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is obesity a global issue
nutrition chapter 1
is obesity a global issue
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There has been a loss of control over the amount of food children are consuming at a young age and the parents are to blame, according to Greg Critser in his article Too Much of a Good Thing. Throughout his article, he speaks for "dietary restraint" in childhood and early adolescents (Critser 161). Critser believes there has been a lack of education for parents (161). There has been failure to alter their children 's eating patterns at the dinner table and a scarcity of knowledge in beginning their kid 's lives with healthier serving sizes and choices based on the child 's needs (161). Although parents might disagree with statements such as, "kids have the right to make bad nutrition decisions" or "kids just know when they are full," he questions their wisdom and know-how of the children 's limitations based on the nutritional scholar Barbara Rolls ' research (161-162). Critser effectively expresses the importance of adults controlling children 's portions and nutritional choices, kids not knowing when to stop eating when full, and a possible solution for America based off of the French in the 1900 's by discovering reliable research to back up his statements and conveying logical …show more content…
One of the rules the French have set in their households is that there are three meals a day with a scarcity of second helpings or even snacks (“French Eating Habits”). Both articles believe that children’s meals should be looked over by their parents to set habits that will lead to a leaner lifestyle as adults (Crister 162, “French Eating Habits”). According to “French Eating Habits,” only about 15% of adults in France were obese by 2012. However, “25% of all Americans under age nineteen are overweight or obese,” which speaks for itself (Crister 161). Crister thinks America could take a hint from the French, when it comes to food, “Eating too much food is a bad thing”
“Take the French, for example. They eat by and large as they have for generations….Yet their rates of heart disease and obesity are lower than the health-crazy Americans’. How can that be? Maybe because how we eat is just as important as what we eat”
Common believers are right that parents should be responsible for their child’s expenditures, but they seem to be on more dubious ground then they claim that is only the parents fault. ZincZenko wrote “Industries vulnerable. Fast-food companies are marketing to children a product with proven health hazards and no warning labels.” Incidentally, kids are blasted with commercials, billboards advertisements, and radio advertisements from the moment they wake up to the time they shut their eye. I believe that the consumer, even if may be a kid, should be responsible for what they are putting in their bodies. They should be well-informed by their caregivers on how to read and find nutrition facts based on what they are eating. They should be educated to what is healthy and good for them along what they should try their best to avert from. I believe on one hand, the parents should be responsible for what their kids are intaking, but on the other hand I urge parents to knowledge their kids to have self responsibility to choose, themselves, the more beneficial snack, meal, and
In Crister's essay, he states that in order to solve the problem of childhood obesity, we must stigmatize the unhealthy behaviors that cause obesity. Crister says that this epidemic should be treated swiftly because of the expensive medical costs to treat people with obesity related illnesses such as diabetes, coronary heart disease, and crippling bone conditions. Crister states that these stigmatizing tactics have worked in the past, with situations such as smoking and unprotected sex, and that these tactics can also work with the obesity epidemic. Crister writes that children respond positively to dietary advice, and that we should implement dietary restraint to prevent children from overeating. He states that this would be very effective, as there are studies that indicate that children do not know when they are full.
It is apparent that living an unhealthy lifestyle, as well as eating poorly, negatively affects one’s health. From a young age it is quickly learned which foods are considered healthful as opposed to junk food. It is a parents responsibility to supervise the intake of their child's food, however there is a higher risk than ever before of childhood obesity.
Americans eat entirely too much. And the foods we are consuming are not at all healthy, they contain excessive amounts of salt, sugar, saturated fat, carbohydrates, etc. This over eating is not only a severe problem in the adult population but also in America’s children as well. Results from a study performed by the Journal of the American Dietetic Association showed that 1 to 2 year olds get 30 percent more of the 950 calories they require a day. It has also been found that another contributing factor to most children’s bad eating habits is the fact that they either rarely or never consume vegetables and fruit. Besides the lack of fresh fruits and vegetables children are consuming large amounts of sugar. Wether it be in candy or desserts, soda or sugary fruit juices children are beginning to consume these at very early ages. Results from another study performed by the Journal of the American Dietetic Association found that infants are drinking soda out of baby bottles as early as 7 months of age. In response to these disturbing facts Parents magazine published the preceding article. It outlines 10 steps that can be taken to
In Food & Nutrition: Customs & Culture written by Paul Fieldhouse1, Fieldhouse summarizes many of the issues that coincide with growing rates of obesity. After great evaluation of the psychological aspects of food choice, Fieldhouse recognizes the affect social norms within American culture have on imperfect eating practices. It appears that physicality is utilized to make judgments of one’s eating habits rather than overall health status. He believes the nation’s mission to lower occurrences of obesity is mainly to decrease future health problems, but this also underscores the cultural norm of thinness in the U.S. “Although the considerable effort which is devoted to treatment and prevention of obesity is predicated largely on the desirability of preventing physical health problems, it is at least pa...
One of the trends that keeps growing is trying to stay fit and to get healthy. Many people have become dedicated to working out daily, cutting back on calories, and staying away from fast food, but yet the United States is still faced with a huge obesity epidemic. The United States has some of the highest obesity rates compared to other countries, but what are these other countries doing to cut back on obesity? Michael Pollan, the author of “Escape from the Western Diet” and Mary Maxfield, author of “Food as Thought: Resisting the Moralization of Eating” both explain various points about the issue of being healthy and eating better in America. Pollan believes nutrition and scientific theories are the problems of the Western Diet. Maxfield explains how culture influences how people eat and their views on being healthy.
Jamie Oliver tells us that obesity is the leading cause of death in America and Greg Critser tells us that obesity is getting so bad that the United Nations are meeting to discuss the issue. Obesity is a serious issue. “I went to the eye of the storm. I went to West Virginia, the most unhealthy state in America” (Oliver 3:27). In Jamie Oliver’s Teach Every Child about Food, Oliver sums up his experiences of helping obese families to give solutions to help cure obesity. In comparison to Oliver’s piece, Greg Critser has published an article titled, “Too Much of a Good Thing”. In this piece, Critser analyzes some current health issues to show how America has become obese. While both authors address how obesity in America
When it comes to the topic of childhood obesity, most of us will readily agree that there are long-term medical affects associated with childhood obesity. The National Institute of Health states that obese children are more likely to become obese adults. Adult obesity is associated with a number of serious health conditions including heart disease, diabetes, and some cancers (National Institute of Health). Where this argument usually ends, however, is on the question of who is to blame. Whereas some are convinced that the government and the food industry are to blame, others maintain that parents are primarily bearing this burden. The people who believe the government and the food industry are to blame are consistently at odds over the issue of who is to blame for the long-term affects from childhood obesity with the people who tend to believe parents are to blame. Medical conditions are becoming more and more frequent, childhood obesity is becoming a growing problem and until recently, the government has not aided in the fight against obesity.
While in America, food is just seen as food and a way of survival; in France, food is a way of socialization. Some french lunches consist a small portion of grilled chicken, fruit, bread, vegetables, and dessert. American lunches include pizza, McDonalds, fried chicken, and other quick meals on the go. Not only is French food different than American foods, but the way the French go about handling food is also different. According to Le Rendez-vous, a French restaurant, most French meals are dealt with the utmost respect and is seen as a full-time activity meant to be spent socializing with others at the table, not in front of the TV. Even studies have shown that people in France consider dining more pleasurable than other hobbies like reading, and see eating without socialization as uncommon and punishment. On the other hand, in America, eating is just a time to rush, quickly eat, and move on to what lies ahead, or perhaps, a time to eat and watch TV (“French Eating Habits”). Spoon University noted that most people in France set aside certain times for eating. They have 6 meals a day each at certain times with a certain purpose; lunch being the most important, but this contradicts how Americans schedule meals. Most Americans have breakfast, lunch, and dinner; breakfast being the most important, with constant snacking between meals at inconsistent times and even dinner differing at times each night. In addition, wine
...e should take lightly. The rates of obesity in America’s children and youth have almost tripled in the last quarter century (opposing viewpoints). I know schools are picking healthier options for their students, but is that really enough? Personally, I think parents should be the ones who make sure their children don’t eat to much fast food. If you let your child eat whatever they want and you don’t question it, there probably will be problems of unhealthy weight gain later on. Parents should lead by example. If mom and dad aren’t eating a lot of fast food they’ll copycat your actions.
Child obesity is at its highest in the United States. With fast food restaurants spreading, new food products being produced, and health rates hiking in children between ages of 3-13, children are at a higher risk of reaching obesity. Nutrients are very important for children to contain in their body due to the fact they are growing regularly. Without the specific vitamins and minerals needed in the body, lack of physical activity, and false parental guidance, children are in jeopardy of becoming overweight. Should parents be responsible for this issue? Parents are accountable for their children’s health, because as their child grows, it is a parent’s job to supply correct and healthy resources to their children.
Today's culture promotes eating habits that contribute to obesity. People may serve large portions and foods that are most readily available instead of choosing foods that are most nutritious. Cooking with butter, chocolate and other high-caloric foods is a normal part of the American diet. Also, food is often used as a reward in this country. Children are treated to sweets for cleaning their room, and the team is taken for pizza or ice cream after the game. Seldom is eating only when hunger is present (What Causes Obesity?).
Parents are not teaching children how to eat healthy. They feed them cheeseburgers, chicken fingers, and fries. Kids are not being exposed to a regular diet of health fruits and vegetables. Now some people are just naturally overweight, but being “overweight” is not the same as being “obese.” Someone who is overweight has reached a maximum weight limit for their height. When someone goes beyond this maximum limit, then they are considered “obese” (Kiess 1). Research shows that “obesity is generally defined as the abnormal or excessive accumulation of fat in adipose tissue” (Kiess 1). The increase in childhood obesity today is mainly the fault of the parent because they are unable to tell their children “no” when it comes to junk food (Kiess 104). Parents are the one buying all the food that comes into the house. They are the ones buying the sugary drinks and chips. They are the ones allowing the children to “have what they want.” Because parents are not teaching their children how to eat healthy, we will continue to see childhood obesity increase. Unfortunately, overweight children will be the ones who suffer because statistics show children who are overweight are more likely to become obes...
French cuisine and cooking tradition are widely spread around the world under the global famous junk-food burgers and fries. French diet habits are steadily converting to American style fast food. According to Gerber’s words, a nutritional scientist at NIMRH (National Institute for Medical Research and Health), American fast food like burgers and fries is a modern way of life. Because of this deadly food, there are more and more fat people in France. Additionally, the similar things are happening everywhere on