Should fast food restaurants be held responsible for obesity?

Question

Before you say no, think of this: some people are gonna say that its the people's fault for going there and its not like fast food restaurants are putting a gun to your head and making you eat there. BUT...the companies are taking advantage of the lack of self-control ppl have and offereing a LARGE amount of quantity for a cheap price which makes ppl think that its a good idea...and because of this, fast food restaurants are indirectly forcing ppl to go there...so read this before you say no...

Answer 1

i read it and still say no. its about time people take their own blame for their actions and quit blaming everything and everybody else for their mistakes!!!

Answer 2

No.
Why? because people have a choice of buying fast food and not buying fast food... if a big mac and some healthy food was put infront of a me, I'd chose the healthy option BUT another person may choose the unhealthy option, it's all dependant on a persons lifestyle and what they eat, just because fast food is available doesn't mean that you have to eat it, within moderation is okay but eating at them places everyday can affect a persons health badly, as people well know!
Too many people give into things really easy..
So thereforeeee no I don't think fast food restaurants should be held responsible for obesity.

Answer 3

Well I was going to say no... but I read your paragraph, I think you're absolutely correct fast food restaurants should be serving large quantities of food like a buffet, put people have to have a limit... they have to know when they are full, not stuff all the food they can possibly eat until they can faint, yes it is the fats food companies fault but, it is the person who eats large quantities of fault too, if you know you're going to pig out in a fats food restaurant you're better pigging out on fruits and veggies, However I do understand your point... I cannot believe that in McDonald's they are putting chicken in salads even though it might taste good its absurd... I have tasted that salad before with chicken and to tell you the truth I didn't enjoy it... the next day I woke up from food poisoning from the salad...I hope this is helpful

Answer 4

NO NO NO! Low self esteem is not the responsibility of food service restaurants, it is a problem that the individual needs to deal with on their own or with the help of a professional. Unlike cigarettes that are addictive, fast food is a just a guilty pleasure! I know several people that are obese that don't eat fast food, they just simply over eat or eat the wrong type of foods. Does this mean that we should not be allowed to sell snack items to overweight people in grocery stores? Big brother mentality does more harm than good in the long term. It also limits our freedom to choose and we have given up too many freedoms already. Where does this type of thinking end? Should we put a scale at every checkout stand and limit what type of foods can be purchased?

Answer 5

I don't know anyone who is obese because they eat fast food. Most people go there...what, like once a week, if that? People are obese because they eat too much, have a medical condition, etc. I'm sure some people might go there every day, but if they do, that's their own fault. Fast Food companies are not forcing anyone to eat at their restaurants. People have choices. When people pull in to McDonald's Drive-Thru, they know the food is not good for them, & they eat it anyways. Why do people like it? It's fast, they didn't have to make it, & it's cheap. They don't go there because the Fast Food companies are forcing themselves on them.

Answer 6

I've read it and the answer is still no. The fast food restaurants are not "indirectly forcing people to go there." You give the fast food restaurants way too much credit and obese people not enough responsibility.

Answer 7

Unless they stuff the food in your mouth without your consent, they should not be responsible. Funny...I was thinking about suing my mama, because she always made great dinner for me, and I could never resist her great cooking when I visit her.
If I ever gain weight due to her cooking during the holidays, then I guess I should slap her with a lawsuit.

People with no self control should try to work on their self control, and the fast food places have disclosed the fat content of their menu for years. I was a addict for french-fries for years, until I started to eat only 1/2 of order, and discard the remaining, then slowly eating lesser amount and then completely not ordering any fries.
A little self discipline and self respect, can carry to many other successes in you life. Always look within, and don't blame others for not meeting your goals..especially those goals which no one is trying to stop you-the easy kind.

Answer 8

Is it the laundromat's fault your clothes are clean? Is it the tree's fault you ran into it? Is it the candy bar's fault you ate it? Is it the sun's fault you got sun burnt? No, it's all your fault, you clean your laundry, you ran into the tree, you ate the candy bar, you went outside and didn't wear sunscreen.
It is not the fast food restaurants fault that people are obese. The restaurant does not have the power to make someone obese. There are plenty of other cheap options for food, and people KNOW it is not healthy for them. Therefore, it is each individual person's fault for not chosing a healthier food option than a fast food restaurant.

Answer 9

ok, i read what you said.. and it still is not a good point. First of all, fast food, a lot of them if not all the big ones now have healthy menu's as well and promote them quite heavily.

"taking advantage" of people's self control is also not a good point. Self control is what it is defined as, control of one self, if you don't have it, get it or find out how to get it. God gave us free will, and if not god, our genes did. We are not animals that need to eat anything in front of us. We have choices to make in life.

How the hell would they be held responsible for it anyway? give them free meals? pay the money? money for what? more food?

I do understand that some people have some mental, physical and socioeconomic issues that cause them to feel like they have to go eat junk food to stay alive. But nobody is really stopping them from working out right? Or be involved in more activities.

Even if the fastfood industry is "indirectly forcing" people to go to their restaurants... get something healthier... get the grilled chicken sandwich instead of the 1/3 pound guacamole burger..... get the salad.. get a diet coke..

not only would holding fastfood restaurants responsible not do anything to help obese people.... it would make them greedy for money as well as lazy bastards.. another deadly sin..

email me if you want to argue this point!

Answer 10

Of course not! So a person has lack of self control and goes to McDonalds everyday to eat. And he gets fat. Whose fault is that? The guy with no self control.

If fast food chains are held responsible for obesity, then shopping malls should be held repsonsible for bankruptcy--so stupid!

Fast food is to be eaten not daily but once in a while. And for the people who can't figure out for themselves why they're fat and they won't stop eating fast food then whose fault is that? It's their own fault.

Answer 11

I hate to tell you but what about holding each one accountable. So when you have a car accident it is the automaker fault? Or let say you smoke and fall asleep it is the cigarette maker fault you burn the house or let say you are eating a plum and the seed chokes you to death it is the store that sold you the fruit responsible. Come on stop the madness, it is the choices you make good or bad the result of the consequences. If you are not smart enough to know what is good or bad well call your dad.