People’s eating habits are inevitably transforming due to changing living conditions and access to more varied food. However, society is currently experiencing an obesity crisis, which is especially true in the United States. Many people eat poor-quality food and have little physical activity, which leads to weight gain and the development of diseases. While many Americans will strive for healthy eating, they do not have access to healthy food options, which may be due to the high availability of unhealthy foods and the marketing trends in the food industry. Food choices are influenced by factors such as the food environment and the food companies’ interests.
The food environment and the most accessible food options are the basis of food choice. In particular, Powell et al. report that today’s young Americans do not plan their meals. Their food choices are based on spontaneity, convenience, variety, and accessibility. This situation is motivated by the fact that many people are not ready to spend time preparing food and do not have access to ready-made healthy food options (Zepeda 114). This circumstance suggests that the food environment significantly impacts people’s food choices and is characterized by limited access to healthy food options.
Food choices can also be influenced by the marketing trends used by food companies or the popularity of certain foods based on advertisements on social platforms. For example, most Americans believe fat is associated with adverse health conditions such as weight gain or heart disease (Herman et al., 97). In particular, they are convinced that animal fat is harmful; to the body, while vegetable fat is beneficial. However, these prejudices do not correspond to scientific knowledge and ignore the critical benefits that can be gained from the consumption of animal fat. From this example, it is evident that most modern Americans’ food choices are influenced mostly by the stereotypes spread across marketing platforms instead of using evidence or recommendations from qualified professionals.
Another key factor that influences food choices in the U.S. is social determinants. An example of a social determinant that influences food choices is the aspect of cultural influence. Individuals from different places uphold different traditions in food preparations that influence their habitual consumption and their attitude or rejections towards certain foods. Some cultures might influence their people to exclude milk and meat from their diet, while others promote those foods (Fortes). Additionally, the aspect of culture can be intertwined with peer influence. In modern society, young Americans are often attracted to new cultures and trends that arise from their usual. With the growth in the fast food industry, most young Americans are more likely to depend on junk food products from popular franchises rather than taking their time to prepare heartier foods. The increasing consumption of fast foods indicates that young Americans have been influenced majorly by their peers into choosing fast, convenient and accessible foods rather than taking time to cook a healthier meal for themselves (Powell et al.).
Alternatively, it is important to consider the economic factor influencing food choices. In the U.S., there is an increasing cost of living, indicating that income earners are buying products at a high cost for the same income level. To counteract the high living costs, most Americans opt to consume cheap food products that may or may not be healthier. In most cases, the income factor drives most individuals to consume foods that are low quality, and that may affect their health status in the long run (Caswell et al.). Furthermore, the availability and access to food products can determine food choices. The physical location or residence area can influence most Americans’ food choices. In some places, there might be limited access to various foods, and in a worse scenario, other places do not have total access to some foods (Mancuso). Americans living in places with limited access to a variety of food products are negatively affected when it comes to maintaining nutritionally balanced meals.
Many people have access to various food options, while some are limited to the highly available and affordable unhealthy food choices. Different factors outlined, including food environment, market trends, level of income, cultural influences, and availability and access, play a key role in determining the food choices for most Americans. However, in modern society, it is evident that most Americans have shifted their dependency on fast, convenient, and already-cooked foods that are generally unhealthy. Understanding the influence of these factors, especially on young Americans, is important in designing critical strategies that could aid solve diet-related health conditions and diseases.
Work Cited
Caswell, Julie A., et al. Individual, Household, and Environmental Factors Affecting Food Choices and Access. 2013. Web.
Fortes, Lynette da Silva. “FACTORS INFLUENCING FOOD CHOICES AND THEIR IMPACT ON HEALTH.” International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research, 2015. Web.
Herman, Peter, et al. Social Influences on Eating. Springer International Publishing, 2019.
Mancuso, Julie. “Factors That Influence Food Choices | JM Nutrition.” JM Nutrition, 2022. Web.
Powell, Patricia K., et al. “Food Choices of Young Adults in the United States of America: A Scoping Review.” Advances in Nutrition, vol. 10, no. 3, 2019, pp. 479–88. Web.
Zepeda, Lydia. Bad Chooses in Our Food System. Cambridge Scholars Publisher, 2021.