The Arches that Transformed Society
McDonald’s opened its doors in 1955. In the early days of McDonald’s, America could not get enough of their juicy burgers. Society did not know or care about how the business could affect it. Now, people have developed a different image of the business. America is beginning to understand how McDonald’s has impacted society. But it may be too little, too late. After the popular documentary Super Size Me, people were aware of negative effects that came along with eating McDonald’s. Even after the corporation received backlash for their unhealthy choices, McDonald’s did not have to close its doors due to bankruptcy. They did take the “super size” option off the menu, but that hasn’t stopped Americans from ordering …show more content…
However, they can not make progress if the nation does not truly understand how McDonald’s hurts the human body. The calorie count should be enough to turn Americans away from the food. Obesity Action Coalition states that a Big Mac meal at McDonald’s contains 540 calories. It is likely that someone will also get french fries with their meal, which are 380 calories. Then to wash it all down with a sweet tea, they add 280 calories. The grand total comes to 1,200 calories for one meal. 2,000 calories is the recommended intake per day, so the challenge becomes creating two other meals that add up to under 800 calories. Students learn that a balanced diet should not include fast food. Some might say that people have the choice to avoid fast food, and obesity is not caused directly from McDonald’s. However, the rates of obesity rose along with the rates of fast food. One Green Planet, an organization that works to help the planet, describes the jump of obesity, as well as the fast food business. “In the 1950s, less than 10 percent of Americans were overweight or obese… By 1975, (about the time McDonald’s introduced the drive-through window), the obesity rate in America had climbed to 15 percent.” These rates are no coincidence. Due to factors previously described, America has become attached to McDonald’s, which is the cause of the shockingly high obesity
McDonald’s opened its doors in 1955. In the early days of McDonald’s, America could not get enough of their juicy burgers. Society did not know or care about how the business could affect it. Now, people have developed a different image of the business. America is beginning to understand how McDonald’s has impacted society. But it may be too little, too late. After the popular documentary Super Size Me, people were aware of negative effects that came along with eating McDonald’s. Even after the corporation received backlash for their unhealthy choices, McDonald’s did not have to close its doors due to bankruptcy. They did take the “super size” option off the menu, but that hasn’t stopped Americans from ordering …show more content…
However, they can not make progress if the nation does not truly understand how McDonald’s hurts the human body. The calorie count should be enough to turn Americans away from the food. Obesity Action Coalition states that a Big Mac meal at McDonald’s contains 540 calories. It is likely that someone will also get french fries with their meal, which are 380 calories. Then to wash it all down with a sweet tea, they add 280 calories. The grand total comes to 1,200 calories for one meal. 2,000 calories is the recommended intake per day, so the challenge becomes creating two other meals that add up to under 800 calories. Students learn that a balanced diet should not include fast food. Some might say that people have the choice to avoid fast food, and obesity is not caused directly from McDonald’s. However, the rates of obesity rose along with the rates of fast food. One Green Planet, an organization that works to help the planet, describes the jump of obesity, as well as the fast food business. “In the 1950s, less than 10 percent of Americans were overweight or obese… By 1975, (about the time McDonald’s introduced the drive-through window), the obesity rate in America had climbed to 15 percent.” These rates are no coincidence. Due to factors previously described, America has become attached to McDonald’s, which is the cause of the shockingly high obesity