Wait a second!
More handpicked essays just for you.
More handpicked essays just for you.
What are the most prevalent solutions for the obesity
Problem of obesity in america solutions
Problem of obesity in america solutions
Don’t take our word for it - see why 10 million students trust us with their essay needs.
In Tracie McMillan’s article, “Food’s Class Warfare,” she discusses the possible problems and solutions of food equality among the classes. She believes, as does Alice Waters an organic chef, that “good food should be a right and not a privilege” (McMillan 1). “To secure the future of America’s food supply” (2) there are two camps of belief. The first, “just-buy-better-stuff” (2), is a belief that is based on an individual’s choice. Ultimately the choice is ours to make and we must be wise in what we eat. The second, structural challenges, argues that having access to healthy food will be what solves the problem. Although both sides have great points, McMillan believes it will take both working together, to change the way we eat. Obesity is a hot topic these days and everyone has a thought on how to solve this. “We didn’t end up with an obesity problem because of a single fatal flaw, and we’re not going to solve it with a magic bullet” (McMillan 3). I believe it’s not so much obesity that is a problem but malnutrition. Malnutrition comes in all forms from starvation to overeating. “Obese people, who consume more calories than they need, may suffer from the sub-nutrition aspect of malnutrition…” (http://www.medicalnewstoday.com). Our focus shouldn’t be entirely on obesity, rather on the access by all classes to healthful and affordable food. Although, personal choice plays an important role, supermarkets effect our nutrition as well. Choice implies the opportunity to choose freely. When it comes to our nutrition how many of us really have a choice? “Food deserts” (McMillan 2), a term used throughout McMillan’s article, refers to a “geographically area where affordable and healthy food is difficult to obtain…” (Wikipedia.org).... ... middle of paper ... ... as changing zoning and offerring incentives to attract farmers markets and supermarkets to food deserts. Cities can increase access by guaranteeing public transportation routes. And farmers’ markets can accept EBT (electronic benefit transfer), which would make it easier for those on assistant programs to have access to fresh local fruits and vegetables. Seattle area farmers’ markets are already doing this. Community gardens can be an effective way of increasing fruit and vegetable consumption among residents. Cities can encourage this through zoning polices and grants. I feel it’s important, maybe even my duty, to support local food outlets. Not only do they contributed to economic growth, but they provide healthy options for me and my family. Communities need to be a part of the process. If there is no community support, these business are likely to fail.
In her essay, “Food’s Class Warfare,” author Tracie McMillan promotes the inclusion of both “individual changes and structural ones” (217), particularly “class consciousness” (217), in the fight for quality diets in America. She reveals the most common sides of the healthy food debate as the inherent “just-buy-better stuff logic” (215) and the opposing “structural challenges of eating well” (215). The main strategies for defeating the American “obesity epidemic” (216) have been reaching out to the individual, as well as changing the structure of the American food system itself. The favorite concept for structuralists is “food deserts - neighborhoods with insufficient grocery stores and thus insufficient supplies of healthy food” (216). She deems the concept insufficient in practice, as it ignores smaller markets and equates large stores with a healthy food source. While the individual viewpoint and structuralists argue with each other, they share common ideals. According to
Obesity is a rising problem in the United States. With obesity rates on the rise something must be done to prevent this massive issue. There are ways to help including educating at young ages, improving nutrition facts at restaurants, and providing more space for citizens to get physically active.
In Wendell Berry’s “The Pleasures of Eating,” this farmer tells eaters how their separation from food production has turned them into “passive consumers” who know nothing about the food they eat, or their part in the agricultural process (3). They are blindsided by a food industry that does not help them understand. Berry argues that the average consumer buys available food without any questions. He states consumers that think they are distanced from agriculture because they can easily buy food, making them ignorant of cruel conditions it went through to get on the shelf. Humans have become controlled by the food industry, and regard eating as just something required for their survival. Berry wants this to change as people realize they should get an enjoyment from eating that can only come from becoming responsible for their food choices and learning more about what they eat. While describing the average consumer’s ignorance and the food industry’s deceit, he effectively uses appeals to emotion, logic, and values to persuade people to take charge, and change how they think about eating.
Population studies show there are clear contrasts in social classes with respect to nourishment and supplement admissions. Low-salary bunches specifically, have a more prominent propensity to devour lopsided eating methodologies and have low admissions of foods grown from the ground. They don’t have the same economics of food choice as the higher class therefore, they don’t necessarily have the opportunities like the higher class communities. That’s one of the main reason I think obesity occurs, Obesity is one of the most serious growing problems in the United States and requires the prevalence of obesity is dramatically increasing as a result of what the people are eating and the lack of exercise . If a child's parent is overweight then it’s most likely that their child will be overweight as. They are adapting everything their parents do such as eating unhealthy or not exercising enough which is contributing to this major social problem Since obesity involves excessive accumulation of fat in the body. intense health complications including diabetes, heart disease, renal failure, high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke and cancer can
Walsh, Bryan. “America’s Food Crisis.” NEXUS. Eds. Kim and Michael Flachmann. Boston: Pearson, 2012. 166 – 173. Print.
According to Wendell Berry, there are two types of eaters. They can be distinguished as ‘Responsible eaters’ and ‘passive consumers’. Berry goes on to elaborate who passive consumers are and criticizes them of not being aware of how the food economy works. Passive consumers recognize what they want, and pay without thinking about critical questions such as the quality of the food, where it comes from, how much did manufacturing or packaging or advertising add to the cost or simply, the nutritional value of the food.
One of the most insidious “diseases” plaguing our nation is poor nutrition. While obesity is an epidemic, we focus too much on heavy people and not enough on all the others around them that are truly malnourished and yet don’t show any “traditional” signs. These other portions of the population shows their irregular nourishment through high rates of chronic illness and even possibly through mental illness. Just because someone is “this”, does not mean they are nutritionally sound. So while in 10 years’ time almost 50% of our population will be obese, a much higher percentage will be malnourished if we keep on this trend. Inevitably malnourished populations will continue to be a public health crisis through the rise in chronic disease and higher medical costs due to the burden these populations put on the healthcare system. This is why we need to focus on reducing food deserts, increase nutritional education at a young age, and create a culture of mindfulness around cooking and eating whole foods.
Since 1970, the obesity rates in America have more than doubled. Currently two-thirds of (roughly 150 million) adults in the United States are either overweight, or obese (Food Research and Action Center). According to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, “overweight is defined as a body mass index (BMI) greater than 25 whereas obesity is defined as a BMI greater than 30.” There are numerous factors that contribute to obesity such as: biological, behavioral and cultural influences (Food Research and Action Center). While these factors all have a large role in obesity, there is no factor with as great of an influence as poverty.
With a rise in popularity of healthier and organic foods in the last decade, as exemplified by the increase in organic restaurants and supermarkets, came a realization that poorer neighborhoods across the country had less access to healthy food options. Due to the high cost of organic, and therefore healthier, foods, many poor neighborhoods were not getting access to such products and thus were being labeled as “food deserts.” The issue of “food deserts” is one that is currently being addressed but the issue of what I will call “retail deserts”, the lack of large retail companies and suppliers, is an issue that is not receiving as much attention and if addressed can start the transition towards a better economy and better life for people in
One billion people are starving to death worldwide while another one billion are gorging to death(C). Many more people are becoming overweight in first world countries, especially those such as Canada where obesity rates have more than doubled since 1980(C). While some countries such as Japan or the Netherlands are improving because of their government’s involvement, the Government of Canada continually does nothing to stop or prevent the increase of obesity nationwide. And while the government and the large food corporations it controls are the main issue surrounding obesity, the general public is just as well to blame for not taking action. Furthermore, the effect obesity has on the healthcare system and the economy as a whole is devastating,
Coming from someone who has tried multiple times in order to eat healthier, it was a difficult task to complete due to the higher prices of fruits and vegetables. I did not feel like making my parents spend more money they needed to. According to Warwick Sabin in his piece, “The Rich Get Thinner, the Poor Get Fatter”, people who cannot afford the high prices of whole foods, settle for the purpose those which fit their needs but not their good health. This corresponds to how good health becomes less important as prices rise. The walthier community is able to afford whatever type of food they want. They are capable of buying thinning foods while the poor must rely on the much fattier foods. I even struggle at putting together the money for a fresh salad. If it becomes too much of a difficult task, I then find myself buying the cheap yet filling burger. Nonetheless, these price changes have resulted in retaliations. Solomon H. Katz asserts that in Mexico, there has been mass amounts of violence that has taken place, and there has been protests in multiple countries against the rise of food prices. People are speaking out, standing for what they believe is right, and what is right is for them; to have better food opportunities. To have the chance to survive by being able to afford actual whole foods instead of settling for unhealthy foods. And even starving themselves to avoid eating
In Dave Weatherspoon’s article “Fresh Vegetable Demand Behaviour in an Urban Food Desert” he discusses how even when they do make healthy foods accessible, the factor of low income plays a big role in what is purchased and consumed. Food deserts typically have “lower quality diets and have higher obesity rates”. He discusses two competing hypothesis’. The first one is that “retailers avoid food deserts because demand side factors such as low income limit demand for healthy foods.” The other hypothesis states that “supply side factors cause prohibitively high costs of operation for grocers – leading to limited access to healthy foods and thus low expressed demand.” Either way if there is a continuance of a lack of nutritional foods available there will be devastating consequences for the diets and health of food desert residents. In this article he analyzes the data in food deserts in Detroit and the residents’ fresh vegetable purchasing behavior. The evidence gathered confirms that the response of the consumers to price and income
Food deserts are areas where the population has limited access to fresh produce and healthy, affordable choices for food. Many of those living in food deserts are in poverty, restricting their budget for food. For this reason, they revert to fast food and cheap, processed food. The root of the issue lays at the problems of race and poverty, as the gap between rich whites in power and poor people of color grows. Some offer simple solutions to the problem such as planting a garden while others consider food alternative programs, but for long lasting change, legislature is to address the issue.
The government must have a say in our diets. Because the issues of obesity have already reached national scales, because the costs of obesity and related health issues have gone far beyond reasonable limits, and because fighting nutritional issues is impossible without fighting poverty and other social issues, the government should control the range and the amount of available foods. The cost of healthier foods should decrease. The access to harmful foods should be limited. In this way, the government will be able to initiate a major shift in nutritional behaviors and attitudes in society.
Modern poverty is so closely related with obesity for many reasons. First of all, poor people are ignorant and uneducated about their health and nutrition. Obviously, because of that they don’t really know what they are doing or even how they are taking the risk of eating some kinds of food. Poor people go for good tasting food without paying attention to the food’s freshness and safety. Moreover, children grow up without a proper understanding of good nutrition, so it is time to reintroduce nutrition to families and even in schools to kids. Second of all, poor people cannot afford buying healthy food. A person who is poor and hungry is going to buy the cheapest calories that he or she could find. In fact in today’s world, the cheapest calories come from junk food. It is cheaper and ...