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Obesity and public health concern
Obesity and public health concern
Obesity as a Medical and Social Problem
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According to Fed Up, a 2014 American documentary directed, written and produced by Stephanie Soechtig, “30% of Americans are obese” (Fed Up). A riveting and striking film, Fed Up explains the issues of obesity, the health consequences of eating unhealthy, and the varying problems that coincide with this national epidemic. While interviewing various families that struggle with obesity, the documentary shows a common theme: generations pass on their respected food traditions. For example, the Lopez family, from Hispanic dissent, states that in their culture, big statures and overweight individuals represent beauty and health; therefore, this family proceeds to consume an excessive amount of food because their ancestors before them did the same exact thing. Additionally, Fed Up touches on the issue that healthy foods, such as fresh vegetables and …show more content…
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
Kingsolver asserts that this lack of a food culture is the cause of America’s obesity epidemic, supporting her assertion with statistics that state that we produce twice as many calories as we need. Kingsolver also describes the process by which almost all of the produce, such as corn and soy, are turned into oils or fed to livestock in factory farms. Those high calorie oils make their way into all of our foods, especially into junk foods. Junk food ads specifically target children, and yet when the children become obese, it is portrayed as a “failure of personal resolve”, leaving the companies producing the
In the documentary “Supersize Me” by Morgan Spurlock, America’s obesity issue was exposed and pinpointed at one of the giant contributor and fast food marketer “McDonald's”. Throughout the documentary, many rhetorical devices were utilized to provide reasons as to how America’s obesity issue is dangerous and how Mcdonald's and major food companies contribute to this disaster in the American society. Drastic continuance of unhealthy eating habits on top of an increasingly growing population calls for an alarm to everyone. He then stresses the dangers of obesity and addresses the issue’s cause. Morgan creates a strong visual and effective argument that eating fast food is the key reason to America’s obesity issue.
The documentary, titled Killer at Large: Why Obesity is America’s Greatest Threat, is a documentary shedding some light on the growing trend of America and its expanding waistlines. The documentary is geared to unmask the epidemic of obesity in our country. The film sheds some light on how our society is fixated with living and unhealthy lifestyle. The film goes on to inform you on how bad the situation really is, where two-thirds of the American population qualifies as obese or overweight. The documentary tries to uncover the root and causes of how this epidemic came to be and how it can be reversed.
The American diet is becoming extremely harmful to the health of especially children. The new generation has different trends in regard to health compared to those of perhaps their parents. In the documentary Fed Up, Soechtig uses data and statistics, as well as narratives of emotional events to highlight the long run issues with American’s poor diet and also to criticize the food industry. By doing this, the director hopes to spark a change in diet.
Obesity is one of the most serious health problems, and it has been increasing significantly. The film “Fed Up” attempts to provide an answer to why people become obese: food itself. However, “real food” as solution offered in the film begs the question of feasibility. The film assumes that people in general have time to buy, prepare, and cool “real food” and thus commits the fallacy of contradicting its own theory by suggesting that it’s the people’s fault for not being diligent enough in taking care of their health.
Obesity is a serious epidemic that majority of Americans face. The dangerous of obesity should not be taken lightly and addressed admittedly. However, the big question is how or why do some individuals stay skinny or become fat. The movie Weight of The Nations, Part 2: choice helps us explore this unanswered question to give us a better understanding of how this problem has gotten so out of control. This movie targets the obese society in America. This documentary uses scientist to research and address techniques to help people prevent weight gain and loss unhealthy weight. Most Americans want quick fixes to this problem, but have to realize big changes take time, but offer big results. Over all, the idea is to get people motivated by positive results to live a healthier live style.
Obesity in the United States, which the media has labeled a national crisis, has also been connected to poverty rates. Big fast food industry’s target poor communities, and spend millions of dollars each year to create advertising that appeals to these specific areas. These industry’s also target naïve children when advertising because they know that eating habits developed in childhood are usually carried into adulthood. Children who are exposed to television advertisements for unhealthy food and who are not educated well enough on good nutrition will grow up and feed their families the same unhealthy foods they ate as kids. A big way fast food giants are able to make certain young people have access to unhealthy food is by strategically placing franchises in close proximity to schools. They will often place three times as many outlets within walking distance of schools than in areas where there are no schools nearby. The way fast food advertising is targeted towards children is very alarming considering how important good nutrition is for young people and how a child’s eating habits can affect their growth and
...ance, there needs to be organizations that limit food advertising; just as was done with cigarettes. Even though it is evident that fast-food companies are winning the marketing battle, their success depends solely on their returning customers. Should people stop eating the tempting fast food, and start making time in their day for exercise, not only would fast food companies suffer greatly, but we might have a chance to veer away from our heavy fates. Most importantly, media productions that educate people on the truths of the fast food industry should continue to focus on the risks and consequences of obesity, particularly on groups most susceptible to targeting from fast-food companies? marketing campaigns: minorities and children. With increased education and a pro-active stance on regular exercise, people can start to reverse the trend of obesity in America.
The necessity of food has created one of the most powerful diseases in the health of today’s nation. According to the resent documentary (Silverbush 2012) it shows how obesity and hunger are closely related to one another. Obesity today has over taken what we know of most of the United States population. This phenomenon of unhealthy eating starts in children even before they start going to school. A large amount of today’s population is found living in the middle to lower class, creating complications when trying to support family’s with insufficient funds. When it becomes comes time to buy healthy foods for their family it becomes overlooked due to the high prices of fruits and vegetables. Times of scarcity lead the average American to buy cheap, unhealthy, quick and easy food products due to government subsidies. With food being an essential aspect to living it makes eating a necessity one cannot live without. Americans with low budgets are forced to buy products that are mass-produced. The high demand for food has caused a process in which food production has become degrading to the environment, the animals, the quality product itself, and the consumers. Large livestock farms create large amounts of animal waste that in turn producing noxious air emissions, water pollution, and potentially spreads risk of infections to humans. Billions of tons of polluting pesticides and fertilizers have destroyed waterways, are responsible for causing cancer, food-born illnesses and obesity, and are one of the many causes of global warming (Kallen, 2006). Many Americans are forced to go against the functional aspect of sociology and conform to eating products that are in turn dangerous for them resulting in multiple health issues. Due to t...
Obesity has become an epidemic in today’s society. Today around 50% of America is now considered to be over weight. Fast-food consumption has been a major contributor to the debate of the twenty-first century. Chapter thirteen, titled “Is Fast-Food the New Tobacco,” in the They Say I Say book, consists of authors discussing the debate of fast-food’s link to obesity. Authors debate the government’s effects on the fast-food industry, along with whether or not the fast-food industry is to blame for the rise in obesity throughout America. While some people blame the fast food industry for the rise in obesity, others believe it is a matter of personal responsibility to watch what someone eats and make sure they get the proper exercise.
Food is an important aspect of one’s life. There are various options and places to consume food. Nowadays fast food is caused certain leads to various issues for certain individuals. There is healthy food, unhealthy food, frozen food, and lastly microwaved food. I was once in a stage in my life where I had two years after the age of twelve to make a choice to eat healthier and stop eating processed food. Or else I would’ve been six feet under by now. In discussions these authors David Zinczenko, Tod Marks, and Mark Bittman, have one controversial issue that has been about fast food. On the one hand, Zinczenko argues fast food should warn consumers exactly what they’re consuming. On the other hand, Mark and Bittman contend that fast food companies should be left alone and consumers should adapt and make the choice.
Everyday Americans die from the diseases they carry from obesity. Many Americans overeat because of their social problems or because they are hereditary. Many plans have been discussed, but finding the solution is the problem. Junk foods and unhealthy beverages have corrupted children’s minds all over the nation, and putting a stop to it could lead to other benefits. Unhealthy foods and drinks should be taxed and healthy foods should be advertised to help prevent American obesity.
This is a nation ran on fast food that is oppressing the disadvantaged and the vulnerable with their lack of healthy options. Eating at fast food restaurants is ingrained in the American culture and on average makes up about, “sixteen to seventeen percent of Americans daily caloric intake” (Kristin Wartman). The low nutritional values of the fast foods being eaten contribute to the obesity crisis in minority communities and children. There are, “thirty percent fewer restaurants in minority communities” (Kristin Wartman), this directly contributes to the limitations of dining options pushing them more towards fast food. Fast food’s nutritional value is far below the national nutritional standards, and ultimately reduces the quality of many individuals’ diets. The limitations put upon these specific socioeconomic groups can be directly linked to their poor diets that form a repetitive consumption pattern of fast food that often leads to obesity. In America, “2/3 of adults and 15 percent of children are overweight or obese,” (Kristin Wartman). These outlandish numbers are killing out people. There is no reason why these numbers should be so high. Not only are the rates higher for most of America, but the, “rate of obesity of minorities is 51% higher than white Americans.” (Kristin Wartman) These statistics have a direct relationship to the fast food consumption of each group mentioned, and they must be lowered. Since the increase of fast food restaurants in America, “Obesity rates rose from 14 to 22 percent, or to more than one in every five adults.” (Kristin Wartman) If fast food companies are this influential on whole sectors of society, then the meal options that they produce for the people should be regulated. Fast food chains should be made accountable for its influence, and their consumer’s health should be a
We make personal choices about what and where to eat. The government is not going to eliminate the unhealthy food because we think it is the cause of obesity. Ultimately, we must decide to either stay away from unhealthy food or eat them in moderation. Despite all the efforts of education, media and guidance it doesn’t prevent us from grabbing that cheeseburger with fries on the way to work. In his essay “What You Eat Is Your Business,” Radley Balko argues that society should take full responsi...
There is no mistake that in urban, low-income neighborhoods there are more fast-food restaurants then there are community gardens or fresh produce stands. Fast-food industries spend millions of dollars in marketing, to advertise their products in these neighborhoods. In return many children are brainwashed to believe that these foods are acceptable because they aren’t being educated to know that in fact these foods are very dangerous to their health. These industries spend so much money to portray an unsafe lifestyle as fun and trendy, and unfortunately many young people are becoming deceived. Also Fast-food corporations purposely move into these neighborhoods because they know the populations that live there. These corporations offer quick, affordable food options to people that are desperate for something to eat and have little money to spend. According to the study published in the October 2003 issue of the “Journal of the American Dietetic Association” showed that the fast-food eaters had higher intakes of calories, saturated fat and sodium than the other subjects. Also by trying to obtain a full, satisfied belly, many people who frequently consumed fast food have lower intakes of vitamins A and C, dietary fiber, milk and fruits and vegetables than subjects who didn’t eat fast food. Needless to say, trying to fill up on fast food has many detrimental effects on one’s health, which in this case leads to millions of obese