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Fast food and obesity
healthy491
Posts: 384 Member
in Debate Club
Fast food franchises like McDonalds etc sometimes get blamed for obesity ( especially in certain countries) . Is it really fair to blame them tho? I mean if its about CI<CO then you could eat a homemade salad which may contain more calories than a McChicken. Opinions?
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Replies
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People love to blame everyone but themselves for their obesity. *shrug*51
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it's a lack of education if anything.8
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Chef_Barbell wrote: »People love to blame everyone but themselves for their obesity. *shrug*
boom!1 -
I often wonder if nutrition were taught in school if it would help. I took Home Economics in school and remember learning how to sew and cook but do not remember anyone saying that the crème pie we just made with the whipped topping was calorie laden!14
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Packerjohn wrote: »
'good' or not is a different matter, but eating mcdonalds doesn't make someone obese... eating too many calories does.
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Packerjohn wrote: »
No need to apologise but Steff46 summed it up in her way.
People arent taught about nutrition in schools and it's not emphasised much on TV unless theres some sort of agenda.
I know plenty of people who know absolutely zilch about calories.
I know people who think weight loss ONLY comes from eating salads and other "natural" foods.
..but countries like America who have a big consumer market dedicated to junk/high calorie food at a low cost, do you blame the poor everyday person for knowing any different?
I mean your national dish is Hamburgers. 'nuff said. (and I think you have a few other national dishes too)
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TavistockToad wrote: »Packerjohn wrote: »
'good' or not is a different matter, but eating mcdonalds doesn't make someone obese... eating too many calories does.
Understand, that was why my example was of a 1500 calorie + lunch. A Big Mac, side salad (light on dressing) and Diet Coke not so bad. It's how much one eats. And I would be pretty sure most people know the 2 Big Mac lunch in my example is too much.0 -
Packerjohn wrote: »TavistockToad wrote: »Packerjohn wrote: »
'good' or not is a different matter, but eating mcdonalds doesn't make someone obese... eating too many calories does.
Understand, that was why my example was of a 1500 calorie + lunch. A Big Mac side salad (light on dressing) and Diet Coke not so bad. It's how much one eats. And I would be pretty sure most people know the 2 Big Mac lunch in my example is too much.
Why diet coke as opposed to normal coke?0 -
Packerjohn wrote: »TavistockToad wrote: »Packerjohn wrote: »
'good' or not is a different matter, but eating mcdonalds doesn't make someone obese... eating too many calories does.
Understand, that was why my example was of a 1500 calorie + lunch. A Big Mac, side salad (light on dressing) and Diet Coke not so bad. It's how much one eats. And I would be pretty sure most people know the 2 Big Mac lunch in my example is too much.
so a long distance cyclist or runner who has burned a couple of thousand calories cant use those calories on McDonalds as a refuel...? 1500 cal lunch is not 'too much' for everyone.6 -
Packerjohn wrote: »
Yep!!!2 -
I'll confess the main reason I needed to lose 50 pounds was because I LOVE fast food. It's super convenient and tastes really good to me. I know others can't stand the taste of it. We are a bit of a skewed audience here on MFP though.
I'm now down 30 pounds and guess what I still love and eat fast food. The only reason I've lost 30 pounds is because I realized I'm not immortal and will eventually die. I decided that I wanted to live a longer healthier life. No I'm not perfect because I still eat the greasy/salty stuff but I do make a thoughtful approach to when I eat it and when I don't. I make sure I have the calories to do so. So if that means an additional walk/jog then I decide to do so.
I'm going to bet the majority of people eat fast food because it is as I said...FAST food. No dishes, no meal prep. They'd rather be obese and have the convenience. Welcome to the world we live in.
To your original question no Fast Food places aren't to blame. They aren't shoving the food down our mouths. People just make the choice to eat it. Free Will.
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Packerjohn wrote: »
No need to apologise but Steff46 summed it up in her way.
People arent taught about nutrition in schools and it's not emphasised much on TV unless theres some sort of agenda.
I know plenty of people who know absolutely zilch about calories.
I know people who think weight loss ONLY comes from eating salads and other "natural" foods.
..but countries like America who have a big consumer market dedicated to junk/high calorie food at a low cost, do you blame the poor everyday person for knowing any different?
I mean your national dish is Hamburgers. 'nuff said. (and I think you have a few other national dishes too)
Why are you turning into another "Americans are so unhealthy" thread? OP said nothing about certain countries, she asked if fast food is to blame for obesity, and the answer is no, too many calories are to blame for obesity. The source of those calories can come from fast food, slow food, store bought food or home prepared meals. It really is CICO that matters for weight loss. To optimize satiety and health there are macro and micronutrients to consider as well OP but you can have a healthful diet that includes fast food.15 -
Packerjohn wrote: »
No need to apologise but Steff46 summed it up in her way.
People arent taught about nutrition in schools and it's not emphasised much on TV unless theres some sort of agenda.
I know plenty of people who know absolutely zilch about calories.
I know people who think weight loss ONLY comes from eating salads and other "natural" foods.
..but countries like America who have a big consumer market dedicated to junk/high calorie food at a low cost, do you blame the poor everyday person for knowing any different?
I mean your national dish is Hamburgers. 'nuff said. (and I think you have a few other national dishes too)
Don't make this about America please because obesity is a worldwide problem.16 -
I don't blame fast food, as you can go to any sit down restaurant or cook something at home that could easily be as many calories as what you're eating there. I think people want to blame them because it's so cheap and convenient, they feel they have no other choice but to eat fast food, but no one said you have to eat a burger, fries, coke and milkshake every time you go there. Personally I love their hash browns. If I want a hash brown, I buy one and I log it. No reason anyone else can't be held accountable for what they're consuming.6
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Chef_Barbell wrote: »Don't make this about America please because obesity is a worldwide problem.
Just thought I'd go and do a little fact-checking on this, and stumbled across the attached from the UK Government. Honestly, I'm pretty staggered by what I'm seeing:
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Chef_Barbell wrote: »Don't make this about America please because obesity is a worldwide problem.
Just thought I'd go and do a little fact-checking on this, and stumbled across the attached from the UK Government. Honestly, I'm pretty staggered by what I'm seeing:
lol, I did the same just before you posted.
Surprised by Iceland, then again Im ignorant about their culture.
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I think it's fair to blame them as a culprit, but not blame them as a cause if you know what I mean. The general population does not count calories, so yes, large portions of calorie dense food on a regular basis are not for the typically sedentary individual. Many fast food restaurants tend to have a generally high calorie menu. There is a reason regular restaurants don't get blamed as often despite a similarly calorie dense assortment. Most people don't dine out in regular restaurants nearly as often as they go for fast food and takeout, so it takes a bigger toll on their calorie balance.
I also don't think it has anything to do with education. The healthy "plate" is everywhere and all over. Food servings are on packages and even gradeschoolers know the general recommendations. Some menus include the calorie count. It's about getting people to give a *kitten*, because many don't. The thought of food discipline is just not as attractive as large fries.
For the average calorie counter, I don't believe fast food is to blame. Unless they Tetris their way around high calorie meals in unsustainable ways, they should be able to manipulate their calorie input and output to fit something overly indulgent without having any effect on their weight loss/maintenance efforts. I mean I can afford up to 2000 calorie meals every now and then (fast food or otherwise), but if I do it often I would need to not eat many of the other things I love and to over-exercise and burn out on a regular basis.2 -
healthy491 wrote: »Fast food franchises like McDonalds etc sometimes get blamed for obesity ( especially in certain countries) . Is it really fair to blame them tho? I mean if its about CI<CO then you could eat a homemade salad which may contain more calories than a McChicken. Opinions?
People who "blame" them seem to think that easy cheap food is too difficult to resist or something about fast food is and leads to people (perhaps themselves) eating worse. I do think that's an excuse and the responsibility is individual. Someone who chooses to can (among other things) eat reasonable calorie meals from a fast food place or not eat it so often that it's an issue. I think it's more of an issue that when choice is available some people will make trade-offs that others consider unwise (or that are unwise for their health).*
*By unwise for their health I mean overeating or maybe not having a good balanced diet, not eating fast food sometimes.0
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