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Living close to a fast food restaurant can affect health, but cannot be blamed for health problems.

Fast food is all about convenience. Whether it is in the drive thru or inside the restaurant, most fast food diners are there to get in and out quickly and with as little hassle as possible. Obviously, this is easier to do if there is a fast food joint right up the block than if it is a far drive.

Even those people who eat fast food not because it is there, but because they genuinely like, and sometimes even crave, the food can be affected by proximity. As an example, I love Sonic. I used to drive by one every day, and would stop at least once a week or so. In the seven months since I moved, I have eaten Sonic once. Even though I sometimes crave Sonic, it does not seem worth the trouble to drive around and find one.

Finally, fast food places themselves create cravings. Franchises spend literally millions of dollars a year on marketing. While a large portion goes to television and radio advertising, some certainly goes to on-site marketing. From the glisten of the golden arches to the smiling star, branding is everywhere. For a person who likes a certain fast food restaurant, the sign alone is enough to make the mouth water. Add to that the marquee and the posters in the window, and you have a great marketing trap, especially for observant neighbors. Every time the window or sign changes, the locals notice. If something seems interesting or piques their curiosity, they may be back to find out more, or to try an item. Even if they are not hungry, they may decide to come back "later" and try a new item. If they live close to the fast food restaurant, it could be "sooner" rather than "later."

On the other hand, physical proximity is not an excuse or a cause for litigation. In the end, we are each responsible for what we put into our own body and those of our family. Whether it is half a mile or 15 miles away, we make a choice to pull into that fast food joint. Although we can justify it however we'd like, the reality is that when we make a habit of eating fast food, we lack the willpower to keep driving. Or, quite simply, we are too lazy to cook a fresh meal at home. Either way, while the proximity of the drive thru may be the factor, it is not the cause of the health problems that arise from consuming too much fast food. In the end, only we are responsible for maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

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