Monday, February 8, 2010

Paula Nechoom

The standard way of thinking about the topic of obesity and fast-food restaurants is that the restaurants should be help responsible for how bad the food is for the body. According to the writing “What Your Eating Is Your Business” by Radley Balko, Balko argues that it is ones’ own responsibility for the weight they may gain as a result of eating out at fast food restaurants on a regular basis. Balko states, “instead of manipulating or intervening in the array of food options available to American consumers, our government ought to be working to foster a sense of responsibility in and ownership of our health and well-being. But we’re doing just the opposite.” He, as well as myself, believe that it is important to take personal responsibility for what they are putting into their body. There is no one else people can blame for the choices they make in their own life. David Zinczenko makes the argument that it is because of his over-worked mother that he was overweight as a child. “Lunch and dinner, for me, was a daily choice between McDonald’s, Taco Bell, Kentucky Fried Chicken, or Pizza Hut.” (Zinczenko p. 153) When someone is eating out every night for dinner, it should be obvious that they would gain weight from it. Fast-food restaurants do not give properly balanced meals and therefore is not as good as a home-cooked meal would be. Statistically this is shown in numerous ways, “Before 1944 diabetes in children was generally caused by a genetic disorder – only about 5 percent of childhood cases of obesity-related, or Type 2 diabetes. Today, according to the National Institute of Health, Type 2 diabetes accounts for at least 30 percent of all new childhood cases of diabetes in this country.” (Zinszenko p. 154) This shows that something dramatic has changes over that period of time; it is that people are spending more time eating out instead of eating at home now. Time is crunched for many parents and it is just easier to get food on the go. This is notable but it is still the parents’ responsibility for the consequences they face for the choices they make on behalf of their children. Another author makes the point that “9-14 year olds who diet may actually gain weight in the long-run possibly due to metabolic changes, but more likely because they resort to binge eating.’ (Engler p. 174) This is a true statement, although it is not a diet that would necessarily benefit the children, it is eating more in-home meals with their family. It would make more sense for the parents to take responsibility in the first place and make changes before the child is overweight. People need to start taking things upon themselves and stop blaming others for the problems they face.

1 comment:

  1. I think that you expressed your viewpoint effectively and made your argument clear. I like how you used quotes and references from They Say, I Say to support your claims and you also included the corresponding citations. I also think that backing up your standpoint with research was very effective and helped prove your points. For example, when you said, “Before 1944 diabetes in children was generally caused by a genetic disorder – only about five percent of childhood cases of obesity-related, or Type 2 diabetes.” And then when you followed it up with a current statistic.

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