What You Eat Is Your Business

What You Eat Is Your Business

Sarah Gracy
August 25, 2016
Summary/Response Essay 1
What You Eat Is Your Business
Radley Balko’s article, “What You Eat Is Your Business,” explores the legislative push for a certain range of anti-obesity encouragement from the government. Balko suggest that instead of controlling or interrupting the variety of food options available to American consumers, our government should be working to promote a sense of responsibility and ownership of the health and well-being of Americans. However, it is quite the opposite when it comes to government officials. These officials currently treat obesity as a public health issue insurance, pharmaceutical companies, and ultimately quality of life for a variety of people. Balko believes if all Americans would all make better choices about diet, exercise, and personal health the public wouldn’t pay for the consequences of individuals choices. Balko’s opinion is this is the wrong way to fight obesity.
This article that was published in June of 2004 in Time magazine and on appeared on ABC News became troubling for the government officials and their initiatives to end obesity. The initiatives included acts, such as prohibiting junk food in school vending machines, break areas, and cafeterias to promote high calorie food inaccessibility, as well as, placing more demanding regulations on food labels, and marketing and advertisements. Federal funding also began to support new bike trails and sidewalks to encourage exercise regimens. They also began prodding at the food industries to become more “responsible” for their products. Many politicians have already climbed aboard the bandwagon to end obesity; President Bush earmarked $200 million in his budget to end the vending option in public areas, Senate Joe Lieberman and Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown, among others, have called for a “fat tax” on high-calorie foods and currently, congress is considering law enforcement in restaurant business to have each menu item evaluated in a...

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