Fast Pace : A Fast Paced Nation

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In a fast paced nation, we want everything at hand’s reach meaning fast results and easy work. This need for a fast pace relates to various areas in our lives, especially dealing with basic health. It may sound ridiculous when you read an article on how great the newest “cotton ball diet” worked or how easy and fast it is but to others they find it as a comforting new way to lose weight. About two thirds, “68.9%”(Ogden) to be exact, of Americans are obese or overweight. With such a high epidemic, naturally people want to change factors that are completely curable. Though the thought is slightly in the right place, big advertisers use this fact to sell more foods, diets or anything they can throw at you by pretending to help. Advertisers can get away with saying something is healthy, even if it is not. These advertisers get away with false advertising by using sneaky misleading language that goes about describing “healthy” foods and diets. They create food friends and foes and tweaking what is presented on a the label. They play upon American consumer’s want to be healthier. There are more diets being introduced into the country, yet people are getting bigger every year. Advertisers should take a step back and rationalize what they are truly selling to a consumer. If something does not guarantee weight loss or any health benefit then do not advertise it does so. This is where regulations from the government would come in handy. If the government could just place more regulations on what is okay and what is not okay with how food advertisers promote their foods, this would help shoppers, especially those health conscious purchase what is right. Almost a decade ago, “Congress passed a law that overhauled food labels and required comp...

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...ho is trying to lose weight or is just trying to be health conscious. In domino effect that follows these countless diets that do not ideally sound as terrible because they are hidden under flashy known celebrities, savvy wording and endless before/after promotions. What becomes even more unfortunate is that these young people are looking up to these ads as a nutritional guidance rather than just seeing someone, like a nutritionist, that knows what they are talking about and can help that person change their lifestyle accordingly. As Segal states, “The public needs to be provided with better guidance on where to obtain high-level nutrition information and which health professionals can provide this,”(1). These advertisements are teaching a society it is better to buy something to make you healthier rather than just promoting the importance of a well balanced meal.

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