Obesity Problem (Essay Sample)

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Obesity
There has been a shift in the eating patterns of people in the United Arab Emirates whereby initially people used to consume whole foods and freshly prepared foods at their homes. However, nowadays, most people especially the young people prefer to consume fast foods such as pizza, fried chicken, shawarma and hamburgers. The shift in consumption pattern could have been contributed by a number of factors though this essay explains some of the effects that the eating of fast foods has on an individual and society.
A number of reasons could be attributed to the popularity of fast food in the UAE. Lifestyle is one of the reasons whereby people work for long hours usually in day and night shifts with a 24-hour economy in place (McCullough 22). A good number of persons are also enrolling to night classes in an attempt to develop their careers. In addition, there has been a rise in the number of women working in the country. As a result, people find themselves strained in time thus prefer picking fast foods to preparing meals. Another reason is that with the growth of the economy there has been an increase in the income of the people particularly for the young people (Ridge 100). As such, they have a lot of disposable income to themselves thus preferring to eat fast foods. The increase in the money has also seen people eat outside their homes in hotels with plenty of fast foods. Lastly, is the adoption of modern life by a majority of persons in the UAE (McCullough 30). It includes an increase in the advertising of fast foods through billboards and satellite television that influences people to try out fast foods.
The consumption of fast foods has serious effects on health, families and the economy. Fast foods have caused an increased in the number of young people reported with obesity. It has led to an increase in heart disease among the people partly due to high levels of cholesterol in the body (Moreno et al. 65). Diabetes has also been on the rise even among the young people with people having less energy to perform work. Families no longer eat together thus there is less talking over a meal as was in the past. As a result, family bonds and ties have weakened leading to divorce and many single households. On the economic front, fast foods have led to a waste of money whereby young people spend money recklessly on fast foods (Ridge 130). On the contrary, the young people could invest the money in profitable business ventures and reap profits. In addition, most of the fast food outlets are franchise of mu...