Essay on the Harmful Effects of Fast Foods and Societal Interventions

This essay examines the detrimental effects of fast food consumption on public health and the common good. It highlights the increasing prevalence of fast food consumption, especially among the younger generation, and its association with obesity and related health issues. The essay delves into the social impact of fast food, discussing how the fast-paced lifestyle and aggressive marketing strategies of fast-food companies contribute to the problem. It then proposes several intervention strategies to mitigate the negative consequences, including dietary improvements, such as increasing the consumption of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and the promotion of home cooking. The essay references several studies to support its arguments and concludes that addressing this global problem requires a multi-faceted approach involving dietary changes and lifestyle modifications.

Running head: HARMFUL EFFECT OF FAST FOODS
Harmful Effect of Fast Foods
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1HARMFUL EFFECT OF FAST FOODS
In recent time, it is observed that, prevalence of fast food consumption among the
people is enhancing greatly and more specifically the young generation of the society is
highly attracted to the consumption of the fast foods. Fas food refers to those foods that can
be prepared quickly and most of the cases, it is reported that, those foods contain high amount
of saturated fats and calories. As a consequence of the high prevalence of fast food
consumption, the problem of obesity among the population has been enhanced in a great
manner. The problem of obesity among the population not only affects the health condition
of the people but also affects the society in a general manner (Herforth & Ahmed, 2015). In
this essay, the social impact of fast food consumption and the ways of addressing this
problem is discussed in a brief manner.
The consumption of fast foods is greatly affecting the common good of the society as
it is altering the health of the population in the society. In recent time, it is reported that, due
to the fast pace nature of lifestyle of the population is greatly affecting the consumption of the
fast foods in the society as well. Moreover, less amount of time for making healthy foods and
time saving nature of the human being is totally associated with the higher prevalence of fast
food consumption in the society. Moreover, the aggressive marketing strategy of the fast food
companies is altering the common goods of the society as well by encouraging more people
to consume such kinds of foods that contain more amount of saturated fatty acids and
calories. However, it is quite evident that, the fast food consumption is associated with the
problem of obesity and overweight. As this problem is associated with the social disease
burden of the society so, it can be said that, the any kind of promotion of fast food
consumption can be counted as alteration of common good in the society (Reicks, Kocher &
Reeder, 2018). According to the study of Joseph et al. (2015), it is reported that fast food
consumption is correlated with the health hazards and in order to reduce the burden from the
society, awareness program should be executed as a part of the restoration of common good

2HARMFUL EFFECT OF FAST FOODS
in the society as well. Moreover, this study also reported that, higher frequency of fast food
consumption among the children can promote the prevalence of obesity and overweight
among the children. So, it can be said that, alteration of common good is associated with the
high consumption of fast foods.
In order to mitigate the bad effects of fast food consumption in the society a few
strategies can be recommended. The dietary improvement strategy is one of the important
strategies for reducing the bad effect of fast food consumption. According to the study of
Grigger et al. (2016), it is reported that, the dietary improvement strategy is very effective in
preventing the surge in obesity and overweight among the people of society. A dietary
intervention strategy mainly focuses on the enhanced consumption of healthy core foods such
as dairy products, vegetables and fruits as well. According to the study of Pelletier, Graham
and Laska (2014), dietary intervention strategy is quite effective in reducing the discretionary
choices of foods. The study of Grigger et al. (2016), showed concluded that, the restriction of
the portion size was useful for lowering the energy intake. Moreover, the reformulation of
foods from the higher fat content to lower fat content is also helpful for reducing the saturated
fat intake. Along with this, it is also reported that, the substitution of fast foods by high fibre
content foods, fruits, low calorie foods can also be effective in reducing the fat intake among
the population. Therefore, in another study by Morris et al. (2015), it is reported that use of
supplementation foods such as wholegrain cereals and nuts can also be effective in
improvement of the overall diet of quality. On the other hand the study of Hendry et al.
(2016), revealed that, the application of combined intervention of permissive and restrictive
nutrition intervention may also effectively work on the reduction of fast food consumption
and simultaneously help in the modification of behaviour that can reduce the fast food
consumption. On the other hand, the strategy of preparing foods in the households is an
effective strategy for reducing the fast food consumption among the adults. According to the

3HARMFUL EFFECT OF FAST FOODS
study of Reicks et al. (2014), it is reported that home cooking strategy has long term effect on
the improvement of eating behaviour, dietary intake, obesity and other health related
problems among the adults who consume fast foods in a regular manner. On the other hand
the study of Wolfson and Bleich (2014), showed that, the home cooking behaviour is
associated with the consumption of healthy diet among the people. In this study, it was
reported that, a higher frequency of cooking practice in home was associated with the lower
amount of calorie intake / day and cooking dinner at home in a frequent manner can promote
the practice of healthy eating among the population. The study of Herforth and Ahmed
(2015), also supported the previous finding by Wolfson and Bleich (2014). In this study, it
was reported that, there is a negative relation in between the quality of food and foods cooked
outside of the home. It is revealed that, the home made foods are healthier and it cooking of
food at home also promote the healthy food habits.
Hence, it can be concluded that, the consumption of fast foods is one of the serious
problems of todays’ world and day by day the prevalence of fast consumption related
problem such as obesity is enhancing. In order to combat with this global problem, a few
intervention strategies can be recommended that may improve this global burden of the
aforesaid problems.

4HARMFUL EFFECT OF FAST FOODS
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