Fast Food and Fitness

Anfernee Raine

Lora Strey

Composition 101-12

November 6th, 2014

Fast Food and Fitness

    “Over the last three decades, fast food has infiltrated every nook and cranny of American Society.” (Bedford 2013) Fast food is such a prevalent factor now that it goes pretty unnoticed by most people. It is a heavily integrated part of American society. The process of purchasing fast food itself has become so routine that it can be compared to stopping at a red light. (Bedford 2013). The fast food industry has come from just a few stands selling hot dogs in the streets to major chains and brands with international branches. Not only have fast food industries grown but they have prospered very much so.

    As ironic as it is, fast food has managed to dominate athletics. It is becoming more and more prevalent seeing fast food being endorsed and supported by professional athletes even if the athlete does not actually partake in the restaurants products. So why would athletes have any reason to endorse these companies? “ Athletes enhance their income while companies enhance their sales and brand, using athletes’ fame and achievements to promote their products.” (Godelnik 2013) This seems like a legitimate reason able to justify their support for these companies but what are the real impacts of their actions. How does their support of industries like Mc’Donalds and Burger King actually affect their fans or athletes who look up to them?

    Obesity is becoming one of the world’s most pressing health public health challenges. (Baytor 2012) Being overweight can be  a real issue for people. It can lead to complications in health like diabetes, high cholesterol and even heart attacks. One of the biggest contributors to obesity in today’s society is fast food. Fast food has gained so much power in the past few decades that there is hardly anyone able to question their methods. They have even grown to the point where they have dominated the olympic games. Majority of the advertisements in the Olympic games are by companies like Cadbury that sponsor the events to gain popularity. The representation of unhealthy foods by athletic events is unfavourable for several reasons. It gives athletes that watch events like the Olympics and look up to those athletes feel that fast foods are slightly nutritious and in some way good for them. Why else would professional athletes be affiliated with them right? “Further, pairing athletics with unhealthy food advertising conveys a misleading message to children that poor nutrition is acceptable if accompanied by an active lifestyle.” (Baytor 2012.) This is unacceptable because sporting events like the olympics are meant to inspire the next generation of athletes and show them that the boundaries are always being pushed. The fast food industry has taken advantage of the influential power the games hold and is using it to market itself.

Works Cited

"Swifter, Higher, Stronger…Fatter?: The Olympic Games and Junk Food Advertising to Children." ONeill Institute Blog Swifter Higher StrongerFatter The Olympic Games and Junk Food Advertising to Children Comments. Web. 6 Nov. 2014.

"What Will Get Athletes to Stop Endorsing Unhealthy Foods and Beverages?" Triple Pundit RSS. Web. 6 Nov. 2014.