Theme Of Obesity In America

The increase of processed foods, like meat, greatly impacted American society in the late twentieth century. In the twenty first century, over reliance on processed foods as a cheap and quick substitution, immensely increased the demand for processed foods. In result, the population of obese tripled over the past decades, and continues to rise as the demand of processed foods increases. This new population of obese, and those involved in this epidemic, constantly put the blame on the industries and companies, who merely supply what society demands. Processed and fast food industries have virtually no responsibility in the epidemic of obesity in America. American population constantly demands for more processed foods, which lead to the increase

This over reliance on processed food, causes consumers wanting more, which sparks a response from the producers to supply more. These new eating habits are being passed down to the younger generations, who in turn demand for even more unhealthy foods. Yet, parents do not take responsibility for their own mistakes, instead putting the blame on the industries. The article “Obesity in America,” offers a persuasive counter argument: “cutting out meat products, processed food, fast food… while incorporating grain, vegetables, fruits, and legumes into the diet…”(Obesity). People have an option to eat healthy, but fail to do so. Eating benetiful can lower or even eliminate the possibility of obesity, as well as decrease the demand for processed foods. By teaching people, especially the younger generation, to eat healthier foods, can benefit the fight against the growing epidemic. However, the community's effort in the fight against obesity in also necessary. As Jennings and Smith noted, “ as evidence mounts that the Los Angeles city council's ban on new fast food

Conventional wisdom leads people to believe that living near fast food restaurants contributes to the growing epidemic. The article “Fast food not a weighty problem for kids after all?’’ offers a persuasive counter argument: “Living near a fast food outlet had little effect on weight… ”(WeightyProblem). Parents blame the industries for supposedly promoting their product because of how close they are. In fact, parents themselves promote unhealthy foods, since they control what their children eat. Parents also how much physical activity a child receives. As the article “Fast food not a weight problem for kids after all?” has noted, “ … researchers also report living near a certain recreational center… lowers children’s body mass,’’ (weighty problem). Parents as well as society, are not promoting physical activity as much as they do fast food. These two factors teach children to consume more and be less active. If society can influence people into unhealthy eating habits, then surely the opposite can be achieved. According to Wahba, “McDonald’s shuttered 350 poorly performing stores… in pruning poorly attended locations that are dragging down results” (Wahba). Communities at the locations these restaurants were closed, demonstrate that if society influences others into healthy eating habits, they need for fast food restaurants will go away.