The fast food industry has created an environment in which unhealthy food is cheap and easy to obtain. As a result, many Americans consume large quantities of fast food, which contributes to the country’s high rates of obesity and other diet-related health problems.
Fast food is designed to be cheap, convenient, and appealing. Fast food companies use special ingredients, cooking methods, and packaging to make their products appealing, but they also cut costs by using low-quality ingredients that are not good for your health or the environment. They also get you in the door with low prices and then charge you more for side items like soda or fries than they do for the actual meal itself.
The fast food industry has changed the way Americans eat. A study conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics found that 27% of children between ages 2 and 19 ate fast food on any given day in 2013—that’s up from only 9% in 1977! While this trend has been linked to a rise in obesity rates among young people over time, it has also affected adults as well as children: according to a Gallup poll conducted in 2016, more than half of all Americans said they ate.