Statesboro, Ga. – Statesboro is lacking in the healthy restaurants. Yes, there are many restaurants—at least two McDonalds, a Wendys, a Burger King, an Arbys, Zaxbys, Taco Bell, Hardees, Chik-Fil-A, a Sonic, a Krystal and a Checkers. But with easy access to fast food, consumers find themselves stuffing their stomachs with food that is full of fat and cooked in grease which causes rapid weight gain.

Consumers are concerned. For instance, Lindsey Ford, a nutrition student of Georgia Southern University, believes that portion sizes of foods are too large at many Statesboro restaurants.

When a person goes to a fast food restaurant, there are all different sizes for each combo, which include small, medium or large. The changes in combo sizes don’t give a person a bigger sandwich but rather more fries and a larger drink.

These portions of French fries really have no health benefits because, according to the noted nutrition expert Dr. Wynnie Chan, they are full of saturated fats. The World Cancer Research Fund says such fats can increase the risk of developing heart disease, diabetes and some cancers.

Mary Ellen Strote, a writer for Shape magazine, claims eating fast food will cause middle age men and women to be more susceptible to insulin resistance. In her story entitled “The Fast Track to Fat,” Strote quotes a study conducted by Dr. Gina Wei about the dangers of fast food.

Dr. Wei’s study included 3,000 healthy men and women of the ages 18-30 years old. Findings showed that people who ate fast food more than twice for 15 years often gained ten more pounds than those who went less than once weekly. They also showed double increase in insulin resistance, which is the leading cause of diabetes.

If a person can’t resist fast food, then Wei suggests looking up the fast food meal's nutritional content before ordering.

Public awareness on the problem is increasing, thanks to media coverage and documentaries on this topic. In the show in “Super Size Me,” Morgan Spurlock ate nothing but increased size value meals at McDonalds. In 30 days he gained 25 pounds, and had to be hospitalized as his cholesterol level rose to 65 points.

“There has been and increase in the obesity percentage within Statesboro over the last ten years,” says Georgia Southern University nutrition student Rebecca Nelson.

Obese experts such as Tim Townshend and Amelia Lake paint a grim American picture. In the April 7 issue of Planning, a British publication, they wrote: “Obesity is a problem that has reached pandemic levels. In the USA, undoubtedly the most obese nation in the western world, more than 30 per cent of the population is classed as technically obese.”

Businesses need to take better control of what they sell, but it’s up to the consumer to change what a business sells. If consumers show they don’t want these highly saturated foods, then the fast food industry will begin to change their menu.

When Morgan Spurlock of “Super Size Me” finished his 30 days of nothing but large fast food combos, there was a small growing trend of Americans, who began to eat healthier, and these people caused fast food chains to create healthier menu items; for example, Wendy's or Chik-Fil-A offered other options with the combo other than fries like a salad or fruit cup.

Despite health risks, people continue to throng fast foods. Among all the consumers in town, students prefer fast food to cooking because it is faster and easier than cooking a meal. Students seem always on the go; they can order a meal, drive home and eat all in less than twenty minutes.

There are healthier options in eating, apart form cooking. Restaurants like a Longhorn or Nat’s Landing, which give more food option that include vegetables or fish— more lean than fatty meats like hamburgers or fried chicken— cost twice the price of fast food establishments. A fast food combo meal is around $5.00, while a meal at any sit- down and get served restaurant will cost consumers on average $10.00.

The county also has restaurants like Longhorns, Ruby Tuesday and Applebee’s that offer a substitute for fast foods, but the price is for a person who makes good money at their job.

There is a growing trend for organic foods in the United States, and Statesboro does not have any organic options. The grocery stores are the best places to find organic foods, but the grocery stores down here, Bi-Lo, Wal-Mart and Harvey's, don’t have a selection of organic foods.

There needs to be more organic food options in Statesboro. This town has a real problem with health food options, but if a student or resident shops at the grocery store instead of eating fast food two to three times a week, then they will see improvements in their health immediately, says Dr. Charles J. Hardy, founding dean of Jiann-Ping Hsu College of Public Health at GSU.

Nelson offers some alternatives to burgers and fries at McDonalds or Burger King. Eat at fast food places like Subway or Quiznos, because these sandwiches have far less fat and cholesterol in the Deli Style Subs.

If a person can’t resist places like Chik-Fil-A or Wendy’s, then just replace the fries that come with a combo with a salad, bake potato or fruit cup.

The final option is to go shopping at the grocery store. College students that cook have healthier eating habits and they save money. A student who shops at the grocery store will buy in bulk, so the food will last longer over a period of time.

Grocery shoppers also create budgets per month that shows them how much they can spend on groceries. A grocery store has more options like better meat, vegetable options and fresh fruit.

Another effect of bad food consumption on Georgia Southern Students is the lack of exercise by the majority. Experts caution that if you are going to eat food that is bad for you like fast food, then you need to workout so you burn off some of the calories fast food gives you.

A real solution to the problem is for the consumer to make a stand and stop the fast food craze. Any person of any age needs to shop at the grocery store more. In the long run any person will save up to one hundred dollars a month.

Also, there needs to be more exercising if one is going to eat fast food. NFL’s all-pro wide receiver of the Cincinnati Bengals eats McDonalds everyday, but he says the key to being in shape is working out. So if the fast food is too hard to resist, then at least exercise two to three times a week.

Relevant Links

• PEC: Health and Nutrition Web Sites
• Health Web Nutrition Website
• Government Nutrition Website
• Cooking-solutions Website