Is it the nation’s goal to maximize obesity? The consumption of highly processed food has taken an enormous toll on the nation’s health. The government has tried many things to combat the rise of obesity. There have been initiatives to improve the health of Americans through nutrition. “Starting over a century ago, the USDA has empowered Americans to make healthy food choices by providing a number of publications, food guidance symbols, and, more recently, a suite of interactive online tools” (A Brief History of USDA Food Guides, 2017). These initiatives have not been enough. It's time to try something different. “Economic factors are central to the obesity epidemic” (Brownell & Horgen, 2004, p. 238). An excise tax on junk food, combined …show more content…
A major contributing factor to obesity is a poor diet. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one-third (36.5%) of U.S. adults have obesity (Adult Obesity Facts, 2017). Obesity causes many health problems, and research has shown that there are links between obesity and more than thirty medical conditions (Brownell & Horgen, 2004). Some of those conditions include heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and some forms of cancer. Obesity-related heart disease and diabetes are among the most common American afflictions, and in many cases, is wholly preventable through better nutrition. Better nutrition for all Americans would cause the rate of obesity to go …show more content…
Shouldn’t people be free to make the choice to eat unhealthy, processed food? People are responsible for their own actions, and they’ll have to pay the health consequences of poor nutrition. But an individual’s seemingly personal choices affect society. Some people argue against a tax on junk food because they do not want the government to tell them how they should be eating. But the government already has policies that affect public health. There are taxes on cigarettes and alcohol, and legislation mandating seatbelts and helmets. These policies are put in place for the good of the