Ban Too Far Essay

1294 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Should the government influence our diet 123 help

The health of our nation is an important topic that has been discussed for many years. It is no surprise that much of what contributes to illness such as heart disease and obesity is the consumption of sugar and junk foods. This is a simple fact that is widely known, but the government still feels the need to step in when it comes to controlling the population’s eating habits. Unfortunately, simply recognizing that something is bad is not always enough to deter someone from indulging. When it comes to our nation’s dietary habits, it is clear that some people may need assistance in making better choices and that is why the health and fitness industry is so big. At the end of the day, it is up to every individual to make their own choices whether …show more content…

While being about to drink any amount of soda and juice might seem like a small freedom, it is still a choice that we should be free to make if we want to. Moving the population towards better health is important, but if someone wants to spend their days drinking liters of soda, shouldn’t they be able to do so without paying such a high tax? In Gary Taustine’s response to the anonymous editorial A Ban Too Far, he says, “This proposal sets a very bad, very dangerous precedent. Freedom is rarely taken away in supersize amounts; more typically it is slowly siphoned off drop by drop so people don’t even notice until they’ve lost it entirely.” (519) Removing small freedoms over time can go unnoticed and if we allow the government to control trivial things like junk food, it could potentially give them more power to take other, larger freedoms away from us. Giving the government control over something as small as our diets can have a negative impact on the way the population views authority. What sort of other freedoms could they take from us next? Even if people allowed the government to take more control, this would contribute to the creation of a more apathetic generation. Potentially, having freedoms taken away from us can become the norm. As Taustine has said, “If we permit him to regulate portion control without a fight, then we don’t deserve the few freedoms we have left.”

Show More
Related

  • Personal Health Essay

    975 Words  | 2 Pages

    Personal health is extremely important to everyone around the world. But it is especially important to citizens of the United States of America. Being one of the leading countries in Health technology and also in food and beverage leaves most people choosing between living a healthy lifestyle and indulging in the varieties of food we offer. Across the country, many people are living with pre-existing conditions, living in food deserts, living below the poverty line and a long list of other factors that either hinders them from eating healthy or force them to eat healthily. When trying to live a healthy lifestyle in this country not only does the promotion of prevention matter, but also the promotion of Career and job opportunities matter just as much. In the United States, Money equals Power and money also equal the opportunity to create and live a healthier lifestyle.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Fed Up

    1223 Words  | 3 Pages

    In addition, the fast food industry’s main goal is to produce profit, and advertisements for unhealthy nutrition options flood schools, television, billboards, and multitudes of other outputs, all places where young children can view endorsements for fast food. Drawing a parallel between fast food and tobacco, Fed Up claims that soda resembles the cigarettes of the 21st century and that both of these toxins present many future health implications. While continuing to discuss long term effects of unhealthy food and eating habits, various scientific researchers and individuals share that up to “40% of non-obese people have metabolic diseases” (Fed Up). While not everyone may appear overweight or obese, they may have diabetes, heart related problems, high blood pressure, and/or numerous other health concerns. Overall, Stephanie Soechtig’s Fed Up discusses the issues of obesity and how private provide and special interests place themselves above public

    Read More

  • Radley Balko's Article 'What You Eat Is Your Business'

    728 Words  | 2 Pages

    In his article “What You Eat Is Your Business,” Radley Balko emphasizes that we ought to be accountable with what we eat, and the government should not interfere with that. He declares that the state legislature and school boards are already banning snacks and soda at school campuses across the country to help out the “anti-obesity” measure. Radley claims that each individual’s health is becoming “public health” instead of it being their own problem. Balko also states, “We’re becoming less responsible for our own health, and more responsible for everyone else’s.” For instance, a couple of new laws have been passed for people to pay for others’ medicine. There is no incentive to eat right and healthy, if other people are paying for the doctor

    Read More

  • How Junk Food Can End Obesity

    1349 Words  | 3 Pages

    Throughout the past years and more here recently obesity has become a fast growing problem in the United States and around the world. Since this has become such a problem certain authors are starting to take a stand in how they think the solution should be fixed. The solutions are discussed in the following articles: How Junk Food Can End Obesity by David H. Freedman and What You Eat Is Your Business by Radley Balko. Both articles have clear and distinct arguments, but the argument by Balko entices his readers and has a clear purpose and tone that allowed his article to be more effective.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of The Movie Fed Up

    1796 Words  | 4 Pages

    Health has always been one of the priorities of the American people. It is a broad topic that encompass the physical, spiritual, and mental health. This research covers the physical health that includes food and exercise. Numerous films provide and inform Americans to look and be healthy, although many have tried, some succeeded and others do not. One such film that provide and inform the American public of health is a documentary titled, Fed Up by Stephanie Soechtig. The controversy in this film centers around the validity of the facts presented, and the claim that added sugar is the leading contributor to obesity. The documentary presented an examination of the rise in American obesity epidemic, the role of the food industry and their

    Read More

  • The Obesity Epidemic In The United States

    1527 Words  | 4 Pages

    It’s no secret that the U.S. is encouraging people to pursue healthier lifestyles in order to combat the obesity epidemic. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration have recently joined the fight against obesity by advocating for the elimination of Trans fats from the American food supply (Tavernise, 2013). Not to mention the policy initiates that have been created in order to help combat childhood obesity (the Let’s Move policy initiative). Simply put, the nation’s p...

    Read More

  • The American Diet

    996 Words  | 2 Pages

    One of the most unhealthy diets in the world is that of an American. It is made up of processed foods and a good amount of television. America easily has the most fast food restaurants in the entire world. Leave it to McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Burger King or any other fast-food restaurant to serve extremely cheap and even unhealthier food at any time during the day or night. ”It tastes good so why not?” That seems to be the question many people are asking now-a-days. Because it is so easily accessible and processed, it is made to be very tasty and extremely unhealthy. Many Americans find his or herself indulging on the these fatty foods of America on a day-to-day basis. While it may taste good at the time, it has a terrible effect on your body on a long-term basis. Eat it regularly, and it becomes a nasty and deadly habit and can cause heart failure, Type 2 Diabetes, high cholesterol, high-blood pressure, and many other life threatening complications to the body. The American diet has a numerous amount of pitfalls and disgusting habits. The American diet is one of the worst diets because of its portions, processed foods, and how it is very cheap, but the American diet can be overcome with determination, a healthy diet, and an exercise routine.

    Read More

  • Persuasive Essay On Obesity

    1015 Words  | 3 Pages

    In today’s society, there is a spotlight on the topic of staying healthy and fit. In the recent years weight loss programs have become increasingly popular, for example, Nutrisystem or Jenny Craig. These companies drive their business on improving unhealthy dietary habits. But, this increasing popularity is due to numerous large sized drink and meal options becoming available. Higher intake of calories and sugars eventually causes obesity. Although eating is essential for survival, what you eat is a personal choice. Many government officials have made strides to improve America’s obesity problems; both Mayor Bloomburg and Michelle Obama have approached this topic. Rather than a public health issue, obesity is a personal responsibility.Government

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay On Fast Food

    1126 Words  | 3 Pages

    Policies implemented by the government have the potential to greatly impact the issues faced by Americans because of their food. One of the most serious epidemics to face Americans is obesity; a direct result of a lack of access to healthy, whole produce. The government has several options in solving this problem including food taxes, public education programs, and mandatory physical education in schools. A food tax on items high in process ingredients and low in nutrients should have a higher tax than whole foods. Much like the Cigarette Tax, a Processed Food Tax will persuade consumers to shy away from these nutrient-void foods and incorporate more healthy foods into their diet. Another solution to combating obesity is a series of public educational programs. By educating the public and even kids in school on the difference between processed and whole foods, individuals will be better able to distinguish between beneficial and non-beneficial foods. And finally, the most attention grabbing policy the United States government should be enacting is mandatory physical education. Including, but not limited to Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move” campaign, the government should require mandatory physical education classes in schools because they found increased PE time raised the amount of time students were exercising or "engaged in strength-building activities" but lowered the amount of time spent in

    Read More

  • Epigenetic Synthesis

    1345 Words  | 3 Pages

    There is no surprise that food is important in all aspects of our lives—it is shared amongst families, celebrated as a major part of our culture, and crucial to our daily routine that keeps us fit, healthy, and active. Today’s western culture glorifies a skewed perspective on how food is supposed to fit into our lives. Somehow this perception has led us to believe we no longer have the time or money it takes to prepare a wholesome, healthy meal that is shared at the dinner table with family. Instead, we are trained to want a meal that is fast, cheap, and easy. This meal is usually highly processed and filled with sugars and fats. This has led us to a problem of epidemic proportions characterized by the rapid increase in obesity and diabetes.

    Read More

  • Summary: The Epidemic Of Obesity

    1933 Words  | 4 Pages

    The obesity epidemic in the United States is increasing day by day and is becoming a huge problem because so many people are now obese. Being obese causes all kinds of problem in the human body like an increase in blood pressure, excess weight, strokes, or even a heart disease. Obesity occurs by eating too much of the wrong foods and fast food companies make food that is extremely fattening and extremely unhealthy. The food industry does not take into consideration what their food is doing to the people eating it. Instead, they are making ads and commercials to make their unhealthy, fattening foods look delicious, which makes people buy it because it “tastes good”. The goal of the food industry is to make the consumers buy their product no

    Read More

  • Government Should Have A Say In Our Diets

    931 Words  | 2 Pages

    Obesity and overweight remain the two major social problems in the United States. Apart from the fact that obesity and overweight are dangerous by themselves, they also cause a variety of negative health consequences. Our lives our overloaded with tasks and obligations, and we often choose to eat something fast. “Fast”, however, does not necessarily imply “useful”, and more and more people face the risks of becoming obese even at young age. Because obesity has already become a national i...

    Read More

  • Coercive Paternalism Analysis

    1312 Words  | 3 Pages

    During the New York soda ban the city produced a regulation banning restaurants and similar venues from serving soda and other sugary drinks over 16 ounces. Conly explains that this is a justifiable action “because there is an obvious obesity epidemic, and there is considerable evidence linking this back to increased portion sizes in restaurants” (Conly 243). I believe that the government does not have a role to protect people from themselves. “Justified hard paternalism” equates the government with being every citizens father, which defeats the purpose of being a free country. From a freedom prospective, there is not a clear distinction as to where you draw the line when telling citizens that it is a good or bad decision for there happiness and well-being. Conly might argue that we protect each other from hurting one another so there is no difference in stopping one another from hurting our own self. Hurting another person is a far stretch from hurting yourself when it comes to drinking too much soda because you are making the decision for yourself and the value of your future. For example, going to church is universally good for every single person in the world, and as a father I will make my children go to church, but if we are a lawmaker in

    Read More

  • Persuasive Essay: How Salad Can Make Us Fat?

    1358 Words  | 3 Pages

    All over our televisions our minds are brainwashed with the ideal healthy diet. Our media pushes a healthy lifestyle on every thirty second clip of a commercial. The vibrant green vegetables, the crunch of the various peppers, the crisp sound of an apple being bit into flow from our television speakers and their images dance long the forty two inch flat screen. Being healthy is a subject our culture has become obsessed with. Since the beginning of the downfall of America’s health and the ever continuation of our waistlines expanding beyond repair of last seasons jean button that popped off at Thanksgiving, we have been on a one track mind mission to fix our nations disgusting eating habits.

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay On Junk Food

    1184 Words  | 3 Pages

    It became so clear that junk foods lead to a punch of catastrophic diseases like obesity, type two diabetes, vascular diseases and cardiac disorders. Those kinds of diseases cost more than $150 billion annually, just to diagnose, treat people who suffer from them. That disease is chronic and leads to many health-related issues, for example, obesity considers a risk factor for type two diabetes, and high blood pressure, joint disorders and many others (The Denver Post 2012). The key of preventing many chronic problems is nutrition. Low income plays an important role of limiting most people to buy and eat a healthy diet and in the other hand, it is easy for people budgets to purchase junk foods. So controlling the prices of healthy foods to be suitable for all people make good nutrition available for everyone. Adequate diets mean decreasing the epidemic of those serious diseases, and stopping the spread and break the bad sequences that may happen. Long-term exposure to junk foods that are full with chemicals like additives, preservatives have led to chronic illnesses difficult to treat. Also, the chemical added to junk foods are tasted unique and made millions of people becoming addicted to them and are available everywhere for example in restaurants, cafes, lunchrooms (The Denver Post

    Read More

More about Ban Too Far Essay

Open Document