Fast foods and childhood obesity

And, what of fast foods?  Are they responsible for this childhood obesity epidemic or what? There have been many, much-heated debates regarding this issue yet no straightforward, single answer.  Childhood obesityis a very complex issue and many factors have brought it to pass.  

But, yes, let's dive in a bit into this subject of fast foods ourselves.  A few facts ...

• Each day, 1 in 4 Americans visits a fast food restaurant *
• In 1972, we spent 3 billion dollars a year on fast food -- today, we spend more the $110 billion *
• French fries are the most eaten vegetable *
• Most nutritionists recommend not eating fast food more than once per month *
• 40% of American meals are eaten outside the home *
• Some states have banned restaurants from cooking with trans fats altogether -- for your info, consuming trans fats increase your cardiovascular risk (so, higher chance of having a heart attack, stroke or higher blood pressure), elevate the bad LDL cholesterol,  and decreased the good HDL cholesterol!
• Many states are now requiring or strongly encouraging restaurants to post their food's nutritional value and caloric content.  

A few years ago in 2004, an eye-opening documentary was released about what eating a diet composed solely of fast foods could do to your health over a 30-day period -- Super Size Me by Morgan Spurlock.  It was nominated for an Oscar and received many other awards.  It is definitely worth taking the time to see and if you decide to purchase it, there is a version of it that comes with an educational tool for children and teens.  

Two informative and helpful articles have been presented a few years ago 2006 by the Associated Content webpage but its value still holds as far as recommendations, suggestions, tips and great information.  It is not an easy thing to ease off of the fast food as there have been research references inferred in the addictive properties of fast foods making it very, very difficult to break the fast food habit  .  So, what is one to do when encountered with hunger and a fast food restaurant within sight?  There are healthy choices at fast food restaurants available.  

*Information provided by Super Size Me

Picture by Leticia Wilson, PhotoXpress