This year alone, Americans will spend $110 billion dollars on fast food.  This is more then we will spend on movies, books, magazines, newspapers, and videos combined.  Now, everybody enjoys going to McDonalds and getting a double cheeseburger with a side of fries or going on a late night Taco-Bell run and getting a Gordita crunch.  But what nutritional value does this food provide for our bodies and how is the fast food industry contributing to the decrease of American health and increase in obesity.  Today, we will explore the negative effects that fast food has on our bodies and why each of us should decrease the amount we consume.  
	  According to CBSnews, there are four main reasons Americans enjoy fast food.  1) It’s easy, 2) It’s filing, 3) It’s convenient, and 4) It’s inexpensive.  A majority of fast food can be enjoyed while driving a car or doing other mindless activities that cannot be accomplished when dining at other such restaurants.  Another reason fast food has become so popular is the overwhelming menu options each fast food restaurant has.  What happened to the days when a classic hamburger and fries were the only menu options?  Those days do not exist anymore.  Now, it’s overwhelming how many different food items are on each and every menu.  For example, in order to view the McDonald’s menu online, there are different categories for sandwiches, chicken, breakfast, salads, snacks and sides, beverages, McCafe, and desserts and shakes.  Under the sandwich category alone, I counted 32 menu options.    We must also remember that McDonalds is not the only fast food restaurant that provides such convenience and flexibility for its customers.  Other popular choices include dairy queen, subway, burger king, taco bell, sonic, long john silver’s, Arby’s, white castle, and hardee’s.   Now, I am sure most of you have consumed something from one of the following food choices.  However, let’s take a look at why the fast food industry is responsible for so many health problems that American’s are suffering from.  
	First things first, fast food portions are huge.  Over-sized burgers, extra large fries, and a huge soda are a much different portion size then something your mom would probably make for you.  Not only are the portions huge, but the food is heavy in fat, salt, sugars, and provide little to none nutritional value for our bodies.  Obesity in America is a growing problem not only for adults, but also for children.  Did you know that children often recognize the McDonald’s logo before they recognize their own name, and American children get about one quarter of their total vegetable serving in the form of potato chips and French fries.  Additionally, the rate of obesity among American children has doubled since the Childhood obesity is associated with health risks that include sleep apnea, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, orthopedic problems, and clinical depression.  Additionally, low self-esteem, withdrawal from peers and family, and poor school performance are other risk factors associated with childhood obesity.  Another important component of childhood obesity is the likelihood that these unhealthy habits will carry over into adulthood.  Many health problems that arise during one’s adulthood are due in part to habits and abnormalities that began during childhood.  Risks associated with eating too much fast food can include heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, and different types of cancers.  
	In the 2004 documentary called Super Size Me.  Morgan Spurlock decided to take it upon himself to explore the impact fast food has on our bodies.  He would eat only McDonald’s for one month,  If Morgan was asked by a McDonald’s employee if he wanted the meal supersized, he would have to say yes, according the his own personal rules.  The results of this documentary were definitely interesting.  Spurlock managed to gain 25 pounds during his 30 day experiment.  Both Spurlocks cholesterol and blood pressure increased, and his doctor was astonished at his liver function test results.  Additionally, feelings of sluggishness, depression, shortness of breath, chest pressure, and headaches were all symptoms Spurlock experienced during his experiment. However, as awful as this diet may seem, Spurlock concluded by saying “I definitely went through serious withdrawal symptoms. Researchers have found that Americans can be overly dependent on the sugar and fat in fast food.  This can explain the soaring rates of obesity in correlation to the fast food industry.