The Impact of Government Policies on the Consumption of Fast Food and Its Effect on Modern Dietary Habits

1. Introduction

Fast food, once an American phenomenon, has spread globally, significantly influencing eating habits, particularly among the youth. Its affordability, convenience, and marketing strategies have led to increased consumption, especially in urban areas. However, concerns about fast food's high caloric, sugar, saturated fat, and sodium content have been raised. Policymakers are now seeking to regulate fast food consumption to combat the growing obesity epidemic.

Obesity is the result of an energy imbalance, where the number of calories consumed exceeds the number burnt. It is influenced by various factors such as genetics, age, sex, environment, and lifestyle habits, including diet and physical activity. Fast food is a major contributor to obesity as it contains high levels of calories, fat, sugar, and sodium, and it is often consumed instead of healthier alternative foods. Moreover, individuals seeking abnormal amounts of weight may become aware of diabulimia, a dangerous combination of eating disorder and diabetes that can happen in a growing fast food environment.

This project aims to investigate the association between government policies and the consumption of fast food, as well as the effect that widespread consumption of fast food has on modern dietary habits. A systematic review of the existing literature will be conducted, summarizing published academic research on the association between government policies and fast food consumption, as well as the effect of fast food consumption on dietary habits. Food consumption data from various sources will be analyzed to investigate whether there is an overall trend of healthier or less healthy food habits from 2000 to 2022. Any potential gaps in the literature will be presented, as well as a suggestion for further research to be conducted on the topic. (Popkin et al.2021)

2. The Rise of Fast Food Consumption

Despite a pervasive awareness of the principles of a healthy diet, a diet rich in fats, sugars, and salt continues to be seen as an easy solution for cooking. Globalization, in fact, is having an increasing impact on the acceptance of fast food establishments around the globe and their continued expansion based on innovations developed with little regard for local dietary and cultural differences. In modern society, the consumption of fast food has burgeoned into a substantial public concern. In many major countries, fast food has become a major form of social eating and a common dietary preference among several different social groups. The explosive growth of fast food consumption has fascinated many researchers because it has notably deviated from the traditional home-cooked diet and brings along numerous health concerns. These fast food regulations are depicted in the part that provides comparisons of fast food regulations among the countries or nations of interest. (Banik et al., 2020)

From a societal trajectory, the history of the fast food consumption boom is generally centered on two parallel aspects: the rapid development of demand and supply. The first public concern is whether the external fast food consumption social norms would lead to a climax of social acceptance in a similar manner as in major Western countries. Despite skepticism about the inevitability of the global spread of the American way of eating locally, and how different it is in terms of historical, economic, and cultural components, there is nevertheless a continuing concern about the possibility of the Americanization of food style. Moreover, from an epidemiological perspective, there is also the question of whether the adoption of fast food consumption would lead to similar shifts in modern dietary preference. Fast food consumption is always accompanied by a notable increase in the preference for sugary drinks and the preference for eating outside in other recent studies. (Sigala & Stanhope, 2021)

Western countries have experienced a gradual temporal acceptance of fast food consumption. A gradual and structural change of the curve in the twentieth century is designated with the events of World War II and the postwar economic boom representing the fast food establishment during the 1920s to 1950s, and the spread of fast food outlets into urban areas and then suburbs with affluence and a more individualistic lifestyle from the 1950s to 1970s, ending with the price war and the fiercest competition within fast food outlets since the 1980s. Generally speaking, the global spread of fast food consumption usually starts with the establishment of multifarious fast food outlets being the supply side of such a social trend and then returns with a gradually increased social acceptance among specific consumer groups being the demand side of such development. Interestingly, this flower-shaped stylized curve maintained by the emerging economies and the independent performance persistence of underdeveloped nations may potentially offer empirical evidence to interpret the topic in developing countries. (Kumar et al., 2022)

3. Government Policies and Regulations on Fast Food

In the past five years, numerous government policies designed to limit the consumption of fast food and unhealthy foods in general have been introduced in various parts of the world. Many politicians and policymakers believe that the rapid proliferation of fast food outlets and similar restaurants is responsible for the global epidemic of overweight, obesity, and diet-related diseases. These policies have included restrictions on advertising unhealthy food to children, increased taxes on junk food, requiring fast food restaurants to display nutritional information on menus, and banning or limiting the location of new fast food outlets. (Popkin et al.2021)

Numerous countries have dealt with the issue of increasing consumption of fast food by implementing or considering similar regulations. Countries such as Denmark, France, Hungary, and Mexico have introduced taxes aimed at curbing the consumption of unhealthy foods high in fat, sugar, and salt. These taxes can take various forms, such as taxes based on the nutrient content of food or a flat percentage of sales price. Meanwhile, New Zealand is planning to ban fast food outlets in schools, and the European Union is considering a ban on advertising junk food targeted at children. However, until recently, few studies had examined such policies, particularly in a cross-national context. Due to the increasingly global trade environment, there is now considerable interest in examining how similar issues are being tackled in different countries and the relative effectiveness of different regulatory frameworks. (Sacks et al., 2021)

Past research has documented consumption trends of fast food and similar outlets, but there has been little empirical research on the effect of government policies on the consumption of fast food and similar outlets. Furthermore, few studies have gained insights into how these issues are being dealt with in different countries.

4. Health Implications of Fast Food Consumption

Statistical analysis revealed an increase in cholesterol levels and BMI associated with every additional fast-food meal consumed per week. Concerningly, fast food restaurants in low-income neighborhoods were reported to serve larger portion sizes, particularly in lower-income establishments frequented by predominantly Hispanic cultures. Lower income was identified as a predictor of fast food and soda consumption levels across various geographical locations. Lower socio-economic backgrounds led to weaker control over children's fast food consumption and related health issues. Further compounding this issue is marketing strategies targeting both ethnic minorities and children, resulting in an increased risk of obesity. Even when accounting for lifestyle differences, lower socio-economic status populations are at a higher risk due to greater exposure to fast-food outlets and accessibility in urban neighborhoods. (Zagorsky & Smith, 2020)

Some studies have predicted that the surge in fast food revenue in rapidly developing countries would lead to an increase in obesity rates. This phenomenon has also been the focus of attention in the case of Brazil, Mexico, and Russia. Accumulated longitudinal data suggests that increased fast food consumption is directly linked to both the prevalence and incidence of obesity in adults across various ethnicities and living conditions. In contrast, more inconsistent results were found concerning the relationship between fast food and vegetable consumption and related health issues. However, there is still a significant negative association with fast food purchase frequency and vegetable intake consistent across studies conducted in various regions. (Harbers et al.2021)

As urbanization continues, more low-access neighborhoods characterized by a high density of convenience stores and fast-food outlets with limited access to supermarkets are emerging. Disadvantaged communities are increasingly deprived of healthy food access, which may result in a greater risk of chronic disease. Studies have also provided data about the spatial components of the food environment and their socio-demographic correlates in cities of various sizes and in economically distinct locations. These studies consistently revealed the presence of food deserts, a high density of fast-food restaurants in minority neighborhoods, and an association between neighborhood SES and the retail food environment. Such findings are significant for public health planning. (O'Hara & Toussaint, 2021)

5. Consumer Behavior and Fast Food Choices

The consumption of fast food in Indonesia demands a closer examination of consumer behavior and how well this behavior aligns with the principles of energy balance. The objective of this research is to shed light on the patterns, preferences, and characteristics of fast food consumption in Indonesia, which will serve as a basis for evaluating whether such consumption is considered healthy. This topic is crucial because even though citizens of developing countries like Indonesia have been exposed to fast food for a relatively shorter time period compared to those from developed countries, the global network of fast food chains poses an imminent threat to the dietary habits of the Indonesian people. (Gómez, 2023)

Using a cross-sectional study design, this research collects data from respondents aged 15 years and older residing in urban areas of Indonesia's four largest islands. A total of 8,681 respondents are recruited through a multi-stage random sampling approach. An adapted version of a validated survey questionnaire is used to investigate the consumption of fast food. The consumption behavior of fast food is assessed by taking into account the type of food, frequency of consumption, preferred time of day, place of purchase, and individual characteristics of the consumer. All variables are analyzed both univariately and multivariately.

This study provides preliminary evidence that fast food is still consumed primarily on a trial basis among Indonesian citizens, particularly among younger and less educated individuals. The continued consumption of fast food appears to correlate with a preference for snack-type foods and foods high in fat and salt. The cross-sectional nature of the research design limits conclusions about cause-and-effect relationships, while a single day's food intake does not provide a complete picture of dietary habits. Nonetheless, the results suggest that global forces and economic development have driven some degree of homogenization in Indonesian dietary habits, raising concerns about the health implications of fast food consumption in urbanized areas of developing countries.

6. Conclusion and Future Directions

The present research works as a base for the study related to the policies that affect fast food consumption and dietary habits of the modern generation. The paper highlights a large number of policies like food menu labeling, sales tax, and advertising regulation, which affect the consumption of junk food. Specifically, dealing with the policy on food menu labeling is an advantage as the consumers are provided substantial information related to the product. Consequently, efficient and exhaustive information can create awareness and help the consumers choose healthier food options. Regulations on advertising targeting children limit the exposure of children to the promotion of unhealthy food options, which helps shape dietary habits from childhood. Furthermore, modifying the environmental factors, such as the location of junk food restaurants mostly at schools, playgrounds, and parks, helps reduce the consumption of junk food.

The research work draws limitations regarding the imprecise and incomplete data collection. Many of the policies are relatively new, with a short span for evaluation. A thorough review and in-depth assessment of the fast food policies of a specific country aren’t discussed. Investigation of the consumption of other food options, like fruits and vegetables, can achieve an even more positive influence on dietary habits.

Future research directions include focusing on a research issue and evaluating the effect of the policies with a detailed examination, either using meta-analysis or case studies. Hence, policy regulatory frameworks can be instituted for healthy food consumption. The research will work as a beneficial basis to formulate new policies for reinforcing healthy dietary habits and food consumption.

References:

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