Nelson 1 Leah Nelson Ms.

Parrish English 1010 December 10, 2013 The United States of Obesity A recent survey of North American males found 42% were overweight, 34% were critically obese and 8% ate the survey (Banksy). These statistics show that obesity is a real problem in America, but what is obesity? Obesity is measured by body mass index or BMI. BMI is weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared. The World Health Organization and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute have stated that a person with a BMI of 30 or more is considered obese. In the article The Economics of Obesity, it says, Obesity accounted for approximately 400,000 deaths in 2000 compared to 435,000 from cigarette smoking, 100,000 from alcohol abuse, and 20,000 from illegal drug use. Obesity costs more in annual medical care expenditures than cigarette smoking because of the long and costly treatments for its complications. Obesity hasnt always been a problem in the United States. Between 1980 and 2000, the percentage of obese adults grew from 14 percent to 30 percent, and the percentage of overweight children rose from 5 percent to 14 percent (Rashad, and Grossman). Many people wonder how obesity became such a big problem. Some blame it on genetics, but genetic characteristics change so slowly that it doesnt explain the rapid increase of obesity in recent years. Others blame it on the decline in physical activity. While these factors are contributors, there are others that have had a much bigger impact. The growth of fast food restaurants has contributed greatly.

Nelson 2 According to research, as much as two-thirds of the increase in adult obesity since 1980 can be explained by the rapid growth in the per capita number of fast-food restaurants. Food served in these restaurants has extremely high caloric density (Rashad, and Grossman). With this being said, how are we going to solve the problem of obesity? Is it the governments responsibility? No. Obesity is definitely a problem in America that needs to be fixed but it is not up to the government to help solve the problem. Our lifestyle is our choice and the government needs to stay out of it. The government has already tried to help solve the problem, but the laws and regulations they have put in place have been ineffective. Some states have made laws requiring restaurants to post calorie counts. In an article written by Michael Marlow and Sherzod Abdukadirov they state, A recent study examined the impact of New York Citys 2008 law requiring the restaurant chains to post calorie counts. While 28 percent of patrons said the information influenced their choices, researchers could not detect a change in calories purchased after the law. A different study in Seattle found similar evidence that their mandatory menu labeling did little to change fast food purchasing behavior. The posting of calories in restaurants seems like a good idea and is supported by most people, but is relatively ineffective in helping solve the problem of obesity. Another change the government has already made to help with this problem is setting new standards for the lunches served to kids at school. These new meal standards require that students will be offered fruits and vegetables every day, whole grains will be offered more often,

Nelson 3 only fat-free or low-fat milk will be offered, and calories will be limited based on age. While it sounds like this will only help fix the problem of childhood obesity, it does the complete opposite. An eighth grade student, Scott Nelson, summed up his opinion about the new school lunch standards in a few simple words, They are disgusting. At the junior high school he goes to, they are required to take either a fruit or vegetable when they get their lunch. He said he has noticed that most kids dont actually eat the fruits or vegetables they take and end up just throwing them away. He also mentioned that the portion sizes are much too small; he is barely able to get enough to eat to make it through the rest of the school day without feeling hungry. As a high school student myself, I have definitely noticed the differences between the old and new standards for school lunches. I have not eaten school lunch once this year because I think they are extremely unappetizing. Most high school students are more likely to spend their lunch money on food from the Wendys restaurant down the street than on school lunch. The new school lunch standards actually influence the students to get their lunches elsewhere. Some people believe that the government needs to intervene because personal responsibility is just not getting the job done. In the article Debate Sparks Food for thought on the Role of Government in Curbing Obesity, James O. Hill states, We tried personal responsibility, and obesity grows and grows. No doubt, if we leave it to personal responsibility alone, obesity rates are going to continue to go up and up. The fundamental problem, is that most of what is convenient and relatively inexpensive is high in sugar and fat and offered in large-portion sizes. What that has done is to create an environment with high rates of obesity, but

Nelson 4 guess what? Most people like this environmentTheyd like to weigh less, but they arent really ready to do what it takes. So because the American people arent ready to do what it takes to lose weight and be healthy its the governments responsibility to take charge and force us into it right? Wrong. In the Declaration of Independence it says that all Men are created equal and have certain unalienable rights which are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. If someones happiness is tied to their unhealthy habits it is not the governments right to step in and take their happiness away, even if it is unhealthy. Just because we have an extremely high obesity rate doesnt mean that we arent trying to make steps in the right direction. In another quote from Debate Sparks Food for thought on the Role of Government in Curbing Obesity, Hank Cardello states, Diet Coke didnt even exist in 1982; now its the number 2 (soft drink) product. The sales of better-for-you products sold in fast food and quick serve restaurants grew by 400 percent while traditional products declined by 300 percent. Historically, regulation doesnt achieve the goal of reversing obesity rates. Since the government imposed nutritional labeling requirements on packaged foods in the 1990s, obesity rates have doubled. Overall, regulations arent getting the job done. We as the American people do realize our habits are unhealthy, and we are trying to change them. This change is gradual and obviously wont happen overnight but we definitely do not need the governments help.

Nelson 5 From all this evidence we see that government intervention would not be effective. The government has already tried and clearly failed in helping us solve the obesity problem. The regulations that have been put in place have not and will not help at all with the problem and we need to take responsibilities for our actions and solve the problem of obesity by ourselves without the governments help.

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Works Cited Marlow, Michael, and Abdukadirov Sherzod. "Government Intervention will not solve our obesity problem." (2012) Rashad, Inas, and Michael Grossman. "the Economics of Obesity." Reyman, Charles. "Debate Sparks Food for thought on the Role of Government in Curbing Obesity." (2012)