My Food, My Business. Obesity in America Essay Example

We may all have an opinion on, “What you eat is your business,” Radley Balko argues that obesity is a concern, but shouldn’t be a public responsibility. Government shouldn’t have business in our personal life. If they want to help with the obesity crisis, then they may suggest better prices on healthy foods to those that are less fortunate such as low-income communities as well as others that are open to change and want to live a healthy lifestyle.    should be able to eat what we want and the consequences of our bad choices as well. The government is trying to control what we eat, instead they should focus on trying to hold the public accountable for their own health and eating habits. How will the public learn to change and make healthier choices if the government is enabling obesity and making the public pay for other’s health care? Congress should make and enforce food policies that restrict food companies from manufacturing unhealthy food to the public, food that mainly targets our children. We would reduce obesity and related health issues. Educate more on eating healthier. We can only question why the government is generous when it comes to healthcare. 

The choice of food we eat is very important to your health. Obesity and diabetes on the rise, it’s become a health epidemic around the world especially in America. Our younger generation has type 2 diabetes. That is very serious and What options do we really have at supermarkets that are not high in sugars or carbs and that are affordable to lower income households? It’s amazing how cheap junk food is and how expensive it is to eat healthy. Maybe we should reverse that and make healthy foods more affordable. Set better examples for the next generations to come. We need to act now and take responsibility for our health and better choices like exercise, eat healthier, less junk food and teach healthier eating habits to their children. But we should also restrict food companies from distributing such unhealthy foods, especially ones that target our children. We should also revise what type of foods our schools are serving to our children. Investing in putting more gardens on colleges and universities.   

Balko states “And if the government is paying for my anti-cholesterol medication, what incentive is there for me to put down the cheeseburger?” (p.397) Instead politicians should engage in educating the public on healthier eating habits and encouraging parents to serve healthier meals and promoting sales on fruits and vegetables and other foods in the pyramid. Less added sugar foods. Balanced diet can help lead to a healthier and happier life. It must be a community effort home, schools, restaurants, amusement parks and government.  

Government thinks controlling what we eat is enough to stop obesity, but that is going against our right to privacy. When they can use their authority and direct it towards food consumers and not be so quick to turn their attention away from doing what’s right, just because of a dollar amount donated from these consumers. He states, “If policymakers want to fight obesity, they'll stop socialization of medicine, and return individual Americans' owners of their own health and well-being back to individual Americans.” If the more insurance companies are being prevented to higher premiums to obese patients, it’s seems the government may have motives behind health care to the obese. Is profit more important to our country than our public's health? 

The government and corporate agencies have an enormous influence over our food choices and the information the public receives. According to article Food Politics by Michele Simons2011 argues that, “The government agencies have often been more concerned with safeguarding corporate financial interests than protecting the public health. The US Department of Agriculture, for example, is obliged to serve as a booster of the meat and dairy industries while also providing the public with sound nutrition guidelines – a clear conflict of interest.” 

We may never end obesity or related health issues, but what the government can do is educate the public on healthier eating habits and let obese people take responsibility for their health care and pay for their treatment and medications. It will make a difference and allow them to make better food choices and eat healthier. It’s not just one group responsible for Americans, it’s a country; the government, consumers, schools, media, public healthcare and everyone should take responsibility for themselves. We set a better example for our children and teach healthier habits and eat healthy. Otherwise we are going to pay the consequences and lead our children to early graves as well as ourselves. 

Work Cited 

Radley, Balko.”What You Eat Is Your Business” They Say / I Say: The Moves That Matter in Academic Writing 4th Edition by Cathy Birkenstein; Gerald Graff and Publisher W. W. Norton & Company. 

Eat Drink Politics © Michele Simon 2011 www.eatdrinkpolitics.com/about/resources/food-politics/#how