Synthesis Essay On Obesity

In American society, a problem that continues to plague nearly half the nation today is obesity and the all-too-common routines of unhealthy eating. From the growing prominence of this epidemic, an argument has emerged over whether it is truly a person’s choice to live an unhealthy lifestyle, or if they are a byproduct of their environment and the choices made by major corporations and institutions. After analyzing countless accounts of the factors that can contribute to obesity, it is apparent that the debate has a plethora of support for both sides. However, although a person is responsible for the foods they buy on their own, many factors strongly influence health habits to the point where they are out of a person’s control, including the

Some may argue that even if organizations provide countless healthy options to people, they will still opt for unhealthy, processed foods due to convenience and cost, therefore perpetuating their health issues. For example, in recent years under the Obama administration, schools have attempted to implement healthier school lunches for kids in hopes of promoting nutritious eating. Although these new lunches included fruits and vegetables, “A study by the Harvard School of Public Health found that some 60 percent of vegetables and 40 percent of fresh fruit are thrown away” (Source 6). This demonstrates that despite various attempts to try and sway the public, many will not be influenced by their immediate surroundings and that ultimately the choice to be healthy is something a person has to make on their own. Although this argument is valid, and there are instances where people will continue to make counterproductive decisions regarding their health, the systems in place in society make it so that it is nearly impossible for people to find a facet of life where unhealthy options aren’t forced onto them. Additionally, it has been seen that the majority of groups that do provide healthy options to their members have at least somewhat promoted healthy

One instance of this was when General Mills began selling their yogurt brand, Yoplait, which “had twice as much sugar per serving as General Mills’ marshmallow cereal, Lucky Charms” (Source 1). Since the yogurt was introduced and marketed as a healthy breakfast option, it made nearly $500 million in sales. The company then decided to market the product to children by placing it in a squeezable tube and calling it “Go-Gurt”. Companies tricking their customers into believing that a product is good for them is most definitely not unheard of, and unfortunately it is a problem that is growing in intensity. Many people trust the biggest brands at their grocery store, as they have credibility as a large corporation and have been trusted by countless other individuals. Now, businesses are taking advantage of that trust to dupe consumers and perpetuate unhealthy eating. Additionally, businesses are marketing these products to children, who already have young, impressionable minds and usually cannot reasonably gauge the consequences of early actions like indulging in too many sugary foods. We’re already beginning to see the effects of these marketing ploys, as “Today, one in three adults is considered clinically obese, along with one in five kids and 24 million