fast food effects health essay

Fast Food Effects on Human Health

Fast food poses a profound negative impact on health due to the dynamic preparation means and the reliance on carbohydrates. Apart from the reuse of oils, a significant percentage of junk lacks a balanced diet for consumers. The phenomenon results in the ideological perspectives of increased obesity and the emergence of lifestyle diseases. This research utilizes analytical methodologies in comparing previous records between 2019 and 2021 to determine the effect of fast foods on individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic era. Further, the researcher integrates certain values encompassing gender, age, ethnicity, and range of income. Although the TEAM experienced limitations concerning subjective responses posing higher bias scores, they alleviated the incumbent by using descriptive and inferential statistics. During modeling, the significant variant is logical regression against cross-validation.

Introduction

The popularity and consumption rate of fast-food restaurants is one of the trending issues in cities and towns. The ease engulfs the concept of low costs, desired taste, hasty preparation, and convenient locations (Fryar et al., 2020). Primarily, the cafeteria emergence offers an ultimate solution regarding feeding habits. However, it is a phenomenon that also increases the rate of health risks among consumers. The consistent use of the suet at high temperatures leads to the breaking down the chemical compounds into significantly toxic elements for the human body. Although fast food offers an ultimate convenient solution to dieting, it is a multidimensional phenomenon that increases consumers’ health risks.

Factors that Influence Effect of Fast Food

One of the issues posed in fast food restaurants is the primary use of the deep-frying cooking technique. A significant percentage of the meal preparation approaches optimize frizzling as the fastest and most convenient catering service (Fryar et al., 2020). To boost the profit margin, the chef uses less oil to sear the food in large amounts. In some cases, the cook recycles the oil cause of economic sustenance. However, the utilization determines the rate of health risk to the consumers due to the breaking down of the chemical compounds.

Project Overview

Project objectives.

There is a proficient dataset corresponding to the research question, “Effect of fast food on human health.” The dataset includes food price comparisons, health metrics, and obesity statistics. The source material relates to the research question encompassing the dynamic effect of junk eating on individuals. In this case, the article provides an in-depth analysis of the variation across sexuality and ethnic groups concerning the feeding habits and the attributable causes of the lifestyle (Fryar et al., 2020). The organization in charge of the contextual baseline for the publication is National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), which manages data collection concerning the well-being index among Americans.

NCHS is a component of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention that focuses on assessing the impact of lifestyle illnesses on nationalities. It is a practice that profoundly provides insights into the significant medical issues and the causative agents across the population. Fryar et al.’s (2020) report is a compilation of the comparative approach concerning the 2015 to 2018 records on the impact of fast food on people along the gradient of age, gender, and ethnic diversity. The sample size will be determined by the population metrics of the data sources. The research fosters the overview of critical variables relevant in this study involving the eminence of fatty foods and the intermittent consequence of obesity.

Analytic Questions

• Is it cheaper to eat fast food than home-cooked meals?
• Does fast food damage your mental health as well as your physical health?
• What is fast food’s contribution to obesity in the US?

Specific Details

This study will use information from 2019 to 2021 as the primary data source for analysis concerning the impact of fast food on the human body. The analysis focuses on the trickle-down effect on the lifestyle among the nationalities. Therefore, the survey will include the US due to the proficient impact of the practice among the residents. Three rows and instances will be used in order to include three key metrics. The data features involve evaluating the relationship between feeding habits from convenient restaurants and the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic. The advent of coronavirus led to the lockdown of American and other global nations’ economies.

Data Wrangling

The number of rows will be three for a better comprehension of the discussion subject. The critical data features incorporated in the final project enshrine a comparison of the gender, age, ethnicity, and income differential range relative to the tendencies to consume products from a cafeteria. The marginalization under the mainframe of such inequities as education, occupation, and income cause the interdependence between convenient cafeteria outlets and poor households.

The TEAM intends to use logical regression in the exploration of the findings and justification of the objectives. It is an entity that engulfs the intersectionality of statistical overview against the logistics from the realm. During the data collection process, the significant errors involve the subjective interpretation of respondents’ attitudes toward dieting that risks bias. However, the TEAM will utilize descriptive and inferential statistics to complete the phase. The transformation used by the TEAM involved the utilization of several datasets within a closed time period to establish the key variable of objectivity during the data analysis.

The assessment approach renders the comprehension concerning the goals of the study on the impact of fast food on healthy living among people. Different aspects contribute to the dynamic effect of the framework among the personalities hence the importance of understanding the impact on mental health, obesity, and cost-efficiency.

Fryar, C., Carroll, M., Ahluwalia, N., & Ogden, C. (2020). Fast food intake among children and adolescents in the United States, 2015-2018 . NCHS Data Brief . Web.

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Home Essay Samples Food Fast Food

Cause and Effect of Fast Food: the Impact on Health and Society

Table of contents, causes of fast food consumption, effects on physical well-being, cultural and societal impact, economic considerations, promoting healthier lifestyles, conclusion: balancing convenience and health.

• Ludwig, D. S., Peterson, K. E., & Gortmaker, S. L. (2001). Relation between consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks and childhood obesity: a prospective, observational analysis. The Lancet, 357(9255), 505-508.
• Malik, V. S., Pan, A., Willett, W. C., & Hu, F. B. (2013). Sugar-sweetened beverages and weight gain in children and adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 98(4), 1084-1102.
• Story, M., Kaphingst, K. M., Robinson-O'Brien, R., & Glanz, K. (2008). Creating healthy food and eating environments: policy and environmental approaches. Annual Review of Public Health, 29, 253-272.
• Stuckler, D., McKee, M., Ebrahim, S., & Basu, S. (2012). Manufacturing epidemics: the role of global producers in increased consumption of unhealthy commodities including processed foods, alcohol, and tobacco. PLOS Medicine, 9(6), e1001235.
• World Health Organization. (2016). Report of the Commission on Ending Childhood Obesity. WHO Press.

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Home — Essay Samples — Nursing & Health — Fast Food — The Fast Food Industry: Its Impact on Public Health and Society

The Fast Food Industry: Its Impact on Public Health and Society

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Published: Jan 29, 2024

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Table of contents

History and growth of the fast food industry, impact on public health, economic and societal implications, corporate accountability and responsibility, government regulation and intervention.

• Statista. Fast food industry - statistics & facts.
• Business Insider. These are the 10 countries that consume the most fast food in the world.
• CDC. Adult Obesity Facts.
• Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health. Food Advertising and Marketing Directed at Children and Adolescents in the US.
• NELP. Getting by with a little help from our friends: The growth of the fast food industry's labor practices.
• Climate Reality. Fast Food is Going Green—And That's Good News for the Planet.

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Fast food consumption and overweight/obesity prevalence in students and its association with general and abdominal obesity

A. mohammadbeigi.

1 Research Center of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran

A. ASGARIAN

2 Research Center for Air Pollutants, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom/Iran

3 Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran

S. AFRASHTEH

4 Department of Public Health, Vice chancellor of Health, MSc of Epidemiology, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran

5 Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran

6 Health Promotion Research Center, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran

Nowadays, the prevalence of both fast food consumption and overweight/obesity has been increased. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of fast food consumption and to assess its association with abdominal and general obesity. In an analytical cross-sectional study, 300 students were selected randomly from two largest universities in Qom, center of Iran, studying in medical and basic sciences fields in 2015. Data collection was conducted by a modified version of NELSON’s fast food questionnaire and anthropometric measures including Waist-Hip Ratio (WHR) and Body Mass Index (BMI). Chi-square, independent t-test, and multivariate logistic regression were used for statistical analysis. According to our results, 72.4% (67.4% in females vs 80.7% in males) had at least one type of fast food consumption in the recent month including sandwich 44.4%, pizza 39.7%, and fried chicken 13.8%, The obesity prevalence based on BMI and WHR was 21.3% (95% CI: 19.4, 23.2%) and 33.2% (95% CI: 0.7, 35.7), respectively. Fast food consumption was related to abdominal obesity as WHR (OR: 1.46, 95% CI: 1.11, 2.26), but was not related to general obesity as BMI (OR: 0.97, 95% CI: 0.63, 1.52). The prevalence of fast food consumption and obesity/overweight in Iranian student is high. Fast food consumption was associated with abdominal obesity based WHR, but did not related to general obesity based on BMI.

In adolescent students, 72.4% and 34% have used at least one type of fast foods in recent month and in recent week.

The obesity prevalence based on BMI and WHR was 21.3 % (18.2% in females vs 26.3% in males) and 33.2% (40.1% in females vs 21.9% in males), respectively.

Fast food consumption was associated with WHR, while was not related to BMI.

Sandwich consumption was associated with obesity/overweight based on BMI to 35%, fried chicken to 40%, and pizza more than 80%.

Introduction

The percentage of caloric intake from fast foods has increased fivefold over the past three decades among adolescents [ 1 , 2 ]. In addition, obesity prevalence increased dramatically worldwide as one of the most serious public health problem especially in childhood and adolescents in current century [ 3 ]. Fast food consumption has increasing’ trend due to convenience, costs, menu choices, flavor and taste [ 4 ]. About 30% of children to more than 50% in college students use fast food daily[ 2 , 5 ]. Moreover, more than 33% of adults and 17% of children and teenagers are obese in united states [ 6 ]. Increased food consumption and substantial changes in the food habits are the most important factors of obesity epidemic [ 7 ] besides the poor diet among young people at recent years [ 8 ].

Wide ranges of causes are associated with obesity and overweight that varied from genetic to environmental factors [ 3 , 7 ]. However, our surround environment is one of the key factors that effective in the rapid development of the obesity epidemic in the world [ 7 ]. Fast food consumption is strongly associated with weight gain and obesity. Fast food consumption could increase the risk of obesity and obesity-related diseases as a major public health issue [ 9 , 10 ]. Obesity and overweight are the most important factors of non-communicable diseases related to years of life lost in cardiovascular diseases [ 11 , 12 ].

Fast food is defined by a convenience food purchased in self-service or carry out eating venues without wait service [ 9 ]. Todays, the number of women in the workforce is increased due to changes in the family structure and urbanization in all countries over the past years. Moreover, the working of people for longer hours expands and the food and mealtimes have changed seriously. A rapid growth is observed in fast food industries and restaurants [ 13 ]. Consequently, some worse consequences such as overweight and obesity have increasing trend [ 9 ]. Previous research has identified a strong positive association between the availability of fast food and its consumption as well as fast food consumption and obesity outcomes [ 5 , 8 , 10 , 14 , 15 ]. However, some studies assessed the fast food consumption on the general obesity based on Body Mass Index (BMI) [ 5 , 8 , 10 , 16 ]. Nevertheless, the association between fast food consumption and obesity type (abdominal/general) is unclear [ 3 , 10 ]. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of fast food consumption and obesity/overweight in two different governmental and nongovernmental universities, and to assess the association of fast food consumption with abdominal/general obesity.

This cross-sectional study was conducted on 300 students of two large Universities in Qom, center of Iran, that randomly selected and studying in medical and basic sciences fields at spring 2015. Sample size was calculated based on the fast food prevalence in recent studies with considering the power equal to 90% and first type error equal 5% as well as based on the minimal significant difference expected regarding fast food consumption between the two university and students who used and not used fast food. The study subjects were selected based on the multistage sampling method. In the first phase, according to the stratified random sampling method, 150 students selected from the Qom Medical University, and 150 students selected from a nongovernmental University (Qom branch of Islamic Azad University). Then in each stratum, simple random sampling was used for selecting some classes and recruitment of students. In the third phase, in each selected class, all the eligible students were called to participate in the study. After describing the objectives and the method of data gathering, the informed consent is taken from all the volunteer subjects. Moreover, the ethic committee of Qom University of Medical Sciences approve the study protocol.

Data collection was conducted by a modified version of standard NELSON’ fast food questionnaire [ 17 ]. The reliability and validity of this questionnaire is assessed by them and reported as a reliable measure with fair validity. Moreover, the content validity of modified version of questionnaire changed based on cultural and nutritional differences in Iranian people, was assessed by experts in epidemiology, nutrition and health education majors. Moreover, the reliability of questionnaire was assessed by Cronbakh Alpha and estimated as 0.861.

The main outcomes in our questionnaire were fast food consumption, type of fast food and the frequency of consumption. The variables that evaluated in fast food consumption were selected based on more frequent items that used in Iran based on cultural and religious condition such as different types of sandwich, fried chicken, fried potato, hotdog and pizza.

Obesity indexes data of such as waist and circumference for calculating Waist-Hip Ratio (WHR), height and weight for computing BMI were collected. Waist, hip circumference, and height of subjects were measured by anthropometric tape measure. Moreover, the weight of students was measured by a valid scale (SECA 830). BMI and WHR were calculated by standard formulae [ 18 , 19 ].

The WHR index was used for measuring the abdominal obesity and BMI for general obesity. Frequency, mean, and standard deviation were used for description of data. Chi-square test was used to assess the relationship between fast food consumption and quantitative demographic variables with obesity in studied subjects. Independent t-test were used for comparing the mean of age, BMI and WHR and their components in studied subjects between used and un-used fast food consumption. Finally, multivariate logistic regression was used to control the potential confounders including job, educational level, field of study and type of university. The statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS software (Chicago, IL, USA) and the type one error considered in 0.05 level.

Overall, 72.4% (67.4% in females vs 80.7% in males) have fast food consumption. These students used at least one type of the fast foods in the recent month. However, the most common type of fast food consumption was sandwich 44.4%, pizza 39.7%, fried chicken 13.8%, respectively. Figure 1 showed the distribution of different type of fast foods in recent month after survey.

The prevalence of different the types of fast food consumption in studied students.

Table I shows the comparison of fast food consumption in students by chi square test between who were consumed fast food in recent month and who not consumed. This table showed that there was significant difference between subjects who used and did not use fast food in recent month regarding to the gender, marital status, education level, university, and major of study. The married and male students as well as who studied in basic sciences and nongovernmental university were used more fast food. Nevertheless, there was no significant relationship between job and residency place at night with fast food consumption.

Table II shows that there was a significant difference between studied subjects who used and not used fast food in past month regarding to waist and WHR (p < 0.05). Nevertheless, the difference in age, weight, height, hip, and BMI was not significant between two groups.

Comparing the mean of age, BMI and WHR and their components in studied subjects between used and un-used fast food consumption.

The overweight/obesity prevalence based on BMI classification (higher 25 kg/m 2 ) was 21.3% (95% CI: 19.4, 23.2%) calculated 18.2% (95% CI: 16.1, 20.3) in females vs 26.3% (95% CI: 22.7, 29.8) in males. Moreover, the obesity prevalence based on WHR was 33.2% (95% CI: 30.7, 35.7) calculated 40.1% (95% CI: 36.6, 43.5) in females vs 21.9% (95% CI: 18.8, 25.0) in males, respectively. Therefore, we considered a subject as obese if he/she had BMI more than 25 or WHR more than 0.9 in males and more than 0.8 in females. According to this definition, 37.2% (41.2% in females vs 30.7% in males) were affected to overweight and obesity. Therefore, the consumption of fast food was related to obesity. Moreover, a significant relationship was observed between obesity and consumption of sandwich (OR: 1.35, 95% CI: 1.4, 2.41), fried chicken (OR: 1.4, 95% CI: 1.22,1.73), and pizza (OR: 1.8, 95% CI: 1.1, 2.9). In addition, the fast food consumption was related to WHR as abdominal obesity (OR: 1.46, 95 CI: 1.11, 2.26), but was not related to BMI as general obesity (OR: 0.97, 95% CI: 0.63, 1.52) ( Tab. III ). Based on multivariate regression model ( Tab. IV ) only marital status, type of university and gender were the most related factors of fast food consumption. Therefore, studying in nongovernmental university (OR: 3.16, 95% CI: 1.8, 5.6), single status (OR: 3.08, 95% CI: 1.26, 5.01) and being females (OR: 2.96, 95% CI: 1.61,4.53) are the most important related factors of fast food consumption, respectively in Qom, Iran.

The relationship between fast food consumption and obesity in studied subjects.

Multivariate analysis of predictive factors of fast food consumption in under studied subjects.

The adjusted variables in this model were job, educational level, field of study and type of university.

According to our results, 72.4% and 34% have used at least one type of the fast foods in recent month and recent week, respectively. It seems that the consumption of fast food in Qom students is high due to lack of recreational facilities and entertainment in this religious city. However, the fast food consumption in our study was lower than other studies [ 4 , 20 ]. Results of studies in students of King Faisal University reported that more than 90% of people used fast foods monthly that was higher our estimate. In addition, a same study in female students aged 18 to 25 years showed that 47.1% had fast food consumption for two or more time per week [ 5 ].

The obesity prevalence in our study was estimated 21.3% and 33.2%, based on BMI and WHR, respectively. In a previous study, the obesity/overweight prevalence was 29.7% 5 and nearly half of them used fast foods. Moreover, in Shah et al. study, more than 34% of Chinese medical students were pre-obese and obese [ 4 ].

According to our results WHR was significantly different between subjects who used and not used fast food while, the difference in BMI was not significant. Therefore, fast food consumption was related to WHR, but did not related to BMI. In addition, consumption of sandwich, fried chicken and pizza were associated with obesity/overweight based BMI. Same direct association were demonstrated the association between fast food consumption and overweight/obesity in different studies [ 10 , 14 , 15 , 21 , 22 ]. Fast foods are poor in micronutrients, low in fiber, high energy density, high in glycemic load9 and large portion size with sugar [ 4 ] and could be more energetic than the daily energy requirements [ 6 , 9 ]. In addition, the average energy density of an entire menu in fast food restaurant is approximately more than twice the energy density of a healthy menu [ 22 ]. According to some studies [ 3 , 22 , 23 ] obesity is the core of some important non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, hypercholesterolemia, cardiovascular diseases, metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes [ 12 , 22 , 23 ]. Increase in energy density of diet by fat or sugar, together with concomitant eating behaviors like snacking, binge eating and eating out; promote unhealthy weight gain through passive overconsumption of energy [ 4 , 6 ].

Fast food consumption is positively related to overweight and obesity due to extremely high energy density of these foods [ 6 , 22 ]. Moreover, a study a significant association was observed between BMI and fast food consumption [ 4 ]. Two commonly eaten fast foods including fried foods and hotdogs have been associated with risk of obesity and weight gain [ 22 ]. Moreover, fast food consumption was related to general obesity in female adolescents. Moreover, obesity/overweight was significantly associated with frequency of fast food consumption [ 5 ].

This study found the prevalence of obesity was higher in females, while the prevalence of fast food consumption was higher in males. However, male students who are married are more interesting to eating fast food and it might be due to the religious culture of Qom as the most religious city of Iran. In the other hand, the single female students are not free to go in fast food restaurants than married ones. Moreover, three variables including marital status, type of university and gender are the most associated factors of fast food consumption. Based on our results in multivariate model, both studying in nongovernmental University and being single increase the odds of fast food consumption more than three fold. Moreover, female students used fast food 2.9 folds more than male students. The main reasons of students for fast food consumption are taste and comfort to access to these foods and lack of cooking skills [ 5 ]. The higher fast foods consumption in females and single students might related to lower wasting time in android social networks than male students [ 25 , 26 ]. Moreover, since in nongovernmental university the price of kitchen food is high, the students are more interesting to have eating in fast food restaurants. However, the fast food prevalence is high in students and teenagers probably due to low cost [ 4 , 16 ]. Nevertheless, because comfort accesses to fast food the corresponding expenditures are rising among people [ 15 ]. Moreover, the price of health outcomes of consequences of fast food consumption are more expensive and need to more investigations [ 9 , 15 ].

We could not measure the morphometric characters and adipocity measures of students as other body compositions indexes. Moreover, lack of cooperation of students for anthropometric measurements was another limitation of the current study.

Conclusions

The prevalence of fast food consumption and obesity/overweight in Iranian student is high. Studying in nongovernmental University, being single and females were associated with fast food consumption to three fold. Fast food consumption could have associated to abdominal obesity based WHR to 46%, but was not related to general obesity based on BMI. However, this study showed the different effect of fast foods on abdominal and general obesity as a hypothesis. Future studies need to determine the pure effect of fast food consumption on different dimensions of obesity.

The relationship between demographic variables and fast food consumption.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the research Vice-Chancellor of Qom University of Medical Sciences for financial supporting of this work. They are also grateful students who participated in this study.

Funding source: Qom University of Medical Sciences.

Conflict of interest statement

None declared.

Authors' contributions

AM: contributions to the conception, design of the work; analysis, and interpretation of data and Final approval of article.AA: contributions the acquisition and analysis of data for the work and Drafting the article. EM: contributions to the conception or design of the work; interpretation of data for the work; and Final approval of the article. SA: contributions to the conception or design of the work; interpretation of data for the work; and Final approval of the article. SK: contributions to the conception or design of the work analysis, or interpretation of data for the work; and Final approval of the article.HA: contributions to the conception, design of the work; analysis, and interpretation of data and Final approval of article.

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The fast food industry has with time come under criticism for various reasons, top of which are: negative health effects, workforce exploitation and maltreatment, cultural degradation and cruelty towards animals. With regard to cultural shift, the global fast food industry, of which McDonalds is symbolically epitomized, is accused of shifting various populations' general eating patterns.

The number of individuals, suffering from lifestyle diseases are increasing gradually, as more people are adopting the consumption of fast foods. As aforementioned, the shift from more health and nutritious foods, to the fast food industry's main dishes of unhealthy and often calorie-laden menus, has produced negative results with far reaching consequences. These have adverse effects on not only the health and mental wellbeing of individuals, but also on other social aspects, such as political governance, economic output and overall social expenditure (Lee).

Individuals with relatively low income are majorly affected by the prevailing cases of obesity and overweight issues. While the above holds true, there are a number of factors, which have inadvertently added to the prevailing circumstances, which provide for a preference of fast foods over the more nutritious (balanced diet) traditional foods. As Watson (40) showcases, the adverse effects of obesity and being overweight, are not only secluded to the wealthy and well to do, but also the urban poor. This is significantly true of the industrialized world, and to a lesser extent, the developing world.

Factors crucial to this are rooted in the socio-economic and political contexts of a given jurisdiction, with effects being felt throughout the global arena. The fact that lesser volumes of traditional foods are being cultivated portends to lesser nutritional content for the growing global populations. This provides for a dire scenario in the near future, where more and more individuals are nutritionally deprived. The prevalence of fast foods, though economically viable and a time saver, has negative effects in the end. This is due to the health implications to be encountered, as well as the dynamic effects on the socio-economic and governance aspects of society (Watson 45)

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Fast Foods as an Alternative Form of Dietary Intake

Fast foods, sold under various brand names, from various fast food chain outlets, continue being a great hindrance to the healthy output of a majority of urban populations. This is due to their relative prevalence, ease of access, affordability and convenience, as opposed to fast foods, which are more time and resource consuming. This may be aggravated by the nature of procurement, preparation aspect, as well as the aspect of inconvenience, which makes many individuals opt for fast foods.

Social impacts are thus more prevalent in such racial categories of population, as this necessitates greater spending on social and medical/ health welfare. The fact that the existing limited resources are channeled towards curative measures, as opposed to protective measures, means that lesser funding will be available to other core social facets (Lee). This essentially translates to an un-even input-output rational context, where the population present uses more resources than that provided through their collective input.

The current consumption pattern of fast foods threatens the health of the consumers, considering the quantity of calories tied to these foods, as well as adverse health effects that have detrimental effects on the society.

Historical Overview of Balanced Diet

Prior to the adoption of the fast foods, a balanced diet was emphasized for healthy living. Thus, a balanced diet involved a mixture of different food categories in a way that every nutritional component was addressed in every meal. This involved the consumption of foods from different sources with emphasis on the most imperative nutritional component. (Rajveer & Monika 2).

Historical Overview of Fast Foods

Fast foods, on the other hand, were previously discouraged as a means of sustenance due to the quantity of calories that they supply, as well as the negative health effects that they instigate in the human body. The existing fast food joints performed poorly during their initial growth/ expansion stages. However, gradually, the fast food sector has become acceptable amongst global populations with relatively lower income and it connection to convenience (Watson 47).

The Collapse of The Emphasis on Balanced Diet and Adoption of Fast Foods

The changing or shifting pattern of consumption that emphasized on convenience led to the emergence and adoption of the fast foods. This was at the expense of the existing healthy form of living that emphasized on balanced diets, which were crucial for the greater and healthier sustenance of man. While fast food outlets came with varying advantages, the prevailing nature of their negative effects and influences inadvertently negates all the gained advantages (4).

Modernization, as influenced by the advent of globalization, resulted in masse rural-urban migrations, which resulted in the young and productive populace, shifting to urban areas. Consequently, the young and elderly populations were left in the rural areas, which essentially served as primary contributors to healthy and nutritional diets. Farming thus was negated to these population segments, whose general output is far less than the prevailing demand (Rajveer & Monika 5).

Future Research

Little information exists on the correlation between the other social problems instigated by fast foods, since most current research focuses on the health effects. There is thus a greater need to focus on the socio-economic and even political effects of an unhealthy population, on a given society. Ashakiran and Deepthi (7), further add by displaying the negative social effects that unhealthy dietary intake has on the prevailing social fabric. Thus, through an interdisciplinary evaluation can the overall social causal effects and influences be best-understood and, therefore, more inclusive contribution towards mitigating and eventually alleviating the negative results prevail.

Fast Foods and Health Effects

Fast foods have contributed to various health effects that relate to poor dieting. This is due to the appealing nature of junk/fast food, which is advantaged through its quick, fashionable, convenient and tasty nature. The clever advertisements and allures of convenience are pertinent aspects, which entice populations to fast foods. Time factors, the alluring taste, overall attractiveness and clever advertising are all contributory factors to the higher intake of various types of fast foods (Ashakiran & Deepthi 8-9).

Obesity stands as the most common health effects that have affected individuals within the lower income bracket. While many would be in disagreement, providing the nature of obesity, as being confined to the wealthy populace, social studies and research have found the increasing occurrence of obesity in this population segment. The prevailing nature of affordability and convenience has provided an avenue of nutrition, especially, to the urban poor, who cannot afford traditional balanced diets. This may be rooted in the fact that fresh produce is a bit expensive for wholesome continuous consumption.

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Other diseases that have significant impacts on the society include diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, hypertension and asthma. As Kirkpatrick portends, most of those queuing through fast food chain drive-thru lines would most likely not order well-balanced meals, especially those packed with nutrients and full of fiber. Consequently, such populations have compromised their health and wellbeing, for taste and convenience, leaving themselves vulnerable to various lifestyle diseases and ailments as aforementioned (Kirkpatrick).

The increase of the health effects is owed to the growing adoption of fast foods even among populations that have adequate access to the healthy diets. As aforementioned, the ease of preparation, timesaving factor and convenience provide various individuals with an easier route to their daily nutritional intake, which is, unfortunately, often lacking in terms of balanced nutrients and minerals. As Lee provides, various studies portend to a dire future case scenario, where such negligence will bring a huge population under medical treatment, for various cases of treatable ailments (Lee).

The Health Effects and Social Impact

The occurrence of fast food, related health effects bears considerable social impact through the utilization of resources that should otherwise be directed towards development into alleviation of these health effects. This is because more resources are expanded on social welfare, as well as the health and medical wellbeing of such populations, with little being diverted to more socially comprehensive and influencing channels. Through medical and healthcare provision, which is expensive, governments are increasingly becoming pressed for funds, crucial for governance and economic growth.

Health effects are causing deaths, which affect the productivity within the society. While traditionally, younger populations would often take care of their elderly, through continuous social-economic input, current prevailing circumstances have negated this crucial aspect to their respective governments. Consequently, younger and more productive people are dying because of lifestyle diseases, which are easily preventable through balanced dietary intake (Ashakiran & Deepthi).

Diseases such as obesity among the infants have created the need for promoting healthful living that utilizes resources that would be used in societal developments. This would necessitate a vital shift from fast foods to more involving food preparation, with children, being involved more to acculturate a culture of wholesome food preparation and consumption. There is the need for greater involvement in fitness and general exercises, which would aid their bodies' burn more calories. This is opposed to the current prevailing contexts, where most are engaged in non-calorie burning activities.

Remedies for the Fast Food Consumption Trend

Promotion of balanced diets and healthy training.

The growing trend of obesity and overweight issues can be reversed gradually, if not mitigated and hence provide for a more secure and healthy future. Exercises are crucial to the overall well-being of an individual, due to the various advantages and benefits inherent (Lee). By shifting to traditional foods, which are healthier and more nutritious, the negative effects of junk food can gradually be reversed.

Campaigns for the Homemade Foods, as Opposed to Fast Foods

These campaigns are crucial in accomplishing a holistic shift of mindset. A great advantage of the fast food industry is that it possesses the capacity to churn out great/ clever advertisements, which do attract and retain such huge populations. Consequently, various initiatives should be started and further enhanced towards emancipating the prevailing ideals of traditional foods. Local/ slow food movements are crucial starting steps, aiming at preserving and disseminating information about local ingredients, cuisines and general traditional food preparation.

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Provision of information regarding the health effects of fast foods.

This should be clearly indicated, in the various medical sites and policy networks, especially with reference to the food industry. Governments should stringently require a greater provision of vital data, especially pertaining to general consumption of various foods as provided in various food outlets. Calorie intake present should be clearly indicated, so as to clearly provide crucial information, thus rendering ignorance as a weak excuse, and more blame on optional choice of the individual (Rajveer & Monika 8-9).

Subsidizing Healthy Meals for the Lower Income Individuals

This would be a great move in the right direction as traditional foods, though being more nutritious and healthy, are unfortunately out of the reach of a majority of urban populations. The poor are especially affected, as they have a limited choice of dietary intake, hence are dependent on junk food. This should be actively enacted by way of government involvement, as this necessitates macro-economic input/ contribution.

Replacement of Fast Food Chains with Organic Food

Chains to Alter the Eating Habits

Though being a far-fetched idea, can be gradually implemented, pertinently so with increased government input, as well as a holistic social refocus on better and healthier lifestyles (Kirkpatrick). This would necessitate a shift from junk food, to more traditional meals, which are far healthier and nutrient-packed.

Fast foods generate adverse health effects that influence the society in negative ways through the consumption of funds, which are meant for community development. This is due to the funds being directed towards the alleviation of the societal problems, as opposed to the creation of better opportunities through enhanced socio-economic input. The health effects attributed to fast foods include obesity, hypertension, cancer, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes among others. These diseases and ailments, it should be noted are fundamentally lifestyle-induced and hence preventable.

Thus, it should be the focus of all facets of current social systems, to work together through a holistic approach, with regard to tackling the prevailing nature of lifestyle induced illnesses and ailments. The society ought to present strategies to discourage the consumption of fast foods and promote the consumption of foods that present the body with the necessary nourishment. Through such an approach, there is a greater focus on future effects, and hence better means of combating various inherent diseases.

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Essay on Effects of Fast Food on Health

Students are often asked to write an essay on Effects of Fast Food on Health in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Effects of Fast Food on Health

Introduction.

Fast food is popular because it’s convenient and tasty. But, it’s often unhealthy.

Nutritional Content

Fast food is high in calories, salt, and unhealthy fats. It lacks important nutrients like vitamins and fiber.

Obesity Risk

Eating too much fast food can lead to weight gain. This increases the risk of obesity, a serious health problem.

Heart Problems

Fast food’s high fat and salt content can contribute to heart problems, like high blood pressure and heart disease.

While fast food is convenient, it’s important to eat it in moderation due to its negative health effects.

250 Words Essay on Effects of Fast Food on Health

Fast food, a staple in today’s hurried society, is often blamed for a variety of health issues. Its impact on health is multifaceted, affecting not only physical well-being but also mental health.

Nutritional Deficiencies

Fast foods are typically high in unhealthy fats, sugars, and sodium while being low in essential nutrients. These nutritional imbalances can lead to deficiencies, which manifest as fatigue, poor concentration, and weakened immune system.

Obesity and Related Diseases

The high calorie content of fast food contributes to obesity, a global health crisis. Obesity, in turn, increases the risk of serious diseases like heart disease, diabetes, and certain types of cancer.

Mental Health Implications

Recent research suggests a link between fast food consumption and mental health issues. High sugar and fat content may contribute to depression, while the lack of essential nutrients can exacerbate anxiety and mood disorders.

While fast food offers convenience, its health effects are far-reaching. As consumers, we must make informed choices about our dietary habits, balancing convenience with health. As a society, we must advocate for healthier fast food options and improved nutritional education.

500 Words Essay on Effects of Fast Food on Health

Fast food has become a staple in the diet of many, primarily due to its convenience and accessibility. However, this shift in dietary habits has profound implications on health.

The Nutritional Profile of Fast Food

Fast food is notorious for its high caloric content, saturated and trans fats, sodium, and sugar, while being low in essential nutrients like vitamins, minerals, and fiber. This skewed nutritional profile contributes to the onset of various health issues.

Obesity and Fast Food

One of the most visible effects of fast food consumption is the rise in obesity rates. The high energy density of fast food, combined with its palatability, promotes overeating. This chronic energy surplus leads to weight gain and obesity. Obesity, in turn, is a risk factor for numerous health conditions such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancer.

Fast Food and Cardiovascular Health

Fast food’s high sodium and saturated fat content contribute to elevated blood pressure and cholesterol levels, which are precursors to heart disease. Furthermore, trans fats found in fast food have been linked to an increased risk of heart disease, as they raise bad cholesterol levels and lower good cholesterol levels.

Impact on Digestive and Metabolic Health

Fast food’s low fiber content affects digestive health, leading to conditions like constipation and diverticular disease. Also, the high sugar content can lead to insulin resistance, a precursor to type 2 diabetes. Studies have shown a direct correlation between the frequency of fast food consumption and the risk of developing these metabolic disorders.

Effects on Mental Health

Emerging research suggests that fast food may also affect mental health. Diets high in fat and sugar can cause alterations in brain chemistry that lead to symptoms of depression and anxiety. Additionally, the blood sugar spikes and crashes associated with high-sugar fast foods can cause mood swings and impair cognitive function.

Fast food, while convenient, has a detrimental impact on health, contributing to obesity, heart disease, digestive issues, metabolic disorders, and potentially, mental health problems. It is crucial to raise awareness about these health risks and promote healthier dietary choices among the public. The fast-food industry also has a role to play in this, by reformulating their products to be healthier and offering a wider range of nutritious options. The effects of fast food on health are a pressing issue that requires collective action from individuals, communities, and policymakers alike.

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The Negative Effects of Fast Food: Essay Example

Negative effects of fast food: essay introduction, negative effects of fast food: essay body, negative effects of fast food: essay conclusion, works cited.

Consumption of fast food is believed to have negative impact on physical and psychological health. Fast food is rich in glycemic load and energy densities. When consumed in excessive portions it contributes to the escalation of obesity, digestive problems, and depression. Obesity and depression have become an epidemic in countries like the US and UK due to increased consumption of fast food.

Fast food is defined as food purchased from outlets that are self-service or take-out restaurants. A few well-known leaders in the fast food industry are MacDonald, KFC, Pepsi, etc. In the US, fast food outlets increased from 30,000 in 1970 to more than 233000 locations in 2004 (Rosenheck 535). I believe fast food negatively affects physical and emotional health of consumers.

A typical portion of fast food meal is usually very large and exceeds the average calories intake of home made food for an adult. Fast food contains more fats than can be burnt during our daily activities. Hence, regular consumption of fast food increases the chances of gaining excessive weight.

Further, fast food restaurants sell pre-specified portions which are higher than the average calorie intake of an adult. For instance, sandwiches in fast food outlets have two specific sizes – 12 and 6 inches. Research has shown that women consume 31% and men 56% more energy when they eat a 6-inch or 12-inch sandwich respectively (Ledikwe, Ello-Martin and Rolls 906).

Research on fast food snacks served to men and women has shown that women consumed 18% and men 37% more calorie than their usual energy intake (Ledikwe, Ello-Martin and Rolls 907). Fast food has high energy density as the fat content in it is very high. One can definitely state that portion size has a positive influence on the energy density of fast food, thus, increasing the calorie intake of consumers.

Fast food has high fat content. Fat, when consumed from natural sources, plays a vital role in digestion, absorption, and transportation of vitamins and fat-soluble essentials. However, fats contained in fast food are mostly saturated fats and trans fats. An adult male should not consume more than 30g and woman 20g of saturated fats, and less than 5g of trans fat in order to remain healthy (Rosenheck 536).

However, every bite of a burger consumed at a restaurant contains almost 10g of saturated fats. This is higher than what an adult male should consume. The high content of fat, salt, and sugar in fast food increases harmful bacteria content that causes indigestion. Fast foods like french fries, fried chicken, and bread use hydrogenated oil that is not good for digestion.

Depression has become an epidemic problem. Researchers believe that food which is rich in certain substances like vitamin B, omega 3 fatty acids, and olive oil, help reduce depression (Robson par. 1), consequently, researches have connected dietary habit and nutrition to occurrence of depression. Trans fats and saturated fats in fast food increase the risk of depression among consumers.

To sum up it all, excessive intake of fast food may increase the risk of deterioration of physical and mental well-being. Health issues related to obesity or indigestion are common problems faced by consumers of fast food. Due to the lack of certain ingredients that prevent depression, fast food adversely affects mental health. Thus, over-consumption of fast food leads to physical and emotional problems.

Ledikwe, Jenny H., Julia A. Ello-Martin and Barbara J. Rolls. “Portion Sizes and the Obesity Epidemic.” The Journal of Nutrition 135.4 (2005): 905-909. Print.

Robson, David. “ Is fast food making us depressed ?” 14 August 2014.

Rosenheck, R. “Fast food consumption and increased caloric intake: a systematic review of a trajectory towards weight gain and obesity risk.” Obesity Reviews 9.6 (2008): 535-547. Print.

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An opinion essay about fast food.

Look at the exam question and essay and do the exercises to improve your writing skills. 

Instructions

Do the preparation exercise first. Then read the text and do the other exercises.

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Check your understanding: matching

Check your vocabulary: gap fill, check your writing: multiple choice, worksheets and downloads.

Is fast food popular in your country? Do you think it causes health problems or any other kinds of problems?

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How Eating Fast Food Affects Teen Health

Frequently eating fast food could cause teens and young adults to gain more weight and face an increased risk of developing insulin resistance , according to the results of a longitudinal study that followed over 3,000 young adults over a period of 15 years.   Funded by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) and published in The Lancet , subjects who ate at fast-food restaurants more than twice a week compared with those who do so less than once a week had gained an extra 10 pounds and had a two-fold increase in insulin resistance, a risk factor for type 2 diabetes . Diabetes is a major risk factor for heart disease.

What This Means for Your Teen

Fast-food consumption has increased in the United States over the past three decades. On average, Americans eat out 5.8 times a week. That's more than double the amount that showed increased risks for chronic disease in study participants, who were between the ages of 18 and 30. So what does this mean for your teen?

Lead author of the study, Mark Periera, Ph.D., assistant professor of epidemiology at the University of Minnesota, explains: “It’s extremely difficult to eat in a healthy way at a fast-food restaurant. Despite some of their recent healthful offerings, the menus still tend to include foods high in fat, sugar, and calories, and low in fiber and nutrients.”   Pereira believes it's time to cut back on fast food intake and designate a kitchen time for you and your teen. Even if you start with once a week, that's one less meal eaten out of home, and that could save your teen some pounds.

Reasons for Teen Weight Gain

One reason for the weight gain teens experience due to eating out may be that a single meal from one of these restaurants often contains enough calories to satisfy a person’s caloric requirement for an entire day. Participants were asked during the physical examinations given as part of the study how often they ate breakfast, lunch or dinner at fast food restaurants. The adverse impact on teens’ weight and insulin resistance was seen across all participants who ate frequently at fast-food restaurants, even after adjustments for other lifestyle habits.  

How to Cut Back

There are strategies for improving how you eat and they don't all involve cooking every meal in your home kitchen. For starters, know what's healthy on the menus of fast food restaurants. Many now offer salads, grilled as opposed to fried foods, and limited offerings of fresh fruit or yogurt. These options may be better than other dessert and staple items on the menu. Now that nutritional content is displayed on many fast food menus, designate certain meals on your "OK to Eat" list for certain fast food restaurants if you're in a bind. If you want to step it up a notch, before you are hungry, create a list of healthy fast food restaurants in your area and in the areas where you work and practice your hobbies. This go-to list will help you eat as healthy as you can when eating out. A great place to find a list of healthy fast food restaurants is through the Eat Real Campaign . If you must indulge, keep portion sizes small, and ask that high-fat sauces and condiments, such as salad dressings and mayonnaise, be “on the side” and use them sparingly to reduce calories.

Mark Pereira, Alex I. Kartashov, Cara B. Ebbeling, Linda Van Horn, Martha L. Slattery, David R. Jacobs, Jr., David S. Ludwig. Fast-food habits, weight gain, and insulin resistance (The CARDIA Study): 15-year prospective analysis .  The Lance t, January 1, 2005. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(04)17663-0

By Tracee Cornforth Tracee Cornforth is a freelance writer who covers menstruation, menstrual disorders, and other women's health issues. 

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Israel withdraws from a Gaza hospital, AT&T data breach affects millions of users

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After a two-week raid, Israeli forces have withdrawn from Gaza's main hospital. The IDF said it raided al-Shifa because Hamas had regrouped there. This all comes as the International Court of Justice ordered Israel to allow food aid into Gaza, but the court has no way to enforce this order.

Displaced Palestinians gather in the yard of Gaza's Al-Shifa hospital on Dec. 10, 2023. The hospital, Gaza's largest, was raided by the Israeli military early on Monday. -/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

Displaced Palestinians gather in the yard of Gaza's Al-Shifa hospital on Dec. 10, 2023. The hospital, Gaza's largest, was raided by the Israeli military early on Monday.

• NPR's Jane Arraf tells Up First that Palestinian health officials say they were prevented from evacuating patients and staff from the badly damaged complex, where there's already a severe shortage of medicine, medical supplies and drinking water. The World Health Organization said 21 patients have died since Israel began its siege of the hospital on March 18. Israel says it was not responsible for any patient deaths.
• Meanwhile, the ICJ observes that famine in Gaza is setting in. Israel has denied this claim. The World Food Programme and its partners say they have enough food to feed everyone in Gaza, but not enough food is being let into the area. 

California's fast-food workers will start making a minimum wage of $20 per hour today — a 25% raise from $16 in most cities and counties. Fast food workers are among the lowest-paying workers in the U.S. The workers are often women, immigrants and people of color; many live below the poverty line.

• California often sets the tone for other states on labor, NPR's Alina Selyukh reports. Restaurant chain owners and franchisees claim that higher wages will force them to raise prices , cut workers' hours and even close shops. However, studies show something different. After Seattle raised wages a decade ago, researchers found that restaurants and workers adapted and didn't lose jobs. 

AT&T says it is investigating a data breach involving the personal information of over 70 million current and former customers. The breach, which occurred two weeks ago, has not had a "material impact" on the company's operations, but has comprised social security numbers, full names, and phone numbers of some customers, according to an AT&T press release. The company has so far not identified the source of the leak, at least publicly.

Thousands of fans attended Cowboy Carter listening parties in Nashville, Washington, D.C., and Georgia over the weekend. Beyonce's latest album combines the sounds of classic country with hip-hop, bluegrass and Chicano rock. The much anticipated album contains collaborations with Dolly Parton and reimaginings of songs like The Beatles' "Blackbird."

• NPR music's Sidney Madden and Sheldon Pearce have been listening since the strike of midnight. They share 10 takeaways from the album with All Things Considered .

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Expand your reading horizons by thinking about what types of books you're reading. Jackie Lay/NPR hide caption

Expand your reading horizons by thinking about what types of books you're reading.

Reading as a habit can be hard to maintain, whether you're starting over or reading every night. Goodreads and The StoryGraph make it easy to track how many books you read each year, but if you're having trouble setting a goal, try these tips .

• Think genres, not numbers. It can be fun to change up the types of books you're reading, instead of focusing on how many books you can get through. Scroll through NPR's Books We Love and pick a genre that you normally don't gravitate towards to get some inspiration. 
• Make reading a community affair. Book clubs or reading parties can be a great way to encourage you to read more. 
• Don't be afraid to adjust. Sometimes, life gets in the way, and you don't have time for hobbies like reading.  

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This essay was written by Phil Harrell , Morning Edition senior producer.

There was a time when NPR would produce one fraudulent, absurd story per show on April Fools Day — a practice that was discontinued. Those were more innocent times, back when "fake news" would only be a threat once a year.

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Sometimes the joke is on the jokester.

By the end of the story, it was pretty obvious that the whole thing was in jest. But every once in a while, unattentive listeners got fooled, and some of them wrote to NPR about how shocked — SHOCKED! — they were about this story that wasn't being reported anywhere else for some reason.

There's the time we told you about Starbucks building a coast-to-coast coffee pipeline .

We also tried to convince listeners that there were people who longed for dial-up modems again: The Slow Internet Movement .

We brought you "news" of a sagging market for maple syrup — which meant that neglected trees were so full of sap, they were exploding .

I even got to produce one about a pre-school so exclusive that unborn applicants had to submit to DNA testing in utero to search for markers of intelligence. The New York Times even weighed in on that one!

But rest assured: you can listen to NPR today with absolute confidence in the thorough, fact-based reporting we will offer.

NPR won't try to trick you today, but other companies and people on social media might. Here are five tips for not getting fooled .

Before you go

LSU's Angel Reese reacts in front of Iowa's Caitlin Clark during the second half of the NCAA Women's Final Four championship basketball game April 2, 2023, in Dallas. Tony Gutierrez/AP hide caption

LSU's Angel Reese reacts in front of Iowa's Caitlin Clark during the second half of the NCAA Women's Final Four championship basketball game April 2, 2023, in Dallas.

• Tonight's women's NCAA game will be a rematch between two powerhouses : Iowa's Caitlin Clark and LSU's Angel Reese. Last year, the two trended after Reese made a gesture widely known as wrestler John Cena's "You Can't See Me" taunt.
• Dairy cows in five U.S. states have tested positive for bird flu, but your morning coffee probably doesn't have infected milk .
• Eight decades after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the body of one soldier who was presumed dead has finally been identified . 

This newsletter was edited by Majd Al-Waheidi . Suzanne Nuyen contributed.

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The Morning

America’s affordable housing crisis.

The housing crisis is likely to be solved in cities and states, not Washington.

By Conor Dougherty

President Biden worries about high housing costs. So do Republicans in Congress. The consensus reflects a major problem: Tens of millions of families, across red and blue states, struggle with rent and home prices. The reason is a longstanding housing shortage.

But action in Washington won’t make a huge difference. America’s affordable housing crisis is likely to be solved in cities and states. In today’s newsletter, I’ll explain how many are already doing so in bipartisan fashion.

Local laboratories

Home prices are up about 60 percent over the past decade, adjusted for inflation. About a quarter of renters — some 12 million households — spend more than half their income on housing, far in excess of the one-third level that is considered healthy. Homeless camps have expanded, and “ super commuters ” — who drive for 90 minutes or longer to work — have migrated well beyond the expensive coasts to smaller cities like Spokane , Wash., and fast-growing metropolitan areas like Dallas and Phoenix.

Generally, Republican-led states have been more affordable than Democratic-led ones. They tend to have fewer construction and environmental rules, which allows the housing supply to expand faster. But as rent and home prices climb beyond middle-income budgets in more places, states are racing to add housing.

The legislation in each state varies. But in general it removes permitting and design barriers so new construction can be approved faster. States are also trying to alter zoning rules to allow a greater diversity of units in more neighborhoods.

One way is to allow more backyard homes — known as granny flats. That way, homeowners can build a space for a renter or family member. Another is to shrink lot sizes so several smaller cottages can be built on parcels currently reserved for only one larger home. Cities and states are also altering zoning rules so duplexes and triplexes can be built in neighborhoods that are currently designated for single-family homes. All these methods aim to increase density within a city’s existing footprint.

Already, Democrats and Republicans in Montana and Arizona have united for housing legislation. A similar coalition has taken shape in other states, including Texas, Minnesota and North Carolina . Even in California and Oregon, whose governments are both dominated by Democrats, Republican votes have helped pass housing bills.

“Some issues become a horseshoe,” said Cody Vasut, a Republican member of the Texas House of Representatives who wants to drastically restrict abortion — but also liberalize land use laws. “We have different views of government, but sometimes we arrive at the same conclusion.”

These coalitions are not always successful. Last week, for instance, the Arizona governor, Katie Hobbs, a Democrat, vetoed a bill that would have allowed smaller homes and lot sizes. She called it “a step too far.”

Most of these laws are too new for us to know their ultimate outcomes. But there’s ample evidence that building more housing reduces prices. In Austin, Texas, for instance, a surge in rent and home prices during the pandemic led to a boom in construction. Now prices are falling, and landlords offer months of free rent to fill empty units.

New coalitions

Why can political parties cooperate on this issue but so little else? Housing politics are hyperlocal and don’t hew to neat ideological lines. Neither party has a hard position that members feel beholden too.

One thing most people agree on is that America has too few homes. According to Freddie Mac, the mortgage finance giant, the nation is short about four million units . The deficit is particularly acute in both low-cost rentals and the entry-level starter homes favored by first-time buyers.

Economists say much of the blame falls on local governments. City councils hold most of the power over where and what types of housing get built, but they are beholden to homeowners who often pack meetings to complain that new developments would destroy nature and snarl traffic.

This is called NIMBYism, short for “Not in my backyard.” The remedy, in both red and blue states, has been to pass laws that strip cities’ power to say no.

State legislatures are close enough to voters to share their concerns about rising housing costs — but far enough that they don’t have to answer for every new local development. They are the Goldilocks level of government for housing reform.

Related: I want to hear from readers about their housing situations. You can submit stories here .

THE LATEST NEWS

Baltimore bridge collapse.

The cargo ship that collided with the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore lost power shortly before the crash, officials said. See how the bridge collapsed .

After the ship put out a distress call, workers stopped cars from driving across the bridge. “These people are heroes,” Maryland’s governor, Wes Moore, said.

The Coast Guard is searching for the bodies of six of the eight construction workers who were on the bridge. Two were found alive; the others are presumed dead, an official said.

Biden said that the collision appeared to have been an accident and that he wanted the federal government to rebuild the bridge.

Several automakers said that they would reroute their shipments.

Supreme Court

Most of the Supreme Court justices sounded inclined to reject a bid to restrict nationwide access to an abortion pill , mifepristone, during arguments.

Several justices seemed skeptical that the plaintiffs, doctors who don’t prescribe abortion pills, had a right to challenge the F.D.A.’s approval of the drug. Read more takeaways .

The female justices had candid exchanges about women’s health, The Washington Post reports.

2024 Election

The Biden campaign joined TikTok to try to reach younger voters. The videos have prompted jokes and criticism.

Barack Obama regularly calls top Biden aides to strategize about Biden’s re-election campaign .

More on Politics

NBC News cut ties with Ronna McDaniel , the former Republican Party chairwoman, after hosts criticized the network for hiring her as a commentator. A Times review found that she had helped Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election .

Trump’s social media company surged on its first day of trading on the Nasdaq, adding billions to his wealth .

The judge overseeing Trump’s Manhattan criminal trial imposed a gag order prohibiting Trump from attacking witnesses or prosecutors.

Trump posted a video urging his supporters to buy the “God Bless the USA Bible,” priced at around $60. Trump gets royalties from sales .

A new law in Florida will prohibit children under 14 from having social media accounts, The A.P. reports. It is set to take effect next year.

Israel-Hamas War

An Israeli hostage said she had been sexually assaulted and tortured in Gaza. Read her story .

Hezbollah and Israel fired at each other across the border with Lebanon. At least one person died in Israel and seven were reported killed in Lebanon.

Top Israeli and U.S. defense officials met to discuss Israel’s plan to invade Rafah .

Israel is deploying facial recognition to conduct surveillance in Gaza, according to Israeli military and intelligence officials.

The authorities in Gaza said 12 people drowned while trying to retrieve airdropped aid that had fallen into the Mediterranean.

Other Big Stories

A British court ruled that the WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange could not be extradited to the U.S. until the American authorities made more assurances about his treatment , including protection from the death penalty.

Russia extended the detention of Evan Gershkovich, a reporter for The Wall Street Journal.

China’s capable workers and cheap parts helped pull Tesla back from the brink of failure. This may give Beijing leverage over Elon Musk .

The terrorist attack at a Moscow concert hall shows ISIS is far from defeated , Bret Stephens writes.

Colleges’ optional standardized tests hurt the students they are supposed to help, Emi Nietfeld writes.

Here is a column by Ross Douthat on progressives’ new definition of sexual liberation .

MORNING READS

Holi: The Indian festival is becoming more popular worldwide. Read about the tradition .

Scams: A woman posed as a down-on-her-luck Irish heiress. The man she conned out of thousands started a podcast to track her down .

The Great Read: A legal pot pioneer was busted in Idaho. He has a plan .

Lives Lived: Lee Berry was one of the Panther 21, members of the Black Panther Party who were prosecuted in New York in 1970. His account of abuse in jail was a catalyst for Leonard Bernstein’s Park Avenue fund-raising party that Tom Wolfe satirized in a withering magazine takedown. Berry died at 78 .

N.F.L.: League owners approved significant changes to kickoff rules, which will go into effect this season.

College basketball: Iowa and West Virginia drew an average of 4.9 million viewers for their second-round women’s N.C.A.A. tournament game, a pre-Final Four record.

ARTS AND IDEAS

French identity: Aya Nakamura, one of France’s most popular singers, might perform at the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics. The choice has become a flashpoint in the nation’s culture wars. Nakamura was born in Mali and raised in a Parisian suburb, and her music mixes French lyrics with Arabic and West African dialects.

“In a country often ill at ease with its changing population,” Roger Cohen and Aurelien Breeden write , “she stands on a fault line.”

More on culture

Beyoncé’s coming album, “Cowboy Carter,” is an extension of the artist’s exploration of how Black creativity fuels all corners of popular music. Read Jon Caramanica’s essay .

Stephen King’s “Carrie” was published in 1974. Margaret Atwood explains its enduring appeal.

“Trump is mashing together the Bible and the Constitution like it’s a Pizza Hut-Taco Bell”: The late-night hosts discussed Trump’s latest business venture .

THE MORNING RECOMMENDS …

Stir together a one-pot crisp gnocchi with sausage and peas.

Prepare kids for puberty with these items .

Clean your oven .

Here is today’s Spelling Bee . Yesterday’s pangram was adjourn .

And here are today’s Mini Crossword , Wordle , Sudoku and Connections .

Thanks for spending part of your morning with The Times. See you tomorrow.

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Conor Dougherty covers housing and development, focusing on the rising costs of homeownership. He is based in Los Angeles. More about Conor Dougherty