"Should the government intervene to force a national slimming, or is obesity a product of personal choice and responspibility? The New York Times explores the issues:
'In what is shaping up to be the great American food fight, there are two increasingly discordant sides.
One insists that government must use its legislative power to slim down an increasingly obese nation. In this view, obesity, like smoking, has become a public health crisis and demands a public health solution. In state legislatures, anti-obesity advocates are pushing bills that would add sin taxes for sodas, require calorie counts on restaurant menus and ban 'foods of minimum nutritional value' in schools (that means you, Sno-Kone).' "
Based on what I read, I came to realize that even if the government steps in and is willing to resolve United States' obesity epidemic, Americans may not. Some people feel that the government has no say as to what they eat. "Dane Carlson: 'I do not believe that government has any business regulating what I put into my body.'" That's true, but it's good that the government wants to help people improve their health.
Another person's response got me thinking as well. "Dana Cutolo: 'I learned that farmers are producing way more food than is needed to feed America, this is
causing food proportions to grow, and many Americans to get fatter. I have also read that the government tells us to eat less of what is on the top of the food pyramid and more of what is on the bottom, such as fruits, vagetables, and bread products, how can we do that when more of the top is being produced.' " That is so true. How can we eat greens, fruits, and all those healthy-deemed foods when we are taunted and lured by sweets and fats?
One insists that government must use its legislative power to slim down an increasingly obese nation. In this view, obesity, like smoking, has become a public health crisis and demands a public health solution. In state legislatures, anti-obesity advocates are pushing bills that would add sin taxes for sodas, require calorie counts on restaurant menus and ban 'foods of minimum nutritional value' in schools (that means you, Sno-Kone).' "
Based on what I read, I came to realize that even if the government steps in and is willing to resolve United States' obesity epidemic, Americans may not. Some people feel that the government has no say as to what they eat. "Dane Carlson: 'I do not believe that government has any business regulating what I put into my body.'" That's true, but it's good that the government wants to help people improve their health.
Another person's response got me thinking as well. "Dana Cutolo: 'I learned that farmers are producing way more food than is needed to feed America, this is
causing food proportions to grow, and many Americans to get fatter. I have also read that the government tells us to eat less of what is on the top of the food pyramid and more of what is on the bottom, such as fruits, vagetables, and bread products, how can we do that when more of the top is being produced.' " That is so true. How can we eat greens, fruits, and all those healthy-deemed foods when we are taunted and lured by sweets and fats?
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