America Goes on a Diet!
As generations go on, the human population has become more aware and creative with what we consume on a daily basis. The idea of the United States placing first with the highest obesity percentage may be debatable. Although, giving the government permission to regulate our diet will have more benefits to our society than harm. Such as, continuous end to our unhealthy habits, an increase in graduates, and a more energetic and motivated society.
High school is challenging enough with all the stress and work that is involved, but just imagine going through it all with a minimal influence. Larger children tend to be slower and happen to be lazier as well. As an obese child, growing up and moving through high school will be harsh. Many experiences may result in bulling, fighting, and a possible drop in self-esteem. Living through this tough period will result in a minimal percentage of students that will even graduate high school. Studies show that less than 35% of obese students graduate (“Education Level and Obesity”). Those students that are not obese do not all graduate. About 30% attend or drop out of school (“Education Level and
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It is just common sense. At least two-thirds of all American adults are considered obese (Park), not including the children and teens. But a government influence on our diet alone will not be able to solve this issue. They need the motivation. They need to become used to smaller and healthier portions. For someone who is obese, drinking one soda daily, is equivalent to 70 Hershey bars, adding up to 4lbs a year (Park). But if we can persuade everyone, obese or not, to become use to those healthier habits; the obese will not need the motivation. It is shown that those who eat away from home, eat more and worse (Rosenbloom). Therefore, with placing calorie information on menus and decreasing drink sizes, “eating more and worse” will not be an
“Why Shame Won’t Stop Obesity” Obesity is a huge social issue in America, and the reputation of fast food and junk food doesn’t make it any better. More Americans are developing critical health issues due to obesity. In “Why Shame Won’t Stop Obesity” by Dhruv Khullar, Khullar states that shaming obesity will not stop it. We must recognize that we have created a food environment, but there is much we can do and should do to reverse that trend. I have to agree with Khullar and the statements that he made in the article about shaming obesity, why there is so much obesity, and steps to reverse the trend of obesity.
A Global Problem through Rhetorical Eyes David Zinczenko, a nutrion and wellness editor of ABC news, portrayed a global problem to the public in a way that he could persuade them into agreeing with him that obesity is a problem that concerns all of humanity. He stated that obesity should not only concern the person suffering from it and the parents but all of humanity since it could happen to everyone. In fact, David Zinczenko himself suffered from obesity at an early age. Thankfully, he was able to turn his life around and use his situation in a way that he could help others not suffer what he did. Which is why he published the article, “Don’t Blame the Eater” in the opinion section of the New York Times and with that create knowledge of this
Radley Balko’s essay “What You Eat Is Your Business, in They Say, I Say, the author argues that the government should take more targeted initiatives in dealing with obesity. Within the last 15 years, the United States government has implemented numerous laws and initiatives to try to make America healthy again. However, are they working? The daily lives of Americans seem to revolve around food, whether it be eating healthy and following the food pyramid, or on the other end of the spectrum, eating fast food for every meal and snacking on junk food. There are larger issues that the government could be handling, yet they choose this obesity epidemic over pressing day-to-day problems.
Today about one in three children in the United States are obese, and is the number one cause of death in America. Childhood obesity is now more concerning to people than drug abuse and smoking. Obesity not only has disgusting physical effects, it also will have negative changes to a person’s personality. Even though many people are aware of the problems obesity brings, there still has been at least a 50% increase in obese people since 1980. Obesity will cause extreme health problems and possibly death if people don’t change their diets, activity levels, or emotional needs towards food.
Obesity has been a major problem in America for a long time every since junk food and fast food came into play. Now in America there is 78.6 million obese adults and counting (CDC). Obesity can lead to heart disease, stroke and even type 2 diabetes if worse enough. The estimated obesity medical bill was over 147 billion dollars in United States this shows that when you get obesity that is why you should stay active and eat more healthy foods. Obesity can be prevented by being active and getting enough exercise, eat healthy foods and try to stay away from junk food, finally reduce screen time and find other things to do than watching television.
In today’s society “one out of three children is considered overweight or obese” (Little 2011). Childhood obesity is linked to several severe health problems. Children who are overweight or obese are at risk of having cardiovascular disease and problems relating to that such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and type-two diabetes during childhood. Physical problems aren’t the only problem relating to obesity; “Research confirms obese children are at a higher risk for social and psychological problems” because overweight kids tend to get bullied due to their weight (Little 2011). Children who have weight issues early on are also more likely to have weight issues as adults.
Obesity has become a major dilemma within America, mostly childhood obesity which has become in my eyes an epidemic. Childhood obesity will bring about adult obesity, health issues, psychological problems, and will even damper on sociological issues when pertaining to relating to culture and other people on a daily basis ( ex: brings about bullying or being bullied, social issues with kids, and low self-esteem and confidence). These include but never restricted to the fact of physical, social, environmental, psychological, and health issues all within a wider scale mostly if the pattern of obesity starts at an early age and then progress to adolescence and adulthood. The factors given in obesity has once again become a worldwide issue and concern for family, friends, and the child.
In “What You Eat Is Your Business,” Radley Balko tackles the issue of who is responsible for fighting obesity. Balko argues that the controversy of obesity should make the individual consumers culpable for their own health and not the government (467). As health insurers refrain from increasing premiums for obese and overweight patients, there is a decrease in motivation to keep a healthy lifestyle (Balko 467). As a result, Balko claims these manipulations make the public accountable for everyone else 's health rather than their own (467). Balko continues to discuss the ways to fix the issue such as insurance companies penalizing consumers who make unhealthy food choices and rewarding good ones (468).
Americans today are well-known for their eating habits. With all the options the food industry gives us it makes it hard to go to the grocery store and resist picking up that bag of barbeque-flavored chips or blueberry flavored candy. Due to these processed foods obesity is a growing epidemic in our country and who is to blame for it? In an article entitled “What You Eat is Your Business” by Radley Balko, Balko argues for less government intervention. Balko believes is it our responsibility to take care of ourselves and make it a priority.
In both David Zinczenko’s “Don’t Blame The Eater” and “ Radley Balko’s “What You Eat is Your Business”, the argument of obesity in America is present and clear from opposing viewpoints. Both articles were written in the early 2000’s, when the popular political topic of the time was obesity and how it would be dealt by our nation in the future. While Zinczenko argues that unhealthy junk food is an unavoidable cultural factor, Balko presents the thought that the government should have no say in it’s citizens diet or eating habits. Zinczenko’s article was written with the rhetorical stratedgy of pathos in mind.
Obesity has gained a lot of attention in the recent years especially in the 21st century. Right now in America, there is an ongoing epidemic. The cause is not by viruses or bacteria, but by human nature. There is no one way to solve this serious problem. With growing body sizes and serious medical problems associated with obesity, it is a problem that needs to be addressed and changed.
If changes are not made now, then people will soon be living shorter lives and suffer most of their life from obesity and the health issues that come with it. The Government should regulate what Americans consume in order to curb obesity rates and potentially save lives. Childhood obesity is a big issue that affects children every day. A third of the child population below the age of 20 are considered obese. The way Americans eat today and the lack of physical activity is leading to serious health risk that will continue to get worse as children age.
Obesity is a major problem in the United States, and with all the special privileges given to its people, America has become very lazy. With portion sizes rising and physical activity decreasing, it is easy to see how the rates on obesity has risen over the years in America. Obesity is a major problem that needs to be resolved because it affects all people of every gender, age, and race are at risk of being obese. Obesity rates in America have nearly doubled rather tripled within the last twenty years due to the many privileges that the American people have before us. Something must be done to overcome decrease the
Obesity in children is a significant public health concern. In addition, there is evidence that the incidence of children who are overweight is increasing despite efforts to the contrary. The consequences of child obesity are far reaching, implicating not only children on a physical scale but also socially and mentally. However,
As a hole there should be more restaurants that promote healthy food choices. Obesity in the United States is out of proportion and something need to be don , not necessarily at the point of government intersection but this needs to be fix some way somehow. ”public health experts say that an unhealthy diet and the lack of exercise are still the two biggest culprits. ”-Felix gusson.