There is a constant battle over whether parents or fast food companies are to blame for childhood obesity. For example, Daniel Weintraub's article in the Sacramento Bee, "The Battle Against Fast Food Starts at Home." Daniel says it is the responsibility of parents to monitor their children's eating habits, not fast food companies. However, many food companies are known to increase the size of meals, such as McDonald's Supersize, Organic or better quality food can be expensive, which makes it extremely easy to resort to fast food meals, and fast food companies such as McDonald's, Burger King, Wendy's, Del Taco, Carl's Jr., etc. they are also well known for the unhealthy foods that continue to be distributed despite the growing obesity rate. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Since 1977, food portions have increased in size. According to ABC News, burgers have increased 23%, soft drinks have increased 52% and snacks like chips and crackers have grown 60% over the past 20 years and with that has increased obesity rates. In Shannon Brownlee's article “It's Portion Distortion That's Making America Fat” it states that the growing amount of obesity is due to consumer manipulation dating back to 1983. Food companies, such as Taco Bell, increase portion sizes their portions so that the customer receives more for only a small increase in price. It may not seem profitable to sell extra food for only a small markup, but real fast-food meals are extremely cheap. Of every dollar spent by fast food franchises, only 20 cents goes to food costs, the rest goes to salaries, bills, insurance, packaging and advertising. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that Americans have now consumed 20 percent more calories in 2000 than in 1983 due to increases in portion sizes that make up 11 percent of the average American's diet and explains in part why obesity rates are growing. Speaking of consumer manipulation, according to Brownlee's article, fast food restaurants would lower their prices 40-50 cents below their competitors to attract more customers because the food is cheap. Many families are perhaps too cheap or too poor to invest in higher quality organic foods such as fruits and vegetables. America's supply of organic food is limited, production costs are higher, marketing and distribution are inefficient and expensive, and more; this makes organic products more expensive. Processed foods are cheaper because it is much cheaper to produce them and supply can meet demand. I worked a full time job for a fast food chain with lots of customers who have very little money to their name and come almost every single day. Fast food was cheaper than buying individual ingredients, so customers ended up eating two-course meals at every fast food restaurant on the same block. In 2013 the National Center for Children in Poverty reported that 44 percent of the nation's children live in low-income families, concluding that nearly 44 percent of children likely have no choice but to survive on fast food due to the fact that their family cannot afford organic food. Fast food companies are aware of the unhealthy effects of their food and food portions due to studies and lawsuits by people suffering from the unhealthy effects of junk food sold in fast food restaurants. The harmful effects of junk food.