Why does the food industry promote obesity?

Question

People are always talking about how fat American's have become so why everywhere you go there's a Fast Food joint on every corner with Big Mac's, Fries, and Chocolate Milkshakes on the menu. Let alone all the Pizza joints and Italian restaurants and Chinese restaurants too? And every job I've had they always have food around to tempt people to eat? At my church they have dinners all the time with fattening food. I used to be skinny and think I could be skinny if I moved to like Japan where they eat healthy and don't live on Cheeseburgers and junk food! If people have become fat in America haven't we been kind of propagadized to become that way by the Fast Food Industry and the junk they put in our foods?

Answer 1

This is because the food industry wants to make money. People generally buy things that taste good and are advertised as healthy. Restaurants use this to their advantage to sell more food. They serve fattening deep fried chicken in salads because people will assume that a salad is healthy and low in fat. With food, it truly is buyer beware, because food companies are making money from the obesity trend in North America.

Answer 2

The answer to your question is simple. Its for the same reason that there is a Wal-Mart everywhere you look. Besides, people need to eat. I am a EMT, and at times we work 72 hrs non-stop depending on the day and which way the wind blows. When in the world would you like us to eat? On the way to a Cardiac Arrest? I think not! So when cant sit down and enjoy a meal, its a life stile we choose and its always on the go.

Answer 3

People have a choice to go there, they make the decision where they go to eat.

I like fast food, but I don't eat it everyday, I eat in moderation.

Also people on the work break, some people may have only 30 minutes, and fast food is fast, cheap, and you don't have to get out of your car.

When I say cheap, some fast food places/food items, are not cheap anymore.

Well there you go, there is my thought on the matter.

Answer 4

because the fast food industry in our country is run by the n***s who we call "the government"

Answer 5

Freedom of choice.  Choose what you want, and don't ask the government to do it for you.

Answer 6

The food industry does not promote obesity. People are in control of there own food intake and what they buy at fast food places or restaurants. Also at restaurants too. You have to have the will power not eat things that are unhealthy for you. The fast food places and restaurants are here to sell food and make money. They have not propagandized us either to become fat. Some people just can not control their eating habits and any ways it is their choice to eat at a fast food place or restaurant in first place. I eat at fast food places too and I also eat at restaurrants. But do not go every day I also eat at home too.

Answer 7

I would have to disagree with us being propagadized(sp?) because we know that all the fast food is bad for us. No one goes into McDonalds and thinks that the Big Mac, Large fry, and huge soda is great for thier diet. Its just like either the above or below poster said its the freedom of choice. No one is holding a gun to thier head or making them buy food. I believe that people in Japan have gotten bigger because we put fast food there but I am not positive.

As for you used to be skinny, its honestly not hard to return that way it just takes discipline. . How about ditch the fast food and if your craving something go to subway. Walk to subway, no mayo or the bad stuff. Work out, diet, join a gym. You cant blame anyone but what you ate to get yourself the way you are now. No one force fed you the fast food.

Answer 8

Though the convenience and affordability of fast food contribute to obesity, it's not the fast food or any other food industry that is responsible for it.  People are responsible for how they spend their money and what they put in their mouths.  Sure temptations abound, but that's when free will and personal responsiblity come into play.  If you've gained weight, you can't blame anyone but yourself.

Answer 9

FA.st foods like chips and fries are loaded with sodIiumand fat............they sell very very fast too

Answer 10

it sells

Answer 11

It's all about money. Fatty food tastes good and therefore---people crave it and want it and buy it. The junk food stores get rich and the people get fat.

Answer 12

why does the cocaine industry promote getting high?

Answer 13

The more food they sell, the more money they make. We need food to survive.

Answer 14

They don't promote obesity.  It is all about personal choices.  If these fast food items were not available people would find other ways to make something just as fattening.  No one has to go to Mcds and get a big mac with large fries, large coke, chicken nuggets and a sundae.  That is all personal choice.  The only one that makes someone obese is that person (unless they are genetically predisposed to obesity or they take a medication that makes them obese).

Answer 15

It's pretty obvious. Businesses are in it to make money. In fact, I believe there are a couple businesses that distribute sweets as well as diet pills.

Everything comes down to money, and a drive thru salad bar probably wouldn't do so well, because people control the demand, businesses bring the supply.

The government doesn't really care because fast food creates health problems so that means more business for the healthcare insustry and pharmaceuticals  etc etc etc.

if a person eats junk, that's their choice.

the better question would be why can't people control themselves.

Answer 16

Everything is about greed for money and overindulgence in our eating habits. Everyone thinks more is better. More money. More food.

The only way things will change is if there is a change in heart and mindset of companies and us consumers. Until then, companies will keep throwing food in our faces and America will continue to suffer from obesity and heart problems!

Answer 17

The food industry isn't "promoting" obesity - they are supplying a demand.   People have choices to make every day, in every situation, and it isn't up to me to tell anyone they shouldn't buy a big mac.  Did someone hold you down and force-feed you or were you a, willing, victim?  I plan to get some Kentucky-Fry tomorrow - the last time I went there was June or July and the last time I went to McD's was two months ago.   Am I the, only, person who has noticed that since women went in the workforce, in such large numbers (post women's lib), people are less well-nourished and much fatter than two generations ago (and the divorce rate has more than doubled)?  Of the 54 girls in my h-s class, only, one was overweight (by 15-20 pounds) - yes, only one and none of the 50 boys were; we each had a mother who, actually, cooked and taught us, by example, the rudiments of a healthy diet.  

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