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Blaming Fast Food Restaurants for Childhood Obesity

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Submitted By ShaunAyers
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Blaming Fast Food Restaurants for Obesity Let’s face it; everyone loves a Whopper every now and then. Yet we are all aware that one too many can bring on dangerous and life-threatening results. Obesity is a growing problem in the United States and more and more children are being affected. But do uneducated families have the right to put the blame on fast food restaurants for their health issues they could have easily prevented? I believe that we are taking it too far by blaming fast food restaurants for obesity and that it is an individual’s responsibility to take the blame. The first fast food restaurants developed in America in the 1920’s and the United States has grown to have the largest fast food industry in the world. Currently one third of American children are obese or at risk of becoming obese and 67% of Americans are obese. McDonald’s was invented in the 1940’s and has since acquired millions of lawsuits for their extremely unhealthy food. Burger King soon followed in the 50’s and has also received its fair share of lawsuits. Some believe that suing consistently is acceptable because they are using their freedom of using the court system but many believe that it is a frivolous waste of time. Because fast food has become increasingly available, many Americans use the opportunity to eat their food whenever they want it and at a low cost. Yet when the visits are far too often they look for someone else to blame for their mistakes. Take Gregory Rhymes for example. Recently 15 year old Gregory and his mother sued McDonalds for his extreme obesity. Weighing about 400 pounds, Gregory Rhymes would consume a burger, fries and a shake sometimes multiple times a day but claims he was not warned on how fattening the fast food can actually be. He and his mother were determined that the restaurant must be held responsible for Gregory’s current

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