Unhealthy Choices: Fast Food restaurants Contribution to Obesity

Anique PeayWalden UniversityPUBH 6165-2Dr. Rubin Howard

purposeThis presentation is intended to show the

effects of fast food restaurants intertwined with obesity .

To alert restaurants why advertising the caloric intake of food is necessary.

Health problems caused by high calorie diet.

Prevention of obesity.

IntroductionApprox. 50,000 fast food chains across

the United States, with McDonalds being the largest restaurant chain (PAMF, 2010).

In the world, there are more than 500,000 fast food places (PAMF, 2010).

Palo Alto Medical Foundation (2010) Fast Food. http://www.pamf.org/teen/health/nutrition/fastfood.html

FAST FOOD CONSUMPTION Americans’ average daily caloric intake

increased from 2,000 to 3,000 calories between 1971 and 2000 (LHC, 2010).

74% of all restaurant traffic nationally, fast food has more per-serving calories than food prepared in the home, and three analyses show a direct association between fast-food availability and obesity rates (LHC, 2010).

Leadership for Healthy Communities (2010) Action Strategies for Healthy Communities: Local and state leaders guide to strengthening physical activity and healthy eating opportunity for youth.http://www.leadershipforhealthycommunities.org/content/view/323/136/

The Daily Yonder (2010). Most Fast Food Per Person and Other Food FactsRetrieved 10/24/2010 from. http://www.dailyyonder.com/most-fast-food-person-and-other-food-facts/2010/02/12/2586

People are eating out more

Silver, L., Nonas, C. (2008) Calorie Labeling in New York City Restaurants: An approach to inform ConsumersRetrieved 10/25/2010 from . http://www.cspinet.org/reports/generationexcess/nycdh.pdf

Low income communities Fast food has become a major source of

nutrition in low-income, urban neighborhoods across the United States (Freeman, 2007).

The overabundance of fast food and lack of access to healthier foods, in turn, have increased African American and Latino communities' vulnerability to food-related death and disease (Freeman, 2007).

Freeman, A. (2007) Fast Food: Oppression Through Poor NutritionRetrieved 10/23/2010 from http://www.diversityinc.com/platform/1757/images/31317284.pdf

The Daily Yonder (2010). Most Fast Food Per Person and Other Food FactsRetrieved 10/24/2010 from. http://www.dailyyonder.com/most-fast-food-person-and-other-food-facts/2010/02/12/2586

FAST FOODS & UNHEALTHY TRANS-FATS

Trans fats (or trans fatty acids) are created in an industrial process that adds hydrogen to liquid vegetable oils to make them more solid (AHA, 2010). 

Trans fats can raise your bad cholesterol (LDL) and lower your good cholesterol (HDL) levels (AHA, 2010).

 Researchers who analyzed the fast food say that daily consumption of 5 grams or more of trans fats raises the risk of heart attack by 25%(Coghlan, 2006).

Coghlan, A. (2006) Fast food awash with ‘worst’ kind of faat. News Scientist: Health. Retrieved 10/24/2010 from.http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn8989-fast-food-awash-with-worst-kind-of-fat.htmlAmerican Heart Association (2010) Trans Fats. Retrieved 1030/2010 from http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/GettingHealthy/FatsAndOils/Fats101/Trans-Fats_UCM_301120_Article.jsp

Advertising caloric intake on restaurant menus

According to NYHD approximately 1/2 of U.S. adults say nutrition information influences their purchasing(Silver, 2008).

When nutrition information for menu items is readily available, consumers choose high-calorie items about 1/3 less often (Silver, 2008).

Silver, L., Nonas, C. (2008) Calorie Labeling in New York City Restaurants: An approach to inform Consumers. New York City Health Department Retrieved 10/25/2010 from . http://www.cspinet.org/reports/generationexcess/nycdh.pdf

Conclusion The rise of obesity in the United States,

health officials must find new innovative ways to reduce health risks. Through advertising dietary calorie intake, on all restaurant menus; will help educate our communities with choosing healthier choices. This in fact, will help preserve our quality of life, through a simple step of primary prevention. Therefore, these forwarding steps in reducing one’s risk factors to obesity, can reduce diabetes (type 2), hypertension, and cardiovascular disease.

ReferencesCoghlan, A. (2006) Fast food awash with ‘worst’ kind of faat. News Scientist: Health. Retrieved 10/24/2010 from

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn8989-fast-food-awash-with-worst-kind-of-fat.html  Freeman, A. (2007) Fast Food: Oppression Through Poor NutritionRetrieved 10/23/2010 from http://www.diversityinc.com/platform/1757/images/31317284.pdf  Leadership for Healthy Communities (2010) Action Strategies for Healthy Communities: Local

and state leadersguide to strengthening physical activity and healthy eating opportunity for youth.Retrieved October 24, 2010 from

http://www.leadershipforhealthycommunities.org/content/view/323/136/ Palo Alto Medical Foundation (2010) Fast Food. Retrieved October 25, 2010 from http://www.pamf.org/teen/health/nutrition/fastfood.html Silver, L., Nonas, C. (2008) Calorie Labeling in New York City Restaurants: An approach to

inform Consumers. Retrieved 10/25/2010 from http://www.cspinet.org/reports/generationexcess/nycdh.pdf The Daily Yonder (2010). Most Fast Food Per Person and Other Food FactsRetrieved October 25, 2010 from

http://www.dailyyonder.com/most-fast-food-person-and-other-food-facts/2010/02/12/2586