Script

Have you ever wondered how fast food affects the United States culture? After watching Supersize Me in my Health, Nutrition, and Food Management classes it made me question how Fast Food affects our society in ways other then obesity. Fast Food restaurants have a major impact on our society as I found out through this project. Many people know that fast food is not healthy for them to consume although they continue to eat this type of food. The reason for these types of situations is because the ingredients that are used in the fast food products are highly addicting. Some people eat fast food occasionally which is a good idea. Fast Food has a major impacted the American culture by affecting family relationships. Many families try to have sit-down dinners to discuss their days and what is going on in their lives. These meals are very important in family relationships. It is hard for families to have dinner together sometimes because of busy schedules. Also many people eat at fast food restaurants because they can get something to eat fast. In September 2007, a study was done and fifty nine percent of teenagers reported eating dinner with their family at least five times a week. This number is expected to decrease and is most likely lower now in 2009. Also the study discussed what problems were likely to occur with teenagers who did not eat dinner of spend time daily with their family. These teenagers are three and a half more times likely to have abused prescription drugs or illegal drugs not including marijuana. They are three times more likely to have used marijuana. They are two and a half times more likely to tobacco and one and a half times more likely to have used alcohol. These facts are very interesting but in order to prevent these types of acts teens should spend more time with their families and family dinners are a good way to do this. When teenagers who they eat dinner with thirty four percent eat dinner alone, twenty percent eat at home with a friend, fifteen percent eat over a friends house, and fourteen percent eat fast food. This study shows how people who are eating fast food regularly and missing meals with family should try to cut back on going to those restaurants. After researching this topic I found out that fast food has brought the wealthy and poor together. Rich people and poor people both go to fast food restaurants and enjoy meals. Many people go to fast food restaurants because most of the food is inexpensive. People can buy a meal at these restaurants for fewer than five dollars. This topic relates to the sociological perspective because it relates to the structional-functional paradigm because fast food helps shape our lives. Fast food restaurants are restaurants that work together in our society to help our society work together as a whole. In conclusion, this topic was very interesting and I learned a lot about how important family dinners and spending time with family positively affect a teenager’s life. I occasionally eat at restaurants such as Chick-Fil-A, Wendy’s and Burger King. I do not eat fast food as much as some of the people did that I found in my research. My advice for you is in order to remain healthy and have a good relationship with your family do not eat fast food too much, but once in a while is alright and try to spend as much time as you can with your family.