Spending to Save on Obesity, Essay Example

The well being of people is determined to a greater extent by the types of food consumed. Foods are meant to supply essential nutrients and calories need for energy supply in the body. Consumption of excess foods results to an increased burning of the foods in to fats which is in turn stored in the body. Regular habits like over-eating are a vital contributor to gaining of excess weight which in turn may result to obesity (Barlow & Dietz, 1998).

The implication of obesity is accumulation of excess fats in the body. The occurrence of obesity is a continuous process and the balance of calories intake and out take plays a significant role in its development. Although genetic make-up contributes to development of obesity, personal habits such as overeating, lack of physical exercise and taking foods rich in fats contributes significantly to its development (Meerschaert, 2002).

This article on spending to save on obesity might impact restaurant industry negatively if the pilot programs succeed. It is evident from the research provided in the article that many people are suffering from obesity and still the numbers are going to be more in future if people don’t change their eating habits. The report says that since 1980 obesity rates have tripled where by 18$% of the victims are children and 34% are adults. In general the combination of overweigh and obesity in the American population amounts to one third of children and two thirds of adults (http://www.cspinet.org/nah/memo/spending-save-obesity.html). Overweight and obesity is a major cause of diabetes, high blood pressure heart attacks and cancer attacks. Also the government is losing over $150 billion every year to increased medical costs due to these common attacks. The reason why people are growing obese is because of poor eating habits and lack of doing exercises. Although the food industry has always argued that obesity is largely a mater f personal responsibility for no one is forced to eat fattening foods, they should consider changing their meals so that they cook meals which discourage fattening so that this problem may be curbed. One people will learn from this article the effects of eating fatty foods and the following consequences, I believe that they will react to the restaurant meals differently than before.

The American society is one that easily allows people to over eat and under-exercise what has led to increased obesity incidents. Blaming the consumers who are not taking personal responsibility might make them change and realize the need of practicing good eating habits. The restaurant industry will be forced to change its way of operation of selling fatty foods which promote obesity to preparing and selling foods which are less fatty.

This article should persuade the restaurant industry t change because it is aiming at saving the peoples live and the medical costs that are spent on diseases like diabetes, cancer, high blood pressure heart attack which could be prevented if people fed properly. Although the restaurant industry may see this as a scheme of wanting to reduce their sale and business, it is a way of wanting to promote humanity and responsibility to joining hands in fighting diseases and prompting health living (http://www.cspinet.org/nah/memo/spending-save-obesity.html).

The issues presented by CSPI are justified and Restaurant industry must be asked to change in the toxic food environment for the purpose of the public interest. Restaurant industry is aimed at making only profits and thus they keep, on advertising all junks of foods and selling to irresponsible people who end up getting obese and the consequent diseases.

Health experts have for a long time insisted that obesity is caused by irresponsibility of either the parents of young children affected or the adults themselves or become victims. Obesity is basically caused by then imbalances of units of food energy consumed. The food units are also referred to as calories. The case involving children has particularly elicited sharp reactions. The existing data and evidence do not suggest any signs of irresponsibility. So far there has not been enough government support towards reducing obesity cases especially of the environmental factors widely mentioned as a primary ca use of obesity.

The environmental factor surpasses those other causes in the quest for solutions to the problem. Individual physical and psychological factors are also important to reducing prevalence of obesity. Psychological ways of dealing with the challenge should also be explored. Regulatory measures on for instance school nutrition the labeling of menus on food being sold, changing marketing exercises that are seen as causing many more to be victims. The use of food taxes should also be implemented as a measure. This means taxing more on foods that cause obesity and in therefore encouraging responsible behavior. There has to be generally an individualistic approach and a collective responsibility if the prevalence has to be reduced (Meerschaert, 2002).

Individuals in the United States need to be more proactive in checking their diets or any other vice that is linked to the condition. There have been arguments that regulating what people take especially by the Food and During Federation will be a reminder to many Americans of what their parents went through during the post war rationing. That is thought, to be the last time governments were involved in food controls (Barlow & Dietz, 1998).

References

Barlow, S. & Dietz, W., (1998). “Obesity Evaluation & Treatment: Expert Committee Recommendations.” Pediatrics 102(3):1–11.

Meerschaert, C., (2002). “Managing Obesity in Children.” Soy Connection 10(4):2.