. Nevertheless, Obesity is a problem that is growing rapidly in America. For example, in 2007, it was reported that around one third of American adults were considered obese. Though I concede that something needs to be done to slow down this terrible issue, I still maintain that it cannot be completely banned, because the fast food industry contributes many jobs and helps the economy. For example, McDonald’s has almost 30 thousand restaurants nationwide; therefore the amount of jobs that just McDonald’s creates is a very large number. Although it cannot be completely stopped because of its help to the economy, the fast food industry needs to be slowed down because of its direct link to obesity. Although some may argue that fast food needs to be banned because it is causing more health problems some illegal products, including tobacco, I would reply that it would be nearly impossible for America’s government to deplete the entire fast food industry.
No one in this world can make a legitimate argument that fast food is healthy. Fast food contains a very high amount of unsaturated fats. As a result of the large amounts of fats in these foods, people consume more calories than their stomach can handle and digest. Although fast food is unhealthy, people continue to buy it because it is very affordable. People
develop a notion that because they can purchase a double cheeseburger for the price of an apple they are getting a deal. To put it bluntly, no part of this is a deal. Perhaps you can purchase a double cheeseburger for the same price if not less than an apple, but unlike the apple, a double cheeseburger can come with a life time of health issues. Besides being cheap in price, fast food is also easily accessible. In the world today, it is rare to be able to pass through a town without seeing any fast food restaurants. Fast food restaurants are simply everywhere in America.
Finally, I ask myself what the American government can do to slow down this problem. An approach the government could take is to eliminate the drive through feature from fast food joints. In fact, I believe this would severely cut down the obesity problem. Almost everything about this notion would help. First, simply getting people out of their vehicles to walk into the restaurant would force some type of exercise upon people. Next, it would make fast food a lot less fast and convenient. Because of the lack of speed and convenience, people could get frustrated and begin boycotting fast food. Third, people seeing the amount of people in line inside the restaurant rather than inside their vehicles may stop them from staying to eat. The only downfall of the riddance of the drive through would be the loss of revenue that fast food restaurants would receive. Fast food restaurants would feel that the government is being unfair by making something that creates so much profit illegal. Although it may be unfair, the reward is much greater than the risk. Again this one simple thing could potentially positively affect America’s obesity problem. In closing, why doesn’t the government try this? Also, how long and how many causes of diabetes need to develop before the government develops a solution?