Can the Government Help the Obesity Issue?
Solving the Big Fat Problem
As of 2010, more than one third of children and adolescents in the United States were overweight or obese, and obesity has become a major problem in the United States. Some blame the obesity epidemic on fast-food restaurants, others blame it on the person consuming the food, and others blame the government. All of these are factors in the problem, but the government can make a difference in reducing the rising issue of obesity by providing school-age children with healthy but enjoyable eating options in their schools, putting more restrictions and regulations on fast-food advertising, and requiring fast-food restaurants to show obvious and clearly stated nutritional facts. If a child begins eating healthy at a young age, then they are more likely to eat healthier into their adulthood. Most students eat in their schools cafeteria once or even twice a school day, so the healthy options for breakfast and lunch would make a great difference. Since children cannot be forced to eat healthy, students who do not want the healthy options provided by the cafeteria can bring their own lunch from home. Providing healthy meals to the students will help reduce Type 2 diabetes, which is closely related to obesity, in children and young adults. According to “Don’t Blame the Eater,” an article by David Zinczenko, Type 2 diabetes is becoming a rising problem: “Before 1994, diabetes in children was generally caused by a genetic disorder-only about five percent of childhood cases were obesity-related, or Type 2 diabetes. Today, according to the National Institutes of Health, Type 2 diabetes accounts for at least 30 percent of all new childhood cases of diabetes in this country” (Zinczenko 392). Secondly, the government should regulate fast-food companies’ advertisements. Most fast-food advertisements have absolutely nothing to do with what they are selling, and many companies’ main focus is to entertain and grab the attention of the target audience.
As of 2010, more than one third of children and adolescents in the United States were overweight or obese, and obesity has become a major problem in the United States. Some blame the obesity epidemic on fast-food restaurants, others blame it on the person consuming the food, and others blame the government. All of these are factors in the problem, but the government can make a difference in reducing the rising issue of obesity by providing school-age children with healthy but enjoyable eating options in their schools, putting more restrictions and regulations on fast-food advertising, and requiring fast-food restaurants to show obvious and clearly stated nutritional facts. If a child begins eating healthy at a young age, then they are more likely to eat healthier into their adulthood. Most students eat in their schools cafeteria once or even twice a school day, so the healthy options for breakfast and lunch would make a great difference. Since children cannot be forced to eat healthy, students who do not want the healthy options provided by the cafeteria can bring their own lunch from home. Providing healthy meals to the students will help reduce Type 2 diabetes, which is closely related to obesity, in children and young adults. According to “Don’t Blame the Eater,” an article by David Zinczenko, Type 2 diabetes is becoming a rising problem: “Before 1994, diabetes in children was generally caused by a genetic disorder-only about five percent of childhood cases were obesity-related, or Type 2 diabetes. Today, according to the National Institutes of Health, Type 2 diabetes accounts for at least 30 percent of all new childhood cases of diabetes in this country” (Zinczenko 392). Secondly, the government should regulate fast-food companies’ advertisements. Most fast-food advertisements have absolutely nothing to do with what they are selling, and many companies’ main focus is to entertain and grab the attention of the target audience.
Cited: Zinkzenko, David. Don’t Blame The Eater. New York: They Say, I Say