Is Fast Food the New Tobacco? Should the obesity issue be government regulated or remain personal responsibility?

What does accountability mean to you ? For many, accountability means taking ownership of one’s choices and the consequences that may result afterwards. This has become a debate around the topic of health. Someone doesn’t have to be a brain surgeon to realize that eating a cheeseburger and fries everyday won’t result in a six pack. However, the documentary “What the Health” shines a light on manipulation being done behind the scenes in food advertising. Now then the question changes to “how can one take accountability if they aren’t aware of all the chemicals/ ingredients in their food?” On the surface this discussion may look very black and white but there is a much bigger issue at hand here which is presented very well in this Netflix documentary. In this context, accountability goes beyond individual responsibility and extends to political and systemic levels. The documentary challenges viewers to question mass media and double check the ingredient list for their day to day meals. 

In the article “What You Eat is Your Business” by Radley Balko, the author argues that individuals but specifically adults should be taking responsibility for their own health. His overall argument and approach to the subject matter is that he is against government interference and believes that the current way of shifting blame away from the consumers themselves isn’t solving anything. Which logically speaking, he makes sense here and his points are extremely valid.

However, the missing component to his argument is what is programmed in our youth from the media. School lunches mainly don’t focus on a “healthy diet” but instead teach children and teenagers to eat for taste and not for energy. If the government did intervene and pushed out a healthier meal plan from the start then this could possibly be the best solution for society. Think about when you were young. Especially if you grew up in a household with unhealthy foods. You simply just didn’t know any better. Oprah Winfrey once said “it takes thirty days to form a habit”. Imagine what doing that for fifteen years does to your psyche ? A person will be programmed and in a cycle of just eating for the taste of sugar and salt rather than eating for their overall nutritional value. It’s why people admit they have “cravings”. You will rarely hear the quote

 

“I’m craving a salad”

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

The ideal diet for the average human being really isn’t a diet. It’s what the health standard should be but our taste buds are so accustomed to bad foods that vegetables and fruits for a week is the equivalent to a drug addict suffering through a withdrawal. Overall, on a personal note this discussion did open my eyes to how important health is in the long term. There is of course nothing wrong with eating unhealthy food here and there but small decisions add up later and nobody wants to live a life of regret.