For decades the fast food industry has provided Americans with tasty, comforting food, quickly and at low cost. It was only recently, when the health craze first hit America in the late 1980s, that companies developed a new approach to marketing their food products to satisfy their customers' desires. Even the most common fast food chains, such as McDonalds and Subway, have started advertising “healthier” food products on their menus to continue attracting the general public. While fast food restaurants give the impression of offering healthy food, nutritional studies show that healthy alternatives are not as nutritious as advertised and can lead to calorie underestimation and overconsumption (quote). To maintain significant market share in the industry, fast food companies must appeal to people of all ages and advertise alternative menu options, even if the nutritional content doesn't support the message. The advertising of fast food as “healthy” as nutritious often results in consumers underestimating calories and overeating. The reality is that fast food companies convince their customers to buy the healthy products they advertise, but they don't provide enough nutritional information to allow them to make healthy decisions. In "The Indictments Against Advertising" by Courtland L. Bovee and William F. Arens, both authors of contemporary business and advertising textbooks, briefly discusses the effect of advertising on the consumer and shows the implications of business, in this case l the fast-food industry, in persuading people to “want what they don't need” (Bovee 358). The advertising technique of persuasion leads to false impressions about a product, much like advertising claims about selling healthy fast food. With fast food... middle of paper... salty and sugary convenience foods, sweets and soft drinks all causing weight gain (Nielsen 451). Therefore, the study shows that while fast food restaurants offer several healthier products, the ones that are consumed are still the high-fat and high-calorie products. Critser also touches on portion sizes in his article describing a person's psychological need to clean their plate (Critser 290). Even if fast food isn't served on your plate, this so-called "need" can result in overconsumption, training your mind and body to stay hungry enough to finish the food in front of you. Although fast food is an important part of the American cuisine industry culture does not have the health of the customer as its primary concern. The only way for America to become healthier is to educate itself on calorie consumption and stay away from the unhealthy belief of fast food chains..