高考英语《流行话题 语境识词4500》Unit 53　Fast-food Culture Serves up Super-size Americans素材.docVIP

高考英语《流行话题 语境识词4500》Unit 53　Fast-food Culture Serves up Super-size Americans素材 Unit 53　　Fast-food Culture Serves up Super-size Americans　　Stop blaming people or their genes -- its an abundance of unhealthy, heavily advertised, low-cost food that underlies the nations obesity crisis.　　America is overlooking the real cause of its ever-expanding waistline. The problem isnt so much peoples lack of self-control. Its a toxic food environment -- the strips of fast-food restaurants along Americas roadways, the barrage of hamburger advertising on television and the rows of candies at the checkout counter of any given convenience store.　　To be sure, genes and self-control play a role in obesity and the diabetes and other health problems that result. But, both face a losing battle against the ubiquity of bad food. Genetics is what permits the problem to occur, but environment is what drives it. The problem with medical and psychological interventions for individuals is that the costs of treatment outweigh the benefits, and weight-gain relapse rates remain high. Of particular concern is Americas passive acceptance of unhealthy food. Americans fail to Recognize, for example, the possible damage done by such fast-food icons as Ronald McDonald.　　Certain toxic signs are alarming:　　Innutritious foods reign. High-fat, high-sugar foods are widely available, taste good and cost less than healthier foods. Vending machines are ubiquitous, Kentucky Fried Chicken delivers and most fast-food outlets now serve breakfast.　　The food industry has run amok. Advertisements for prepackaged and fast foods saturate the airwaves, newspapers and magazines.　　Physical activity has declined. Most Americans get less exercise than ever -- walking less and driving more.　　As further evidence that environment is to blame, obesity has risen notably in other countries, including China, and that migrants to Western countries have much higher obesity rates than their relatives back home. Particularly vuln