Many today are of the belief that the ubiquity of fast food provides enough enjoyment and economic positives to outweigh its impact on public health. In my opinion, the disadvantages related to health make this a negative development.
Those supporting the fast food industry typically point to the pleasure consumers derive and the employment it provides. There is little to argue about in terms of enjoyment. Fast food is affordable and tastes good. That explains its popularity and makes it accessible for people from even the lowest socioeconomic backgrounds. Moreover, there are obvious economic benefits. Companies like McDonald’s, Burger King, Baskin Robbins, and Domino’s Pizza are some of the largest employers globally. Their economic contributions extend beyond providing poorly paid jobs as they are taxed and thereby strengthen the federal budgets of both developing and developed nations.
Nonetheless, fast food has a huge impact in the health sector. Most tangibly, this concerns to obesity. Studies have shown that obesity rates soar in countries where fast food has become entrenched in the local market. The best known example of this is in the United States, where obesity is reaching epidemic proportions. Related and often symptomatic drawbacks include cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Foods high in fat, sugar, and overprocessed ingredients have been proven to exacerbate these conditions, with heart disease now the single greatest cause of death around the world. This cannot be blamed entirely on fast food but there are very few healthy options on most fast food menus and the majority of companies specialise in quintessentially unhealthy foods like deep fried chicken, cheeseburgers, pizzas, and tacos.
In conclusion, despite the boons for enjoyment and the economy, fast food is a negative taken as a whole given its impact on well-being. It is therefore important to regulate fast food companies to curb their influence.