In their recent work, Radley Balko and David Zinczenko have offered harsh critiques about today’s food industry. Many people who frequently eat out at restaurants assume that it is the food industries fault for making America an obese Nation, including Zinczenko, however, Balko has a slightly different opinion. In his article, “What You Eat is Your Business,” Radley Balko blames individuals for fueling today’s so-called obesity epidemic that is occurring throughout the United States. He argues that the government should stop labeling obesity as a “public health” issue, and start making people take responsibility for their own actions. Balko discusses how the idea of someone's "...well-being, shape, and condition have increasingly been deemed matters of 'public health,' instead of matters of personal responsibility" (Balko). He claims that deeming obesity as matters of "public health" is the wrong way to fight the obesity epidemic. He suggests that the best way to "...alleviate the obesity 'public health' crisis is to remove obesity from the realm of 'public health’ (Balko). He tries to convey the message that obesity doesn’t belong under “public health,” by emphasizing the fact that, “It’s difficult to think of anything more private and of less public concern than what we chose to put into our bodies” (Balko). Balko insists that if people take credit for their own actions, and stop blaming others for their condition, then they will start to make better choices when it comes to living a healthy lifestyle. But what about the nonexistent nutritional facts on menus at restaurants Radley Balko? If the nutritional facts were available would that help decrease the obesity rate, and would people try to eat healthier? David Z... ... middle of paper ... ...s unaware of the nutrition facts. You would think that the food industry would want its consumers to be informed about the calories and fat content of foods being sold and support the idea of living a healthy lifestyle, however that did not seem to be the case up until very recently. My whole life I have heard that, living a healthy lifestyle is one of the main components of success, and I am happy to finally see some changes occurring within the food industry. Now that changes are being made, hopefully, people will start to take responsibility for their own condition and take actions to live healthier lifestyles. Although I agree with Balko’s stance on obesity, I support Zinczenko’s claim that all restaurants and other places, like college dining halls and cafeterias, should have to provide the nutrition facts on their menus to further satisfy their customers.
Zinczenko explains, “Where are consumers supposed to find alternatives? Drive down any thoroughfare in America, and I guarantee you’ll see one of our country’s more than 13,000 McDonald’s restaurants.” He continues, “Now, drive back up the block and try to find someplace to buy a grapefruit.” (Zinczenko 463). What’s the chances of finding a fruit stand rather than a fast food restaurant? In addition, consumers are not being informed on what exactly they are taking in. There are no calorie charts posted on the food, nor are there warning labels connected to it. Thus, the purchaser is becoming unhealthy and eventually obese. Zinczenko stated fast food restaurants, “Would do well to protect themselves, and their consumers, by providing the nutrition information people need to make informed choices about their products.” Furthermore, without warnings, there will consequently be a higher number of ill and obese
“Don’t Blame the Eater” is an article by David Zinczenko that explains to Americans, specifically overweight young Americans, about the risks eating at fast food restaurants and its cause of affecting one’s health. In his article, he tries to address the issue about America’s food industries by using literal devices such as tone, logos, ethos, diction, and organization in order to spread his message. He begins his article by addressing the topic and as he continues writing, he supports his topic by writing about personal experience and moves onto the reasons why his topic in a serious issue. Although he shows an overall clear progress, he does tend to have a few problems with his writing that could be improved.
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
In American, has an obesity epidemic that is growing year after year. According to the CDC more than one third 34.9% or 78.6 million U.S adults are obese and it continues grow. In the FDA recorders people that are obese usually have type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, asthma, heartburn and other digestive and mental health problems. The author David Zinczenko, the author of the article “Don’t blame the eater” thinks that fast food restaurants does not have alternative foods and not labeling their food products. Then there is Radley Balko the author of the article “What you eat is Your Business” believes that law makers should allow insurance companies to charge higher premium on obese people for their unhealthy eating habits. After reading both article, I disagree with Zinczenko idea of fast food restaurants not having fast food alternatives because fast food chains do have other alternative and they also label their food products
In Nancy Hall's "Obesity Lawsuits" (2004) essay, Hall is determined to address the problem constantly growing and silently taking lives in America every day, obesity. The author goes on to argue that people should not be suing "fast food companies" (Hall, 2004, p. 113), but rather look at themselves to blame for becoming obese. Americans need to think about their own decisions routinely, exercise to keep the extra weight off and choose meals that are healthier (Hall, 2004). The authors thesis states: "Listening to the subtle nuance emerging from legal debate, we can hear a discernable message that clearly spells out the desperate need for further study, public awareness, and education on obesity in America" (Hall, 2004, p.114). Even though Nancy Hall is not educated on obesity nor holds a degree in Health Sciences, the article is still persuasive because of the emotion placed into words pursued by direct and solid facts laid out on paper (Hall, 2004).
In his article “What You Eat Is Your Business,” Radley Balko emphasizes that we ought to be accountable with what we eat, and the government should not interfere with that. He declares that the state legislature and school boards are already banning snacks and soda at school campuses across the country to help out the “anti-obesity” measure. Radley claims that each individual’s health is becoming “public health” instead of it being their own problem. Balko also states, “We’re becoming less responsible for our own health, and more responsible for everyone else’s.” For instance, a couple of new laws have been passed for people to pay for others’ medicine. There is no incentive to eat right and healthy, if other people are paying for the doctor
In “Don’t Blame the Eater”, by David Zinczenko and in “What You Eat is Your Business”, by Radley Balko both authors discuss and make their stance’s clear on their believed cause of obesity in America. On one hand, Zinczenko argues that it is not the consumers fault for putting themselves at risk of becoming obese or being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, but that it is the fast-food companies fault. While on the other hand, Balko argues that we as individuals hold responsibility on whether or not we are putting ourselves at risk for obesity.
Throughout the past years and more here recently obesity has become a fast growing problem in the United States and around the world. Since this has become such a problem certain authors are starting to take a stand in how they think the solution should be fixed. The solutions are discussed in the following articles: How Junk Food Can End Obesity by David H. Freedman and What You Eat Is Your Business by Radley Balko. Both articles have clear and distinct arguments, but the argument by Balko entices his readers and has a clear purpose and tone that allowed his article to be more effective.
In David Zinczenko’s article “Don’t Blame the Eater” he explains the dangers of eating at fast food chains. Zinczenko starts off by talking about the popular news headline of parents suing fast food chains for making their children obese. Zinczenko then goes on to describe that he does have some empathy for these families because he, himself, used to be one of those obese children. He explained how busy his family used to be and how affordable it is to eat from these fast food chains. In his later life, he joined the Navy Reserves and lost all the weight he had gained and learned about the better food and the better nutrition to put into his body. Zinczenko, however, did know that not all kids were this lucky to fall out of this eating pattern. Following the story of his life, Zinczenko stated statistics of type 2 diabetes in children from before 1994 until now. Most of these stats are quite shocking to realize. After that Zinczenko then went on to explain how fast food chains do not display the nutrition facts on their food. They do provide them on their websites, or will provide them at the fast food chain if requested. Nevertheless, Zinczenko explains that the information is falsely given. These places will hide facts, and make it seem like their food is not bad when the calories are twice as much as the preconceived notions that commonplace consumers believe.
David Zinczenko assumes that fast-food restaurants have been consider guilty for obesity . On the one hand, he argues that they are inexpensive and favorable ways of eating and not to mention how fast and closed they can be to our homes. From this perspective, children today are victims of the cheap prizes and irresistible meals that are highly bad in calories as a result of gaining so much weight. On the other hand, however, he argues that it is the parent's fault by working long hours and not being able to pay enough attention to their kids especially on what they eat. In my own view, I agree that there is plenty of food for sale at grocery stores that are both nutritious and convenient. Though I concede that fast food is fascinating, but
Should people be held accountable for what they eat? Many believe that it is a matter of public health, but some think that it is the matter of personal responsibility. In the article “What You Eat Is Your Business,” Radley Balko argues that the government spending more money on anti-obesity measures is the wrong way to fix the obesity epidemic. He claims that people should be more responsible for their personal health. I am of two minds about this author’s claim that eating and lifestyle are matters of personal choice. On the one hand, I agree with his claim because of the unfair insurance policies, people should be more responsible for their own health, and people should take the time to be responsible for their kid’s health instead of blaming someone or something irrelevant. On the other hand, the government should do their best to dispose of “food deserts,” provide more opportunities to live a healthy life style, and give tax breaks to people selling healthy foods.
Radley Balko, The author of the essay “What You Eat is Your Business”, would agree that in order to stop obesity, we must turn this public problem around and make it everyone’s individual responsibility. Instead of inflicting the importance of personal ownership, government officials, politicians and congress make obesity a public problem by prohibiting junk food in school vending machines, federal funding for new bike trails and sidewalks, and restrictive food marketing to children. Overall I agree that this manipulation of food options is not the proper way to fight obesity, however, I think that government should inform people about the food they are eating because then they have no excuses for not taking responsibility of the actions.
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.
The rising obesity rates in America have become quite popular debates these days. With 30 percent of children being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes as apposed to 5 percent in 1994, the big question is who to blame? Susie Orbach and David Zinczenko take two similar yet different approaches with their essays. David writing, “Don’t Blame the Eater” and Susie’s “Fat is a Feminist Issue.”
When it comes to the topic of school shootings, most of us readily agree that every time you hear about one, it is almost not even shocking anymore. It is definitely tragic and we seem not to understand why it happens, but it is nothing out of the ordinary because it happens so often. What is causing all these frequent shootings? That is the question we must answer to reduce shootings, or even terminate them completely. Although, there are some strong theories and opinions to why these shooting occur; violent video games. In the articles "Frag Him" by Mike Jaccarino and "Shooting in The Dark" by Benedict Carey, these authors express their feelings on how violent video games correlate with these aggression that could eventually lead to horrific tragedies. Each author have similar and different thoughts regarding this serious matter.