by Paul Lines

Created on: June 16, 2009   Last Updated: June 20, 2009

Is fast food addictive? This is a debate that has grown, during the past two decades, into a continuing battle between the fast food brands and the scientific and health care providers regarding whether fast food has addictive qualities and therefore could possibly be a seen major causal factor in the growing obesity problem that is affecting the population of many western countries, including the US and UK.

In 2003 two research studies in the US, using rats as the subject of their tests, suggested that there was an additive quality within the ingredients of many fast foods. These studies, conducted by Dr Hoebel in Princeton and Ann Kelley in Wisconsin, argued that the fat, salt and sugar contents of fast food can lead to a situation where withdrawal from them for any length of time can lead to anxiety and craving, which consequently meant that some people would need to replenish their fast food intake. Indeed Ms Kelley suggested that fast food could be as addictive as heroin.

However, at the announcement of the news, two independent experts questioned the validity of these findings. Michael Jacobson, of the Centre for Science in the Public Interest suggested there was a lack of evidence and Dr Randolph from Toronto argued that these ingredients caused 'binge' results rather than addiction.

There have been similar arguments and counter-arguments regarding the addictive qualities of fast food being produced by psychiatrists and others in the therapy and counselling professions, with some agreeing that fast food is addictive and others seeing it's consumption solely responsible for creating a craving. Based upon this diversity of evidence and opinion one is still left with the unresolved question of whether fast food is addictive or not. Maybe one showed extend the analysis of this issue into other areas as well as the effect of the ingredients to find the answer.

There is no doubt that the ingredients consumed in excess are harmful to health. Nevertheless, of itself that does not mean that the product is addictive. However, there are other elements surrounding fast food that make the consumer purchase these products on greater numbers of occasions than is good for their health.

In the first place one has to accept that the marketers of fast food products are perhaps the best promoters in the commercial world. Aided by significant advertising budgets, which result from the unique capital generating franchise systems employed by these organisations, fast

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>