Chances are, you know what this is. The McDonald’s Happy Meal promises a cheap, quick, and filling meal for those who do not have the time or the money to go elsewhere. On the symbolic level, however, this meal represents the not-so-happy obesity epidemic in the United States and how large fast-food corporations exploit low income areas to make millions.

Obesity is an epidemic in the United States. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released statistics this February reporting that 42.4% of adults in America are obese. Of these people, adult populations in lower socioeconomic states such as Mississippi and West Virginia report the greatest rate of obesity. Populations of lower-income areas were less able to afford healthier foods and are less likely to have the time to cook homemade meals. As such, families in low income areas are attracted to cheap, high-calorie options for meals.

Fast food chains capitalize on that need by setting up locations in low income areas and selling quick, but sub-par food at an extremely low price. Families cannot help but buy into establishments because the convenient and cheap food best fits in their schedule and saves them money and time.

Unfortunately for their health, these cheap and high-calorie options like McDonalds, Burger King, and Taco Bell are extremely high in sodium and fat content and do not contain nearly the nutrients and minerals of meals made from fresh ingredients and produce. The consumption of these high sodium and fat meals over time lead to obesity and high blood pressure. Health complications associated with these medical conditions can be expensive to deal with, further perpetuating individual’s low socioeconomic status.

• There are more than 14,027 of McDonald’s locations in the United States.
• 1,56,849 Big Macs are sold in the United States at McDonald’s locations each day
• McDonalds had a revenue of 21.08 billion dollars in 2019.

Fast food chains exploit individuals’ need for quick and cheap food in low income areas by providing sub-par food to those who cannot afford anything else. This exploitation greatly worsens the obesity epidemic in the United States.