L. The health related impacts on consumers

In America, a great deal of meat is consumed on a daily basis. Since meat is such a staple product of the American diet, it has a large impact on the health of its consumers. Recently, studies have continued to find correlations between meat consumption and heart disease. Meat contains many of the substances that cause plaque blockages, but it is uncertain how much meat really creates these dangerous conditions. Similarly, the meat industry has been under attack by watchdog organizations that claim the antibiotics, hormones, and additives fed to animals adversely impact consumers. Their accusations blame the meat industry for antibiotic-resistant bacteria, early-onset puberty, and even cancer. Another major study being conducted in conjunction with meat consumption is that of obesity. It is considered to be the doorway to heart disease, diabetes, and many other diseases. Obesity, by nature, is a complex health issue, but it is principally attributed to an excess number of calories consumed and a deficit in calories expended through physical activity. Certain meat may contain Omega 6 fatty acids, labeled bad trans fats, and has been linked with cancer, diabetes, obesity, and immune disorders. Obesity is also tied into another topic of interest, the fast food industry and the environmental justice issue. Meat, an item almost always found on a menu at fast food restaurants, is modified, processed, and transported under conditions that allow for it to be sold at a cheaper price. There has been an increasing focus in studying the environmental justice issues related to the availability of quality meat. Many believe that there is a correlation between the socioeconomic background of a particular area and the presence of fast food restaurants. The following chapter will study the effects of meat consumption and the high prevalence of obesity and heart disease, and will analyze in what ways the uneven distribution of fast food restaurants has left a mark on the health of New Yorkers.