Fast Food restaurants should be banned from the U.S.

And I thank you for allowing me to debate this issue, it's one I'm very interested in and I shall do my best to give an interesting slant to the argument, let's debate! Your argument so far is the effect of junk food on people's health. I wholly accept the importance of this and it is undeniable about how in excess, junk food is harmful. However I find an issue with what you're saying. You seem to be just pointing out the negative effects rather than questioning why people eat junk food in excess or why they feel the need to resort to it. Why do people eat junk food in harmful amounts is a question which lies at the controversy of this problem. I say that it isn't the junk foods fault; those who eat it, and their problems, that is the fault. No matter what their circumstances, they do have the decision with whether to eat it or not. Now, of course it isn't a simple matter, but we have to give them some personal responsibility for what they put into their own bodies because if you give people some control over themselves and give them the situation to make decisions for themselves and to improve through different means (like counselling and promotion of accepting people who are different from the "norm" if such a thing exists) then they will be happier and treat their body better than they would if we just blamed the substance rather than trying to find what the actual fault is. We have to have more faith in the people because they're much more intelligent than what we give them credit for and similarly, we must not just blame the junk food. Parents feeding their children fast food is wrong in the extremes; in the moderate cases it isn't. We have to question why do certain parents feed their children fast food in the obscene amount. It isn't the junk food's fault because again, we have to put responsibility on the individual and not think that if we took the junk food away it would make these kids and people happier because junk food isn't necessarily the problem. You do get people who are genuinely obsessed and addicted with junk food, but even these cases (as it is with drug addicts, alcoholics and other addictions) it is the individuals fault because they ate in excess rather than choosing a healthier alternative; the substance isn't forcing them to take it, the substance is not to be demonised wrongly because it isn't forcing itself to be consumed. Now you have the other group that I briefly mentioned who eat it because of other issues they have. The food isn't the problem, the real problem is with themselves. Junk food didn't cause the problem, junk food is a coping mechanism for these people and getting rid of it will not help them, it will just teach them to go from one substance to another to cope. Discussion and therapy with these extreme cases is the best way to help them in the long run. To add to this, what happened to adults being able to do what they want with their lives? We should allow individuality and we should allow people to eat and put whatever they want into their bodies. However we should provide them with the facts (as you have) and provide them with the opinions of others and let them decide for themselves. If you had it your way, then alcohol would have to be banned because of alcoholics and smoking would have to be banned because of those smoking all day and so on. The more responsibility you give the people, the happier and freer they are and the better the state or nation will be. You also mentioned bullying. Again, we must question why bullying occurs rather than just saying "get rid of junk food because it causes obesity which leads to bullying". Studies have shown that you're more likely to be bullied if you're obese and you're also more likely to be bullied if you're part of another minority (e.g. Ethnicity apart from white and if you're not straight). Now, people are always going to be different and we shouldn't say that people cannot be obese because that is infringing on their rights (just as we cannot say that people can't smoke, or people can't wear certain clothes ) but if they choose to want to change and be healthier, then there should be support for them to help them do that too. Society should accommodate for individuality; individuality shouldn't be condemned for the sake of society. I understand where you're coming from, and trust me, I know you are doing it for the best. But, in order to help reduce bullying, to reduce anxieties and depression and other negative things against people who are different, including the obese, then we shouldn't Sources: Info on bullying and obesity: http://www.cbsnews.com... Food as an addictive substance/a coping mechanism: http://abcnews.go.com... Fast food facts and children: http://www.fastfoodmarketing.org... Help in obesity and underlying problems: http://obesity-therapy.most-effective-solution.com...