Dealing with Unhealthy Food - Essay Example

Lecturer: Dealing with unhealthy food Obesity is among the most severe health risks that the US is currently facing. Based on data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately sixty percent of all the adults in the US are obese while about thirty percent of the youth are overweight and bordering obesity. Conditions that are linked to obesity constitute majority of the main causes of death while the increasing obesity rates continue to responsible for the increase in costs of healthcare and the health outcomes that are rapidly declining. Unavailability and unaffordability of healthy foods are some of the main issues that have contributed to the obesity issue. Thesis statement: Regulations and legislations promoting healthy foods while limiting access the foods which are unhealthy are important instruments in dealing with the obesity epidemic in the US. The national rate of obesity in the case of adults is twenty four percent while it has been approximated to be as high as fifty two percent in Manchester and the adjacent Clay County. There have been efforts to understand the degree of obesity from various quarters and recently, Michelle Obama, the first lady, lead other stakeholders in unveiling the findings of a task force on obesity. The findings showed that the rate of obesity in children was increasing and there were a limited number of places where people could purchase foods that were nutritious. Places such as Manchester are likely to be more affected by the obesity crisis in future as there is no department that is responsible for recreation or parks. Apart from this, most of the establishments that operate up to late at night are fast food places and this is quickly increasing the number of overweight people. The issue of being overweight may also be attributed to the feeding culture as children are required to clean their plates at mealtimes before they can leave the table. The children are required to eat all their food even when they are already full. There is also the issue of denial or a fear of knowing and the people consider that the only time there are supposed to be weighed is when they go to the doctor even though they do not visit the doctor. Others eve consider obesity as a hereditary issue that they are not in a position to control. The administration under President Obama has fundamentally dealt with the issue of obesity as though it is a political no-brainer and teaching healthier eating habits to Americans, especially children has appeared as a rational endeavor to the point that the first lady decided to make it a personal project. The first lady has been successful in enlisting support and the food industry is also cooperating. The war on sugar and fat has been considered by the administration under Obama has been seen as taking away the main aspects of the lifestyle of Americans which entails eating large amounts of food indiscriminately. Particular behaviors in regards to eating cannot be changed without dealing with people’s way of life and cultures concerning foods and thus the administration needs to present healthy eating as a positive and appropriate way of expressing the American lifestyle. Possibly, the most effective effort by the government towards regulating the kind of food and the amount that people in the US consume, World War II’s food rationing program, was able to recognize the connection between politics, culture and emotion. Requirements for various types of foods overseas for soldiers, especially meat, led the government to realize that it could encourage people psychologically and nutritionally to eat differently. Policies developed by the government are critical as far as the food system of any country is concerned. As a consequence, the decisions that are made by the Federal government concerning the manner in which the government regulates and supports agriculture in the US have profound effects on the kind of food that will be available, the cost of the foods and the production methods of the foods. The current food policy of the US makes critical contributions to the failures that are associated with the food system in the nation as it has made junk food relatively cheaper while healthy foods have become more expensive as a consequence of the difficulties associated with sustainable farming. Governments at the local and state level have continued to be instrumental in promotion policies that support healthy living in numerous ways. For instance, various localities have been utilizing urban planning instruments like licensing and zoning laws as well as incentive programs towards regulation of locations and densities of fast food outlets or promoting the availability and accessibility of healthy food at the corner stores within neighborhoods. Financial incentives as well as zoning variances have been utilized when encouraging grocers, developers and property owners to situate their stores in the areas that are not sufficiently served, referred to as food deserts. Laws at the state or local level may stipulate the minimum standards of nutrition for foods that child care setting serve, control usage of trans fat in foods served by restaurants or impose taxes on sugary drinks so as to reduce the rate of consumption. Ultimately, employers along with organizations may also utilize policy instruments in the promotion of healthy eating habits for their workers and members. They may implement vending contracts to make sure there is accessibility to healthy foods and there is promotion of the foods on site. Wellness policies on worksites may also result in promotion of availability of healthy foods at the places of work while at the same time supporting the endeavors of the workers to consume healthy foods throughout the day while at work. Read More