The introduction of fast food has affected many societies in positive and negative ways. Its innovation prolonged these effects and may be worse to certain societies from a health and social standpoint. Due to the increase in popularity of the fast food norm, obesity percentages have risen, along with other health-related illness and over all activity in the daily life of an American. Fast food has negatively impacted obesity in America, as well as the average American's health habits, and has increased the count of numerous health issues, creating a great threat to the population. When fast food was first introduced in the early 1900s, people were amazed at the great quality being given in such a quick amount of time. As years passed, the craze of fast food continually increased within the world population. People began to eat it without any question. In Eric Schlosser's book, Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal, he states, "Hundreds of millions of people buy fast food every day without giving it much thought, unaware of the subtle and not so subtle ramifications of their purchases. They rarely consider where this food came from, how it was made, what it is doing to the community around them. They just grab their tray off the counter, find a table, take a seat, unwrap the paper and dig in" (10). The blindness of the consumers to the content of the food is one of the greatest causes of the fast food epidemic and the health risks it brings.
The naivety of the American population heavily impacts their health. While dining at fast food restaurants continues to be a habit and is getting passed down through the younger generations, consumer health is deteriorating, increasing the percentage of obese and overweight Americans. Obesity exists all around the world, but recent studies have shown that obesity in America is spinning out of control as America gains the title of one of the top obese nations in the world.
