Nursing Assignment: Fast Food's Global Health Impact Analysis

This nursing assignment analyzes the global fast food market and its detrimental effects on health. The report highlights the industry's substantial growth and revenue, while also emphasizing the significant health risks associated with fast food consumption. It discusses how fast foods contribute to lifestyle diseases, including atherosclerosis, diabetes, and obesity, by detailing the high levels of cholesterol, salt, sugar, and fat. The assignment emphasizes the direct relationship between fast food intake and adverse health outcomes, such as cardiovascular diseases, and argues that the economic benefits of the fast food market are offset by the costs of treating related illnesses. The report concludes by advocating for regulation and a return to minimally processed foods to mitigate the negative health consequences.

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Nurse Assignment 2
The Global “Fast Food” Market and Its Harmful Effects on Health
The global fast food industry has grown by 2.9% over the past five years to attain revenue of
$856 billion in 2019. Consequently, there has been an overwhelming growth of the business by
3.2% and the number of employees increased by 3.8%. the major global companies owning a
large market share of the fast food market include Yum Inc. and McDonald’s Corporation
(Wang, Wang, Xue, & Qu, 2016). The main products and services that make up the global fast
food market include a snack, pizza, Burger and sandwich among others. According to Schrempf
(2014), the global fast-food industry generates over $570 billion, which is far much greater than
other sectors. The fast-food industry consists of fast-casual restaurants and quick service
restaurants (QSR) which accounts for over 50% of sales in the fast food market.
According to the above statistics one may argue that the increasing growth of the global fast food
industry is much more beneficial both to the citizens and the respective countries because they
provide employment and revenue respectively. The increasing number of restaurants means that
there are employees that are engaged in such outlets thus providing a source of livelihood in a
society of increasing unemployment rate.
Moreover, fast food outlets are easily accessible and convenient because they are located
everywhere thus they help save time for employees and business persons who do not have time.
Fast foods are also cheaper than homemade meals and tasty thus save money. It, therefore,
implies that the less fortunate in the society can afford to have a meal.
The presence of several fast food restaurants also implies that there are multiple play areas for
children and social places. This is beneficial because there are very few playgrounds and the
prevalence of childhood obesity is on the rise. Studies have recommended increasing physical

Nurse Assignment 3
activity among school going children as a strategy to reduce childhood obesity. The playgrounds
can thus be effective in improving the health and wellbeing of children (An, 2016).
Despite the growth of the fast food market and the associated benefits, its effect on health far
much outweighs the benefits. Fast foods are the leading cause of lifestyle diseases both in
developed and in developing countries. Fast foods are the major causes of atherosclerosis
because they contain elevated amounts of cholesterol and salt, both aggravate cardiovascular
health problems (Myles 2014). There exists a direct relationship between the intake of large
amounts of sodium and adverse effects on blood pressure. The increasing consumption of fast
foods which contain high amounts of sodium increases cholesterol levels in the body which
causes atherosclerosis. Such a condition is likely to result in a stroke, heart attack and death
(Farquhar, Edwards, Jurkovitz, & Weintraub, 2015).
Fast foods are also the leading cause of diabetes both in the young and old. Studies have
consistently indicated that fast foods and drinks contain high amounts of sugar. Continued intake
of too much sugar can negatively affect blood sugar levels. If the disorder is not diagnosed early
enough and even the consumption of fast foods regulated, then the disorder may lead to other
complications such as kidney disease, high blood pressure among others (Lean, & Te Morenga,
2016).
Fast foods contain high amounts of fat and calories which leads to weight gain and obesity.
Obesity increases the risk of severe heart disease, cancer and asthma (Wang, Wang, Xue, & Qu,
2016).
As much as the fast food market generates a lot of revenue and is a source of employment to
some, it is also the leading cause of cardiovascular diseases which are expensive to treat. So, it is

Nurse Assignment 4
like the entire money generated through the sale of fast foods is further used in the treatment of
the consumers, thus making no economic sense at all. Furthermore, the sickly citizens as a result
of the consumption of fast foods become unreproductive and morbid, thus increasing the disease
burden to economies. Yes, the global fast food market is growing and generating a lot of
revenue, but it is even much more causing more harm to people. Therefore, it should be
regulated and we should early start going back to the times before industrialization when there
were minimally processed foods.

Nurse Assignment 5
References
An, R. (2016). Fast-food and full-service restaurant consumption and daily energy and nutrient
intakes in US adults. European journal of clinical nutrition, 70(1), 97-105.
Farquhar, W. B., Edwards, D. G., Jurkovitz, C. T., & Weintraub, W. S. (2015). Dietary sodium
and health: more than just blood pressure. Journal of the American College of
Cardiology, 65(10), 1042-1050.
Lean, M. E., & Te Morenga, L. (2016). Sugar and Type 2 diabetes. British medical
bulletin, 120(1), 43-53.
Myles, I. A. (2014). Fast food fever: reviewing the impacts of the Western diet on
immunity. Nutrition journal, 13(1), 61-70.
Schrempf, J. (2014). A social connection approach to corporate responsibility: The case of the
fast-food industry and obesity. Business & Society, 53(2), 300-332.
Wang, Y., Wang, L., Xue, H., & Qu, W. (2016). A review of the growth of the fast food industry
in China and its potential impact on obesity. International journal of environmental
research and public health, 13(11), 1112-1120.
Wang, Y., Wang, L., Xue, H., & Qu, W. (2016). A review of the growth of the fast food industry
in China and its potential impact on obesity. International journal of environmental
research and public health, 13(11), 1112-1119.