first two living close definitions mentioned earlier, there is no less exercise required in popping from your home or place of work to a local fast food restaurant than there would be if one was going to any other type of food outlet.

However, the situation with fast food restaurant home delivery is entirely different, especially if one is living with a partner. Let me set the scenario. If I am sitting in my chair I could wait for my partner to bring to me the fast food promotional delights. With a mobile phone I could ring the order through from the comfort of that same chair. Upon delivery, the partner would transport the food from the front door to my lap. The meal is self contained, so there is no need to rise to collect condiments or cutlery (besides partner can do this if required). Little washing and clearing up is also required. Therefore, with the fast food delivery situation there is little or no physical exercise required. Now that is injurious to health!

With regard to content and ingredient it is true that with a lot of fast food these are questionable in terms of health content. In most cases the ingredients and the cooking process that is used to bring the fast food to the consumer are not the healthiest options. For instance, many fast food dishes contain a level of cholesterol, fats sugar and salt that is in some cases found to be in excess of what is recommended as an intake for the day. Consumed in excess therefore, these products can lead to issues such as obesity and heart problems as well as damage to other internal organs.

Decision making

The main problem with living close to a fast food outlet, however you define that scenario, is ultimately temptation. One could even argue that this is the factor that determines whether fast food is a health risk. Whether that temptation comes if the form of the delicious smells that are emanating from a fast food restaurant or the wonderfully enticing meals that are presented on promotional material, unless or until we succumb to that temptation the fast food cannot damage our health at all. Fast food restaurants are commercial organisations and, as with any other business, they will look for any way possible to promote the benefits of their products in an effort to make us buy and consume.

However, they cannot force us to make this choice. We are (I like to think) intelligent people capable of making rational and informed choices. The concerns about fast food and healthy living have been widely reported over recent years. Therefore, we are all aware that these should be consumed in moderation rather than to excess. The mere presence of a fast food outlet does not endanger our health. Perhaps it is our own weaknesses in dealing with temptation where the problem really lies.

Conclusion

The argument we analysed here was whether living close to a fast food restaurant can impact upon your health. Although the answer is yes, there are provisos. Living close to a fast can only impact upon your health if you give into the temptation excessively and/or if you use it as an excuse for abject laziness. All things in moderation as the saying goes and that is equally rue in this case. If fast food is treated in moderation as with all other food products and if one ensures that a balanced diet and a healthy exercise regime is maintained, it is unlikely to become a major health threat.

Learn more about this author, Paul Lines.
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