Obesity Epidemic In The Film The Weight Of The Nation

The film, The Weight of the Nation, attempts to explain the severe and chronic issue that america is facing: obesity. Over a span of even just fifty years the U.S. has grown in population, and in weight. This HBO documentary explains different facets of this problem including marketplace shifts, ‘hidden costs’, and the environment in which people are presented food. Examining and discussing these factors will lead to a better understanding, and a possible solution to an obesity epidemic. In the last forty to fifty years a lot of change has happened. Technology has expanded, advertisements have exploded, and fast-food has taken over every city. As our society has made technological advances (in farms and manufacturing) processed food has

The Weight of the Nation refers to these environments as either a “food desert” or a “food swamp.” Both of these environments tend to culminate around poor and inner-city neighborhoods. Food desert refers to an area in which there is no market for fresh foods and produce; food deserts often consist of inner city areas where only small corner shops and gas stations may be available. Shelf life becomes very important in these areas therefore most of these areas processed foods become the only option, because they last longer, are cheaper, and have more “value.” The other bad environment that occurs is a food swamp, which is where fast-food restaurants dominate the area and become the common option and choice. But as previously discussed, even though it is convenient and cheap, for the long term the “hidden costs” will be made up with chronic illnesses such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases that arise due to higher fats, calories, and sugar that these fast-foods contain. These environments play a big role in the factors that influence food choices. As adults and children live in these poor neighborhoods where fresh produce is desolate, processed fatty foods become the choice and sometimes the only option. This has adverse effects, because the only things the children in this area learn is to be addicted to these foods, also they see their parents increase in weight as the children do the