by Lindsey Trimmer

Created on: June 11, 2009   Last Updated: June 12, 2009

Obesity is a growing epidemic in the United States. Fast food restaurants among other things are causing a toll on our health and the health of generations to come. There are many appealing aspects to fast food that tend to get one hooked. We have no one to blame for this problem but ourselves. Fast food is not the sole reason that our nation is getting more and more overweight, but it is certainly a big factor. Due to our busy lives and a suffering economy, relying on fast food is growing more popular. Its quick, easy, and affordable. Just what appeals to us the most.

Because our nation is a nation of workaholics, we spend more and more hours at work which causes us to rush through life. How much easier is it to just stop at McDonald's and bring your family home dinner than to come home, get comfortable, prepare dinner, and serve dinner. We just simply don't have the time that we would like to have. Fast food restaurants are convenient and time savers which in turn makes us feel like we have accomplished something. We have more time with our children when we get home, more time to relax, more time to watch our favorite show. What we are not understanding that in the long run, these fast food joints are taking time off our lives. We will have less years to enjoy our family and less years to relax, travel, and do all those things you dreamed about doing after retirement. Because we were so worried about saving time, too lazy to make a wholesome meal, we pay the ultimate price, heart disease. All that fast food restaurants are providing for you are a few extra pounds each year and an increased risk of developing heart disease.

Not only are fast food restaurants convenient, but they are also cheap. These places thrive on the fact that they are able to sell their products at an affordable price. With the economy in the state that it is, there are more and more people spending money on fast food. These fast food chains are no dummies. Each day I see a new commercial promoting the affordability of their products. They are actually taking advantage of nation's citizens who are feeling the brunt of the down slide in the economy. You may have taken a pay cut or lost your job, but your life hasn't gotten less busy. A busy life means less time, which leads to sacrificing your health for a few extra minutes in your day. And the fast food restaurants love every minute of it.

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