The Epidemic of Obesity in America

America is one of the most powerful nations when it comes to wealth and power, but is struggling when it comes to health. In our debates, there are two major authors, David Zinczenko and Radley Balko who have two different solutions when it comes to the obesity outbreak surfacing the United States. On one side, Balko claims that responsibility should be taken upon the consumer whereas Zinzcenko believes the fast food restaurants are being deceptive to consumers. The fast food industry and individual choice both have influence for obesity in America, without a doubt, I stand closer to personal responsibility.

Restaurants are not forcing people to eat their food, kids should be taught the importance of nutrition and exercise through parents and education lastly, fast food restaurants are using global marketing to kids and using addicting ingredients. The first reason is that it is people's own responsibility to know what they are buying, and what they are eating Americans are becoming extremely overweight; the fast food industry is not to blame entirely.

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In the media there are stories of the dangers of fast food, so it’s not like people are unaware of the dangers. People consciously realize when they start to get unhealthy, for example, they get made fun of, they can't do activities like they used to. Once you start indulging in that lifestyle it’s very hard to turn back, it comes to a point where there’s nobody but yourself to blame. Balko's essay of "What You Eat Is Your Business" has proven that even a 200 million budget for measurements fighting against obesity will not help and improve the scenario unless individual starts picking up a sense of responsibility to personal health.

What Balko is saying is that no budget or plan will help solve the crisis of obesity without the consumer taking personal responsibility. He also states that how states are preventing health insurance from charging obese and overweight patrons high premiums, which he feels removes all incentive to change their diet and lifestyle to a healthy one. My opinion is that people who eat cheap and fatty food should not have to pay more health insurance.

They should instead be given the tools to make better choices the reason I believe the fast food restaurants are partially to blame is that they are using global marketing to kids and using addicting ingredients. In a sense, it’s convenient and easier for people who do not have a lot of money and time to cook. That is the exact reason how these companies created their business l have noticed that the lower-income areas are denser with fast food restaurants. These corporations are setup through a government-funded program called food stamps, allowing lower-income individuals to consume their food for free. There are many ways they market to kids through advertisements with cartoon characters and favorite movie stars, as well as kid's meal toys and a play arena. Before watching the movie “Fed up" I had a different perspective on the take of obesity. In the movie, it denounced that they were using low-fiber ”empty calories" which were leaving people hungry later. In my eyes, I see that as a criminal enterprise by misleading consumers on what’s really in their product.

What would happen if today's generations learned to consume less processed food, learned how to read calorie labels, was aware of how many calories they are consuming, and enjoyed cooking healthier meals? The food industry would be competing in a different market and be forced to change for healthier alternatives to stay in business. The last reason I believe consumers are to blame is how kids should be taught the importance of nutrition and exercise through parents and education. Children are required to take health courses in school that teach them that a proper diet does not include a cheeseburger and french fries. Growing up in a household where there is no nutrition guidance or physical activity, plays a big factor in the cause of obesity. For many parents and kids there is a lack of knowledge when it comes to what's healthy and what’s not I see a diminished amount of exercise in many households.

Even with exercising on a daily basis, it is impossible to burn these excess calories of sugar, fats, and carbohydrates. It is not the company’s responsibility nor do they want to educate people on the dangers of consistent fast food. I agree that it doesn‘t help a kid make a healthy choice when his choices are limited to pizza and hamburgers. Personally, I would like to see the food and drug administration require a healthier alternative menu for restaurants and schools, but winning a lawsuit against a huge company would be nearly impossible. In zinczenkos article where he states that if you drive down any thoroughfare in America, I guarantee you'll see one of our country's more than 13,000 McDonald's restaurants. Now, drive back up the block and try to find someplace to buy a grapefruit I strongly disagree with his statement because there are so many alternatives, such as grocery stores and healthier restaurants in almost every shopping center. The idea of blaming our created society for our health problems is just crazy many people have become so distraught and helpless, that they have brought about the government as a way to solve the obesity crisis.

This is America, and being an American citizen you have the right to choose what you want to eat. If dying from obesity doesn’t scare them to change their ways of eating, I don’t know what will. Having a business idea and following through without government intervention is how this country became successful. Even though there are some companies that may not promote health with their products in the near future, I do not seeing a change in the obesity crisis. The government can barely run its own agencies properly, how will they manage to solve our problems of ours? It has a bigger impact than most people assume on the adolescent for reasons such as having less energy to take care of their health. They also have a harder time focusing in school or work because a majority of their time is spent wanting to be normal. They have many health problems which cripple them from doing certain activities ultimately the choice comes down to the certain individual to change their behaviors and actions.