Should the Government Have a Say in Our Diets, Essay Example

Before writing this essay, I was trying to weigh all pros and cons of the chosen topic. Was it controversial enough to fit the assignment requirements? What aspects should I choose to prove my position? Will this topic reflect the true nature of an argumentative essay? However, after evaluating the controversy, I have come to realize that the topic was more than controversial: it was complex and required evaluation and resolution.

The fact is that in our country, any government intrusion looks undesirable. We are so used to making free choice and to having access to everything we need and want that we have already forgotten the value and usefulness of the government control. No, that does not mean that the government must control everything and everyone. What I mean here is that the government control should be balanced with the freedom of choice. Unfortunately, plentiful foods do not lead to improved health conditions. We cannot always make a relevant choice. Our hurried lifestyles make us extremely fast, and eating is not an exception. We eat fast, but fast does not always mean useful. I believe, and in this essay I argue that the government must have a say in our diets. Because there are so many obese people, because obesity is an expensive disease, and because very often it is due to poverty that people cannot afford healthy foods, the government must control the amount and the range of foods which we buy and eat. Healthy foods must become affordable. Poor populations must have access to high quality foods. The production of harmful foods should be limited. All these would be impossible if the government does not take active position against our diets.

Introduction

Obesity and overweight remain the two major social problems in the United States. Apart from the fact that obesity and overweight are dangerous by themselves, they also cause a variety of negative health consequences. Our lives our overloaded with tasks and obligations, and we often choose to eat something fast. “Fast”, however, does not necessarily imply “useful”, and more and more people face the risks of becoming obese even at young age. Because obesity has already become a national issue, because the costs of obesity and related diseases achieve unbelievable sums, and because obesity is often associated with poverty and social issues, the government should have a say in our diets: only in this way will society succeed to change nutrition and eating attitudes and habits at the national level.

Statistical information confirms: obesity and overweight have already turned into an issue of national concern. In 2002, “a National Survey conducted by American Sports Data revealed that 61% of adults in the U.S. felt that they were overweight, 19% admitting that they were ‘considerably’ overweight” (American Sports Data). The major causes of obesity, overweight, and similar nutritional problems included genetics, population trends, hurried lifestyles, high-carbohydrate diets, less demanding workplaces, smoking cessation, and social class aspects (American Sports Data). That hurried lifestyles and a less demanding workplace contribute in the development of obesity trends is clear. But even more importantly, because the number of those who are overweight or obese exceeds one half of the American population, the government must control our diets. The information about the costs of obesity and related diseases is even more compelling.

In 1999, the cost of child and adolescent hospital admissions and visits due to obesity and overweight was estimated to be $127 million (CDC). According to the Center of Disease Control, the total cost of obesity in the U.S. in 2000 was $117 billion, with one third of these costs attributed to cardiovascular complications (CDC). All these numbers confirm the growing need for the government to have a say in our diets. The role of government is also extremely important in reducing the risks of nutrition problems among poor population layers.

There is a direct correlation between one’s social status and the quality of one’s nutrition. Nutrition is not only a matter of diet, but a matter of economy. The fact is that “healthier diets are beyond the reach of many people” (Science Daily). Poor people simply cannot afford buying and eating healthy foods. Many of them cannot afford going to fitness centers, and thus lack physical activity. Without the government’s support, poor people will hardly be able to overcome obesity risks. Healthy foods should be made cheaper and more affordable. The government should control the range of products sold in supermarkets. The quality of these products should be controlled, too.

Of course, for many of us such intrusion on the side of the government may seem overwhelming and unacceptable. Limiting the choice of foods may also look discriminative. American society lives in the atmosphere of complete democracy and freedom, and imposing the rules of nutrition and eating behaviors may go against these principles and beliefs. However, many people simply do not realize the seriousness of nutritional issues. Because nutrition, obesity, and overweight have already turned into a matter of national concern, the government should definitely have a say in our diets, to give us access to healthier foods and to restrict availability of foods, which damage our health.

Conclusion

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.

Works Cited

American Sports Data. “Exercise and the Ballooning of a Nation.” 2006. American Sports Data. 10 September 2009. http://www.americansportsdata.com/pr-obesityresearch-bmi.asp

The report discusses the major trends and causes of overweight and obesity in the U.S. The report links obesity to anti-smoking campaigns and social class. The statistics provided confirms the growing need for the government to have a say in diets.

CDC. “Preventing Obesity and Chronic Diseases Through Good Nutrition and Physical Activity.” 2008. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 10 September 2009. http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/publications/factsheets/prevention/obesity.htm

The website offers an insight into the costs of obesity and related issues. Statistics shows obesity as the disorder that causes billions of unnecessary costs annually. These costs cannot be addressed, unless the government takes an active position against obesity and nutritional issues.

Science Daily. “Researcher Links Rising Ride of Obesity to Food Prices.” 2004. Science Daily. 10 September 2009. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/01/040105071229.htm

The article discusses the link between obesity and poverty. The authors show obesity as not a health, but an economic issue. This link is useful for understanding of the government’s role in nutrition and fighting obesity.