Consequences of over-reliance on food from restaurants/fast foods vendors

Introduction

David (2008) defined food consumption as the ingestion of food, provide for all organism for their nutritional or medicinal needs, particularly for energy and growth. Animals and other heterotrophy must eat in order to survive. Carnivores eat other animals, herbivores eat plants, omnivores consume mixture of both plants and animal matter and detritivores eat detritus fungi according to   him digest organic matters outside their bodies as opposed to other animals that digest their food inside their body.

Gordon (2003) revealed that over consumption of fast food is being blamed on for a wide range of chronic diseases, from cardiovascular diseases to obesity and diabetes. He also asserts that fats and sugar seem to appear to emotion and are the dominant object for food cravings.

National Institute of Health (NIH) (2013) emphasized on effort to meet the needs of more nutrition – conscious consumers, some fast food restaurants have salad bars, whole grains buns, grilled chicken and lead meat. In addition, a number of fast food restaurants will provide an information sheet on other menu.

Truth (2017) opined that fast food in the term given to the food that can be prepared and served very quickly, while any food or meal with low preparation time can be considered to be fast food. According to him the term refers to food sold in a restaurant or store with preheated or precooked ingredient and served to the consumer in a packaged form for takeout/take away.

Eric (1974) fast food as a food vendors which specialized in a specific types of food characteristic of a given cultural or ethnic tradition. In some cultures, it is typical for street vendors to call-out prices, sing or chant sales pitches and play music to engage in other forms of “street theatre” in order to engage prospective consumer.

Conceptual framework

Merriam (1951),defined fast food as the term giving to food that can be prepare and served very quickly. It is also cooked food that requires little preparation before being served. Food preparation workers should perform a variety of food preparation duties other than cooking, such as, fruits and vegetables, to prepare for cooking or serving.

Isabel(2005),defined fast food as a large portions, low prices and high sugar contents. Although eating fast food has been shown to increase caloric intake and risk of becoming obese. The obese man will be prone to so many affluent disease.

Harley (1992), described fast food as a food that is prepared quickly in a restaurant kitchen. Diners order the food and then eat in inexpensive restaurants or take the food home to eat. This is common among Nigerians especially young girls who travel on transit within Nigeria.

Truth(2007),defined fast food consumption as a metabolic adoption to a high-fat and high-carbohydrate diets in children and adolescents. This trends in energy and macronutrients intakes, due to increase in body weight and physical activity in human beings. Consumers should be aware that consumption of high –fat of fast food may contribute to high energy level and fat intake, and lower intake of healthful nutrients. According to Global Industry Guides (GIG),defined fast food market as the sale of food and drinks for immediate consumption ,either on the premises or in the home.

An overview of public nutrition attitude

At one time, getting enough food to eat was the concern of a major portion of the United States population. There was little scientific information indicating that food had a significant role in chronic disease development except as it related to starvation or overeating (Bullough & Bullough, 1990). Currently according to them food or food component are implicated in every major chronic disease considered a leading cause of death all over the world.

They went further to assert that awareness, interest and concern of the public about the role nutrition plays in health maintenance has increased tremendously during the past decade. The public now demands nutrition information that will help them maintain health and prevent disease. Qualified nutritionists or dietitians (registered dietitians or RDs) are attempting to meet nutrition education needs of the public. However, RDs are few campared with the population served. Other health professionals as they say are increasingly assuming responsibility of educating the public about nutrition, and government agencies are attempting to dispense nutrition information in a timely, well publicised manner. In the nutshell, this information provides an overview of public nutrition attitude and practices, the nutritional and health status of a population, the role of nutrition in preventing or treating major health problems, and an update of nutrition knowledge.

Assessment of nutritional status and dietary intake

The unique contribution of dietitians and nutritionists to health care is their knowledge of food, food components, nutrients, food’s use and its relationship to health disease (Bullough and Bullough, 1990). The ultimate concern of nutritionist and dietitians according to them is the nutritional and health status of individuals. Nutrition is defined by them as an individual’s health as influenced by the intake and use of food. Below is a classification recommended dietary allowances

Source: National Academy of Science (1990)

• Values expressed as daily amount
• The energy value of food is expressed in terms of a unit of heat Kilocalorie (abbreviated Kcal)
• Kilocalorie and calorie are often used interchangeably.
• Kilocalorie is defined as the amount of heat requires to raise the temperature of 1kg of water.

Assessment of nutritional status must include evaluation of clinical, biochemical, anthropometric and dietary intake data. Hence workers according to Bullough and Bullough must consider appearance of the individual for example, skin, integrity and wound healing (clinical) whether an adult has lost or gain a significant amount of weight in a short period (anthropometric) if a haemoglobin level is low (biochemical) and whether nutrient intake is adequate (dietary).

Baker and Joseph (1988) found out from a research that about 10% of the population of a society believes that additives used in preparing fast food are the leading cause of cancer. Many people read in books, magazines and bulletins that 35% of all cancers are related to diet and think this means additives. However, the figure referred to lack or excess of food components, many of which are naturally occurring; that is, they refer to diet high in fat and low in fibre. They further posited that occasionally, addictives or products formed with addictives, such as nitrosamines found in some cured meats are found to be carcinogenic, but this is not widespread occurrence.

Taylor (1986) on addictives and adverse reactions stated that the belief that food addictives cause widespread adverse reaction has not been substantiated. However, although not widespread, severe or fatal reactions occasionally occur as with sulphites. Sulphites cause some defects, as well as acute asthma attacks and anaphylactic shock before its ban in the preparation of fast food.

Researchers suggest that the percentage of the food dollar spent eating out currently exceed 40% (Morgan & Gonngetas, 1986). Although researchers report that meals eaten out tend to be lower in nutrient density, they make up a small portion of the daily intake. Therefore, eating out does not have a significant negative effect on nutrient adequacy, some reports indicate that 2 dollars of every 5 dollars spent eating out is spent on fast food restaurants – a fact that concern many in the nutrition community. However, the advent of salad in these establishments has made it possible for the consumer to choose a varied and more nutritional meal. Nevertheless, individuals on special diets, especially low-cholesterol, low saturated fat, or low-sodium diets as well as those concerned about cardiovascular disease prevention, should limit the meals they eat in fast food restaurants.

History of fast food consumption

Tracee(2009),revealed that eating frequent fast food meals causes teens and young adults to gain more weight and face an increased risk of developing insulin –resistance .According to the result found by the National Heart ,Lung and Blood Institute(NHLBI) revealed on issue of “the Lancet “ that after 15 years, those who ate at fast-food joints more than twice each week, compared to those who ate less than  once a week, had gained an extra ten percent  and had a number-fold greater increase insulin-resistance, a risk factor for heart disease. Obesity and diabetes are on the risk of those people that consumed fast food on daily basis. Because of that, it is extremely difficult for them to eat in a healthful offerings, the menus still tend to include foods high in fats, sugar and calories and low fiber and also, nutrients. People need to evaluate how often they eat meals at fast food restaurants and think about cutting back. One reason for the weight gain may be that a single meal from one of these fast food joints often contains enough calories to satisfy a person’s caloric requirement for the day.

The influence of fast food consumption

The influence of fast food and the potential danger it possesses by its regular consumption is shocking obesity, increase in cholesterol levels, nutritional deficiencies, cardiac disorder, loss of muscle mass, depression and sexual dysfunction. All these disease can be cause by eating fast food on a regular basis. Soaked in transfat and loaded with calories, fast foods are labeled as “health hazards” by many leading medical professionals. Listed below are some of the hazardous health influence of fast food consumption. Fast food consumption which has its negative influence such as headaches, depression, weight gain, obesity, diabetes, addictive nature of fast food, excessive sodium intake and sexual dysfunction etc.

1. Headaches: The processed meat used in fast food contain nitrates, nitrites, artificial sweeteners and monosodium glutamate which increase blood flow and can trigger a migraine attack. Additives are used to keep the meat fresh and to prevent the growth of clostridium botulinum bacterial which cause food poisoning. The increased blood flow can cause excessive pressure to build up in the head and can lead to headaches or a feeling of a hangover.
2. Depression: Is one of the main negative influence of fast food. This is the emotional condition that has been linked to regular consumption of fast food. People who indulge in fast foods regularly are more likely to suffer from depression. Fast food does not contain antioxidant, foliate and omega–3s which is necessary for good mental health. Fasts foods contain preservatives, emulsifiers, thickeners, stabilizers and flavor enhancers which can affect the mental well- being of the person.
3. Weight gain: Studies have found a direct link between fast food consumption and weight gain and Body Mass Index (BMI)The high levels of trans fat and calories present in fast food leads to accumulation of abdominal fat and even insulin resistance which is an early indicator of diabetes. Obesity has been ranked the number one health thread for people, it is also the second leading cause of preventable death in people lives which claims up to 400,000 lives a year. Obesity can lead to type-2 diabetes, heart problems, hypertension, blocked arteries, increase in cholesterol levels, malnutrition, loss of muscle mass and depression.
4. Obesity: Fast food consumption can lead to obesity due to caloric and fat intake of fast food regularly. Moreover, the proximity to future fast food uncorrelated with current obesity and weight gain, The implied effects of fast food on caloric intake are at least one order of magnitude larger for student than for mothers consistent with smaller travel cost for adults.
5. Diabetes: Specific food causes types 2 diabetes ,regular eating of fast foods that are high in fat or sugar can make people gain weight, increasing your chances of developing the disease. Eating a lot of fast food that are heavier in starch than fiber such as biscuits, bread, eggroll, meat pie can trigger blood sugar imbalance in people who already have diabetes or hasten the onset of the disease
6. Addictive nature of fast foods: According to the Science Daily, high levels of sugar and fat can cause blood sugar to spike and then crash suddenly. The patrons of fast food feel a sudden rush of euphoria when this happens in making them dependent on the euphoric effects of insulin surges. Therefore one of the harmful effect of fast food consumption is the addition or the incessant craving it causes among people. Fast food addiction can lead to an unhealthy an depressive sedentary lifestyle, to prevent its recommended to switch to a healthy and balance diet along with regular exercise.
7. Excessive sodium intake: Fast food contains high amounts of sodium which can lead to hypertension and high blood pressure. Although small amounts of sodium is needed for bodily function ,but consuming too much can lead to not just high blood pressure, but build up of fluids in people who are suffering from liver cirrhosis, congestive heart failures or kidney ailments.
8. Sexual dysfunction: What we eat affects our physical, mental, and sexual health. Fatty acids found in fast foods are a major contribution to sexual dysfunctions, not only does it cause weight gain but can trigger biochemical changes which affects libido, sperm count and female ovulation.

Criticism of fast food consumption

Fast food has come under criticism ranging from claimed negative health effects, alleged animal cruelty, cases of worker exploitation, and claims of cultural degradation, and claim via- shifts in people ‘s eating patterns away from traditional foods. Fast food chains have come under fire from consumer groups, such as the Center for Science in the public interest, a longtime fast food critic over issues as caloric content, Iran’s fats and portion size. Social scientists have highlighted how the prominence of fast food narratives in popular urban legends suggests that modern consumers have an ambivalent relationship that characterized by guilt with fast food, particular in relation to children. This guilt is projected onto processed food, where food contamination and lax standards are widely believed some of the slow food, or local food movements. This movement seeks to preserved local cuisine and ingredients, and directly opposes laws and habits that favor fast – food choices. Proponents of the slow food movement try to educate consumers about what its members, who will consider the richer, more varied and more nourishing tastes of fresh, local ingredients that have been recently harvested. Teexas fast food restaurants in Agbor, has received criticism for serving food high in saturated fat and calories. A regular meal at Teexas fast food consists of yoghurt, ice cream, eggroll, meat pie, chicken and a large coca – cola drink amounting to 1,430 calories. A diet of approximately 2,000 calories is considered a healthy amount of calories for an entire day which is different people who depend on several factors such as age, weight, physical activity and gender. This numbers of calories was set in 2006.

Advantages of fast food consumption

1. Fast food is cheap and convenient: Unfortunately, eating just one fast food meal can pack enough calories, sodium and fat for an entire day or more. Eating fast food on a regular basis can lead to a host of different health problems. Still, the quick and cheap temptation can often be hard to resist. As an informed consumer.
2. Fast food save time: Fast food save time in today’s fast paced society. People can order fast food on their way to or from work, without ever leaving their car. Fast food is also designed to come in small packaging so that people can consume it while travelling.
3. Light on the wallet: Eating fast food can save a lot of money for a large family, students and everyone else looking to eat out without breaking the bank. Many fast food chains offer discount menus with food costing big amounts or less. Customers also avoid having to leave a tip when they choose a fast food establishment over a typical fast food restaurants.
4. Getting healthier: Many fast food places now offer healthier options to keep up with popular demands.

References

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Harley, J. (1992). Fast food, fast track: Immigrant, big business and American dream place, West View Press.

Isabel, E. (2005): Fast food: Roadside restaurants in the automobile age: Article retrieved from International Journal of 13^th July, 2005.

Leibowitz, S. (2012). Sustainability initiative. Auburn University, Accessed 15^th April, 2012.

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National Institute of Health Medline Plus: Sodium in diet. Article retrieved by Glennk last update on July 8, 2013.

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Tanya, Z, (2010). What to avoid at fast food restaurants/healthy alternative medicine. Diebetes Heart Health Allergies Nutrition/Fitness. Published January 19, 2010. Foxnews.com.

Tracee, A. (2009). Geography of fast food outlets: Article retrieved fron International Journal of 8^th August, 2009.

Truth, C. O. (2007): Fast food and urban living standards in medieval England. New York: Raven Press.