essay 3 final draft

8/11/2019 Essay 3 Final Draft

1/4


2/4

Rush 2

some other important factors. Muscle weighs more than fat. This means that an Olympic

sprinter can be obese, even though, he/she has to be in peak physical condition to compete

(Nordqvist). Age is not factored in either. As adults age, they lose bone and muscles mass.

That could mean there is a higher percentage of fat tissue in their bodies, if they maintain a

healthy weight. And then there is ethnicity. Asians have been shown that they can suffer health

problems at a lower B.M.I. than Caucasians (Wilson). The scale in which B.M.I. is compared to

has also been changed. In 1998, the ranges for overweight were changed to meet a global

standard (from 27.8 to 25) (Wilson).

If ethnicity is not a factor in determining B.M.I., how can it be globally accepted? Well,B.M.I. is inexpensive and simple to use. All a doctor would need to do is compare the patients

data to a chart. Even non-doctors can use this method. Other methods that produce more

accurate measures are too costly to produce and require more time (Wilson).

Why are Americans seeking the help of this inaccurate scale in the first place? Major

media outlets have painted a picture about this epidemic that looks very grim. Even with the

number of Americans becoming obese leveling off, after 30 years of growth, Hellmich s article

still claims it to be an epidemic. She even goes as far as saying that it will have a huge toll on

health. The solution, lose 10 pounds if you are concerned (Hellmich).

But how are Americans supposed to lose 10 pounds and how long do they have to do it

in? This is where fad diets, pharmaceuticals, and specialty diet foods come into play. By filling

Americans with fear, in this case, the risk of diabetes and heart disease leading to an eventual

premature death, the media can influence their decision making process and coax them into

purchasing one of those easy ways of losing weight.


3/4

Rush 3

The problem, they are not a long term solution to the obesity problem. 84% of the

participants in Weight Watchers struggle to keep the weight off once they lose it (Peretti). The

reason why these methods work so well is that they change the persons lifestyle for a brief

period time. But they fail when the person is expected to and eventually returns to their old

habits.

The weight-loss industry makes billions of dollars from those that struggle to keep the

weight off. A portion of that revenue is then funneled into advertising. And a cycle is developed

where the American people are none-the-wiser and these business po ckets burst at the seams.

All the blame cant fall upo n those businesses for following a business model tomaximize profit. The American government has a small part to play in this problem as well.

According to law, all food sold in the U.S. must have a label. This label will list the nutritional

values of the food and ingredients that go into making the food. The FDA is the governing

agency that ensures that all domestic and foreign foods in the US adhere to this law.

As companion to the labels, the USDA developed a food pyramid that gives a

recommendation for a healthy and balanced diet. It is taught in health classes across the nation,

to young Americans. If they follow the recommendations, they should not face obesity as well

as various other nutritional problems.

Though the government is attempting to help show what healthy eating is, manufacturers

of these foods have learned to market their foods with certain phrases or by making the labels

confusing to read. Following the pyramid, it is recommended to have 2 cups of vegetables a

day if you are a women between the ages of 19 to 30 (Choose). If the food is marketed with the

phrasing, Uses 1 Daily Serving of Vegetables, people tend to avoid the confusing label on the

back that mentions the many preservatives it contains or other materials used in the process of


4/4

Rush 4

making that food. The only connection that was made was that they were following the

recommended diet plan.

Even presented with the knowledge that foods are bad for them, people still tend to

purchase those items because they prefer the taste of them (Lee).

This is statement is the key to understanding why the obesity epidemic is misleading.

Society is looking for a cure for everyones obesity problem, but the problem of obesity is in

control of the individual. The individual chooses to eat too much, live a sedentary life, or ignore

the nutritional labels on foods.

Society doesnt need to s it back and watch, however. We can choose to accept these people for their choice. Its not a disease to live obese and there are some real health risks

associated with being such, but these are people in the end. They can be hurt like you can be. If

and when they are ready to lose the weight, encourage them, support them, and learn with them

because this is what they truly need to make it a lifetime decision to fight obesity.

essay 3 final draft

Documents