Summary Response Writing
The obesity epidemic is something that is mentioned every year, as it continues to worsen each year. Although some people are more prone to obesity because of genetics, obesity can essentially affect anyone over time. While thousands of dollars are spent each year researching obesity and programs to counteract it, the epidemic seems far from ending. Many people blame obesity on many factors, but one interesting point of view is from John Norris. Norris explores how America is exporting the obesity epidemic and that American greed is to blame for the increase in obesity.
In John Norris' article "Make Them Eat Cake", Norris introduces the topic by stating Mexico has surpassed the United States in adult obesity. He
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claims that " a complex web of American agriculture, trade, marketing, and scientific practices together are helping drive a "globesity" epidemic" (Norris). Norris points out that an increase in obesity and soda consumption can be traced to the 1994 passage of NAFTA, which opened Mexico to soda and cheap junk food. Norris brings up several studies done by Universities, in which they discuss high- fructose corn syrup and its addictive properties. He goes on by describing the situation with Samoa and how marketers "dumped" turkey tails on them, which were an unwanted byproduct of the U.S. poultry industry. Samoan obesity rates escalated as imported foods became the local diet instead of their previous diet of seafood. Norris also talks about how the U.S. food industry has utilized scientific and marketing research to get people to eat more. Norris points out that whenever food companies talk about obesity, they stress on making a point that it is a "personal responsibility". One of the most important points Norris asserts in this article is that the reason the U.S. exports fat is because all the money that is at stake. He concludes by saying that the rest of the world is likely to keep getting heavier and "it's clear whose hand is feeding them." (Norris). A crucial aspect of this article is its credibility, not only with the author, but also with the information that is presented.
The article informs the reader that John Norris is the executive director of the Sustainable Security and Peacebuilding Initiative at the Center for American Progress. It's inferred that Norris is well educated and is knowledgeable about the information he is discussing. His credibility establishes that he's involved with this subject matter and has experience in this field. The use of ethos is essential in this because his position is based on his sincerity and qualifications. Norris is thorough in crediting sources after stating statistics or facts. A possible weakness of his use of ethos is how he is fairly one-sided on this issue and believes that American exportation of goods is the sole cause of obesity. While the U.S. food industry is a huge factor in worldwide obesity, Norris fails to acknowledge other reasons for obesity. Obesity can result from many factors, and according to MayoClinic, social and economic issues is one justification for obesity. Many people cannot afford to eat healthy and consequently turn towards eating junk food and fast food because of its affordability. In many cases, “eating healthy” can be expensive for many families as well as time consuming. Also, many medical problems can lead to obesity and that is out of a person's control. Norris failed to recognize other circumstances that affect obesity, but did a solid job on explaining the points he did
present. Another important point Norris brings up in his article is the problem with high-fructose corn syrup. After Japan perfected high-fructose corn syrup production, he explains, it was cheaper to put high-fructose corn syrup in everything. Norris notes that high-fructose corn syrup actually is less healthy than natural sugar. He includes a study done by Princeton University who did a test on rats ingesting high-fructose syrup and found that they gained significantly more weight than those eating sugar. His use of facts presented by studies done by universities adds to the credibility of the information being presented. In addition, studies show that high-fructose corn syrup has addictive properties. Norris also cites a study done by Yale University that suggests that fructose does not trigger the same feeling of being satiated as glucose does and Canada’s University of Guelph found that high-fructose corn syrup produced addictive behavior similar to that of cocaine use. A potential weakness of these claims is through the logos of the argument. According to an article written by Dennis Thompson, “sugar or even all-natural honey can be just as harmful to a person’s health.” (Thompson). Thompson even quotes a professor of exercise and nutrition sciences in New York, and she believes there isn’t even a real difference between sugar and high-fructose corn syrup. With that being said, Norris created a reasonable, logical argument, but many readers could disagree with his information. Although Norris does not have an aggressive tone throughout this article, his angle of vision may fail to reach out to some readers, especially those involved in the food industry. Norris is critical of the food industry and has mentioned several times that the increase of profit from food sales outweighs the possible harm done to individuals because of unhealthy lifestyles. He uses several examples to support this claim and he ties this claim with the argument that the U.S. promotes unhealthy lifestyles abroad. Furthermore, Norris suggests that the U.S. food industry has utilized a range of scientific and marketing to get people to eat more. People in the U.S. are eating less, and as a result, the food industry has looked into new markets. (Norris). This angle of vision could appeal to normal, everyday individuals, but people in the food industry could have difficulties agreeing with his point of view. In addition, Norris offers no possible suggestions or propositions that could help with the obesity epidemic. He makes it clear that obesity entails various complexities, and that the U.S. food industry is behind several of them. In order to make this article more effective, Norris could have expanded on possible solutions to end the obesity epidemic. Granted, if this epidemic is even possible to fix, it will take many years. With the research available, Norris still could have offered more insight towards solving this problem because readers are left clueless about what to do with the information being presented. It is obvious that people must eat healthy and exercise, but Norris offers no solution on how to handle the U.S. food industry. Throughout this article, one of Norris's strengths is his credibility and sincerity when presenting facts. Norris presented a complex opinion on a topic that has been debated and researched over many years. He asserts his position on this issue and provides notable information on the obesity epidemic. While Norris conveys several key points about the food industry, he fails to mention any specific approaches towards the industry and how to help fight obesity. However, Norris makes it clear that obesity is a growing epidemic and society must do something about it.
Cake Pop Crush is a great book. Especially if you like baking. Here is the summary for this great book. Ali Ramirez knows that baking is in her blood. For as long as she can remember, she’s spent every afternoon helping her father in their family bakery, Say It With Flour. But when Perk Up, a hugely successful coffeehouse, opens up across the street from their bakery, it means trouble. Perk Up’s baked goods are trendy and delish, and Say It With Flour just can’t compete. But then Ali convinces her dad to try cake pops in the bakery and they’re a huge hit. There’s only one problem: Dane McGuire. He’s cute, smart, and as the son of Perk Up’s CEO, he’s her biggest rival. Ali can’t stand him, especially when she discovers that he’s making cake pops for Perk Up that are outselling hers by the dozens. Ali knows the only way to save Say It With Flour is to outbake Dane at any cost. Dane swears he’s not her enemy, though, and sometimes he can be disarmingly sweet. But if Ali loses her heart to Dane, will she lose her beloved bakery as well? In this essay i will tell you the theme of this book the internal conflict and what point of view this book is in.
America’s obesity epidemic is a hot topic these days. Many people, experts or not, offer an opinion on the best solution to our nation’s weight gain, two of them being Michael Pollan and Michael Moss. Pollan and Moss present different opinions on the subject and offer solutions to the issue. Although Pollan’s article has good points, Moss’s article does a much better job of discussing obesity and providing a viable solution.
American health, specifically our obesity epidemic, has grown into a trending media topic. A quick Google search will bring up thousands of results containing a multitude of opinions and suggested solutions to our nation’s weight gain, authored by anyone ranging from expert food scientists to common, concerned citizens. Amongst the sea of public opinion on obesity, you can find two articles: Escape from the Western Diet by Michael Pollan and The Extraordinary Science of Addictive Junk Food by Michael Moss. Each article presents a different view on where the blame lies in this public health crisis and what we should do to amend the issue. Pollan’s attempt to provide an explanation pales in comparison to Moss’s reasonable discussion and viable
This documentary shows great examples of how obesity is a rapidly growing epidemic as important as terrorism, according to Former Surgeon General Richard Carmona. He stated, “Obesity is a terror within us. It destroys our society from within.” If we don’t take responsibility and change our horrible eating patterns we are going to be doomed. One of the main reasons for obesity, other than the lack of a healthy diet, is the modernization of our world.
I am responding to the request to analyze Radley Balko’s article, “What You Eat Is Your Business” and make a recommendation for or against publication in The Shorthorn at University of Texas at Arlington. In order to respond, I have examined the rhetorical appeals of Balko’s piece and determined why this article should be posted in the next edition of The Shorthorn. I believe that the Shorthorn audience would be interested in what is being discussed regarding of obesity, things that could potentially affect their lifestyle as well as the professors. In “What You Eat Is Your Business”, Balko claims that obesity is the responsibility of the individual not the government, and how our government is allowing American to live an unhealthy lifestyle
What comes to your mind when you hear someone is overweight. In most american’s eyes, it is someone who anyone who is not a model. This creates a huge predicadment counting that America is known to be fat. In the past few decades, lifestyle has changed our habits, but we did not think about the consequences. If we eat more then we must be doing some kind of exercise to counteract what we put inside of us. In the article “America’s War on the Overnight” by Kate Dailey and Abby Ellin, they successfully persuade the reader to tackle obesity, we need to focus more on the subject of obesity and not attack the obese using the rhetorical triangle.
Ever since the creation of the golden arches, America has been suffering with one single problem, obesity. Obesity in America is getting worse, for nearly two-thirds of adult Americans are overweight. This obesity epidemic has become a normal since no one practices any type of active lifestyle. Of course this is a major problem and many wish it wasn 't in existence, but then we start to ask a major question. Who do we blame? There are two articles that discuss numerous sides of this question in their own unique way. “What You Eat is Your Business” by Radley Balko is better than “Don 't Blame the Eater” by David Zinczenko due to its position in argument, opposition, and it’s reoccurrence in evidence.
Mexico Obesity Rate Higher Than U.S., Says U.N. Report (2013, July 9). Retrieved from: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/09/mexico-obesity-rate-united-states_n_3568537.html
In the article, "The State of Latinos in the United States" by Vanessa Cárdenas and Sophia Kerby addressed how immigrant communities lack health insurance and health care access, so they suffer from health disparities. A couple of the health disparities are Hispanic children have the highest childhood obesity rate. Latinas are likely to pass away during complications of their
Obesity is a huge problem that needs to be resolved because it affects all people, unlike most issues. People of every gender, every age, and every race are at risk of being obese. Obesity rates in America have nearly doubled within the last twenty years. Something must be done not only to prevent obesity rates continuous rising, but also to dramatically increase the percentage of obese people in America altogether.
Engler, Yves. “Obesity: much of the Responsibility Lies with Corporations.” They Say I Say. Ed. Gerald Graff, Cathy Birkenstein, Russel Durst. New York. W.W. Norton, 2009. 172-181. Print.
There is no doubt that obesity has taken its seat as one of the top disease that strikes the world today. In America, obesity has now spread through the country leaving 2 out of 3 adults either overweight or obese, and worldwide 1.5 billion are overweight or obese (Overweight). The cause of this disease stems from multiple reasons such as the increase in modern food production, putting out ample amounts of food causing the prices for meat, groceries, and especially junk food to plummet. Subsequently, Americans especially were more inclined to purchase more food and showed an increase in the average American house hold food intake by 1,000 more calories a day (Dreifus).
Brody, Jane E. “Attacking the Obesity Epidemic by First Figuring Out Its Cause.” New York Times. 12 September 2011. Print.
Since the 1960?s obesity in America has more than tripled regardless of sex or race. Today 30.5 percent, or 69 million, American Adults are considered obese (?AOA Fact Sheets? np). In addition, 13 percent of children aged 6-11 years old are considered overweight, and well on their way to becoming obese. Obesity causes over 300,000 deaths a year and costs the country $117 billion dollars, prompting health care providers and the government to label it an epidemic (?Overweight and Obesity?? np).
Over the course of the last few decades, the U.S. has seen a drastic rise in the spread of obesity. Through the rise of large-scale fast food corporations, the blame has shifted toward the mass consumerism of these global industries. It is, however, due to poor lifestyle choices that the U.S. population has seen a significant increase in the percentage of people afflicted with obesity. In 1990 the percentage of obese people in the United States was approximated at around 15%. In 2010, however, it is said that “36 states had obesity rates of 25 percent or higher”(Millar). These rates have stayed consistent since 2003. The obesity problem in America is