An Analysis of the Global Fast Food Market and Health Impacts

This essay examines the global fast food market and its detrimental effects on human health. It highlights the rapid growth of the fast food industry and its adaptation to global marketing strategies. The essay emphasizes the ignorance surrounding the harmful health consequences of fast food consumption, which include increased risks of cardiovascular diseases, obesity, diabetes, and other chronic health problems. It discusses how fast food lacks essential nutrients and can negatively affect brain function. The essay cites research on the ingredients used in fast food, such as trans fats, cholesterol, and preservatives, and their links to various health issues like heart diseases, kidney problems, cancer, and depression. It also explores the impact of processed foods, sodas, and fried foods on overall health. The essay concludes by recommending measures to restrict fast food intake, promote healthier eating habits, and address the growing health crisis associated with the global fast food market. The essay underscores the need for changes in individual lifestyles and societal focus to mitigate the harmful effects of fast food consumption.

Running Head: THE GLOBAL FAST FOOD MARKET AND ITS HARMFUL EFFECTS ON HEALTH
The Global Fast Food Market and its Harmful Effects on Health
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The Global Fast Food Market and its Harmful Effects on Health
The Global Fast Food Market and its Harmful Effects on Health
According to Metin and Kizgin (2015), fast food is understood to be the world’s fastest
growing market of food types. Given the rising competition in the global environment, fast food
companies are gradually adapting to different types of marketing channels. The fast food companies
are primarily concentrated on meeting the growing needs of the consumers and delivering price
sensitive products. The globalized fast food market rests on the assumption that individuals desire
the same kind of food products irrespective of the geographical location they reside in. With
globalization setting in, the global fast food market has become one centralized market place.
However, there is a large amount of ignorance of the harmful effects of fast food consumption in
almost every part of the globe today.
Bhoge (2015) highlights that cooking and eating healthy food is often regarded as a tedious
job for children and professionals. This ultimately leads to vulnerability towards the ill effects of fast
food/junk food. Researchers argue that fast food consumption leads to excess fat and carbohydrates
along with sugar which makes human being prone to cardiovascular diseases, obesity, diabetes and
other chronic health problems. It is also important to note that junk food tends to modify the
activities of the brain which can be compared to the intake of harmful drugs. Fast food notably does
not contain the essential nutrients that the human body needs to survive and this is evident in the
increasing mortality rates in different parts of the globe.
According to Vogli, Kouvonen and Gimeno (2014), fast food like doughnuts, pizza, cookies,
biscuits and pies can lead to an increase in the levels of trans fat and cholesterol in the body. This
increases the risks of heart diseases or stroke and makes the body more susceptible to the
development of type 2 diabetes. Other fasts foods often lead to kidney problems and diseases, cancer
of the stomach, depression and even asthma. On the other hand, packaged cookies are recorded to
cause change in the weight, decrease in the appetite, confusion, blood conditions etc. Sodas and

The Global Fast Food Market and its Harmful Effects on Health
Colas have led to a serious effect on the bones and teeth and reproduction. Researchers have also
found out that fried food tends to cause Alzheimer’s, clog the arteries of the heart, cause aneurysms
in the brain and respiratory problems. Apart from this, cake frostings that often seem to be harmless
and irresistible can cause nausea, weight gain, cancer, liver problems, tooth problems, heart diseases
and even infertility in women. The primary reasons for the ill effects of fast food on our health are
the ingredients that are used along with preservatives. Frozen fast food is considered to be one of the
deadliest types of foods since they cause the maximum amount of harm on the human body. The
below illustration indicates the awareness levels among people on the harmful effects of fast food:
Source: Bhoge (2015)
Arya and Mishra (2013), specify that the processing of food and the increase in the calorie content is
directly the cause of the ill effects on the health of human beings. Foreign Direct Investment models
tend to bring in additional revenue to the country of expansion and thus boosts the economy. The
selfish motives of the governments have led to an increase in the fast food consumption especially
among children and adolescents while the agricultural production the country is hampered to a large
extent. Researchers recommend several measures that can be adopted to restrict the intake of fast
food for children and promote the idea of natural, organic and home cooked food to increase the
longevity of human beings. A definite need to change the eating habits and lifestyle of individuals is

The Global Fast Food Market and its Harmful Effects on Health
required to be done in the best interest of the present and the future generations. Although a
significant number of people in the Western countries have already started switching their food
habits to organic products; however, the statistics in developing countries are highly worrisome. It is
essential for parents to focus on the consumption of healthier diets for adolescents and children to
reduce the addictiveness to junk food or fast food. Arguably there are much more ill effects of fast
food consumption than what meets the eye. It is a direct effect on the lifestyle and the society as
well. Hence, a dire need for the removal of fast food from our routines is called for.

The Global Fast Food Market and its Harmful Effects on Health
References
Arya, G. and Mishra, S. (2013). Effects of Junk Food and Beverages on Adolescent’s Health – A
Review Article. IOSR Journal of Nursing and Health Sciences. Vol 1. Pp 26-32.
Bhoge, N. Y. (2015). Junk Food and Human Health: A Synoptic Review. International Journal of
Theoretical and Applied Sciences. Vol 7(1). Pp 51-55.
Metin, I. and Kizgin, Y. (2015). Multinational Fast Food Chains’ “Global Think, Local Act Strategy”
and Consumer Preferences in Turkey. International Journal of Marketing Studies. Vol 7(1).
Vogli, R. D., Kouvonen, A. and Gimeno, D. (2014). The Influence of Market Deregulation on Fast
Food Consumption and Body Mass Index: A Cross-National Time Series Analysis. World
Health Organization.