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Obesity Epidemic Analysis

Decent Essays

As our society advances and adapts, we continue to come across many social issues. We have just recently abolished slavery, but the after effects of racism still exist, making life difficult for those of color or immigrants in specific areas of the country. Racism is just a small part of the adapting "American Culture", there are many other sociological issues, like that of the obesity epidemic. In Chapter 2 of Gendered Media: Women, Men, and Identity Politics, Ross asks the following question in regards to the obesity epidemic, "But who (or indeed what) is really responsible for the increasing of obesity of our citizens and therefore slimming down our expanding waistlines? The individual or the state?" The blame is constantly shifting between …show more content…

The curbside service, or delivering of food to a customer in a car, started in the 1920s and by the 1940s the service had gone nationwide. By the 1950s, the U.S was suffering from what was referred to as the "Fast Food Industry Boom", franchises were popular for their nationwide standardization, unified advertising, etc (Colburn 2014). As the Fast Food Industry boomed so did obesity and heart disease rates in America. During the 1960s (only a decade after the Fast Food Industry Boom), obesity among adults more than doubled, likely increasing the chances of diabetes, heart disease, etc. The Fast Food Industry had attached itself to the roots of American culture, and it was growing faster than anything at the time. This lifestyle had begun to destroy the lives of families and was the beginning of a war that we are still facing today. Now the big debate that many argue is, whether it's the consumer's fault, the providers' or those helping the …show more content…

As a business grows, it only makes sense to expand; supply must meet demand after all. The issue many Americans face, including myself, has to do with convenience. Our quest for the easy way out has put us in the position we are today, and we are teaching the youth to do the same. Teaching the youth to follow on the path of those before us, will not stop this epidemic. Fast Food is no longer affecting a small portion of society, it is now affecting the world. Fast Food chains are located in every business hub, tourist destination, and metropolitan area in the world. According to the World Health Organization (2015), international obesity rates have doubled since the 1980s. The lack of nutritional knowledge and bad habits passed from generation to generation, have made this an international crisis and a crucial social issue (Whitney 2002). There are several ways to come back from this crisis, we need to call on the government/state, be conscious of the examples we set, limit advertising, and keep an eye on our

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