Essay about The Obesity Epidemic Fast-food Companies Are...

Obesity has become an epidemic in today’s society. Today around 50% of America is now considered to be over weight. Fast-food consumption has been a major contributor to the debate of the twenty-first century. Chapter thirteen, titled â€Å"Is Fast-Food the New Tobacco,† in the They Say I Say book, consists of authors discussing the debate of fast-food’s link to obesity. Authors debate the government’s effects on the fast-food industry, along with whether or not the fast-food industry is to blame for the rise in obesity throughout America. While some people blame the fast food industry for the rise in obesity, others believe it is a matter of personal responsibility to watch what someone eats and make sure they get the proper exercise. Best†¦show more content†¦Balko believes that instead of people blaming the fast food companies, people need to be responsible enough to understand that fast food is not healthy for some people to eat regularly. The author explains how the government wants to intervene in the struggle against obesity when there is no need for them to do so. Balko proposes that instead of wasting money trying to fight obesity, the government should simply reward those who have the willpower to stay away from fast food and manage their own health. Balko believes that the government should reward these people through the healthcare system (158). Zinczenko and Balko represent the 2 sides of the argument over fast food. Political activist Yves Engler’s article â€Å"Obesity: Much of the Responsibility Lies with Corporations,† blames corporate capitalism for the obesity of children. Engler urges the government to put tighter limits on fast-food marketing not allowing them to reach the youth of America. Also Engler proposes that availability of junk food in the school system should decrease. Engler writes about how the government could help the obesity rate in children by creating more parks and funding physical education programs in public schools. Engler and Zinczenko both talk about the government’s ability to intervene in the fast-food industry, and both offer valid solutions. Engler talks about theShow MoreRelatedFast Food and Childhood Obesity Essay1335 Words   |  6 PagesAdvertisement and Childhood Obesity ENGL/101-B25 Would you feed your children lard? The answer for most all of us is â€Å"No Way†. Most parents can safely say that they want healthy choices for their children and would never want to give them something that is bad for them. However, with many of the foods on fast food menus this is not far from the truth. We have all heard the statement that childhood obesity is on the rise, and has been for quite some time now. 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I strongly disagree with Campos view that there is no childhood obesity epidemic, this is due to the researches that was done by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention which shows that childhood obesity has more than doubled in childrenRead MoreAnalysis Of DonT Blame The Eater By David Zinczenco1057 Words   |  5 PagesThe New York Times has published an article, à ¢â‚¬ËœDont Blame the Eater’, by David Zinczenco, in which the author claims that obese people are not completely at blame for their health implications, but, big corporations and fast food restaurants have a big part in this obesity epidemic. Although Zinczenco does not say so directly, he apparently assumes that the fast food industry is completely at fault for the growing health issues in children, including diabetes. Throughout his article, he makes itRead MoreObesity: A Threat to American Citizens1654 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction The issue of obesity has become one of the latest challenges that the USA is struggling with. This struggle cuts across many of the food manufactures, restaurant chains as well as chefs and all the people and organizations related to the food industry. Peoples feeling tend to be really mixed up. Fatness is always a situation that may be loathed and on the other hand a condition to be accepted by some, though it can be a medical contagion, it as well tends to be somebodys choice of