Obesity is not the individual's problem. The spark in obesity rates means that many people are forced into becoming obese.

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Bhatnagar

Arjun Bhatnagar

Ms. Tsakirellis

College Writing

1/19/12

Obesity is a problem, but not yours

It is about time that people stop feeling that they are to blame for their obesity. If obesity is affecting a little less than ⅓ of the entire adult population in the U.S. and a little less than ⅕ of the children then it is impossible to force the blame onto each individual. Such large numbers indicate that there must be other factors leading people into becoming obese. Living a healthy life does not mean eating healthy, it means eating in balanced portions with the right amount of exercise. The spark in obesity rates means that many people are forced into becoming obese. Malevolent factors are to blame for obesity in all ages in lieu of one’s individual choice.

Right now corporations enforce their own selfish schemes in order to raise profits at the cost of the people in this nation. Unhealthy food options become prevalent through corporate ploys and clever tactics. If the average diet of an individual in the U.S. could be examined then anyone could see, as Martin Binks states, “calorie-dense foods are far more readily available than ever before” (Motluk 563). Kids and adults alike devour far too much ‘junk food’, and it is not their fault because corporations make it possible to only see high calorie foods wherever an individual goes. Corporations place the food in front of the people’s eyes and they convince them to buy it too! Whenever a child sees a McDonald’s, Burger King, Pizza Hut, etc. their mouths begin to water. As Critser dutifully explains that, “corporations have spent billions teaching kids how to bug their parents into feeding them high-fat, high-sugar foods” (Critser 559). If there are brainwashed kids convincing their parents to buy them unhealthy food then it is safe (in this case) to say that it is neither the parents nor children’s fault. The real culprit becomes the corporations. Suppose people must eat high calorie foods in case of an emergency, if corporations are “gradually increasing in portion sizes” then people cannot eat with integrity (Motluk 563). They are eating more due to a corporate ploy and it is not their fault if corporations try to fatten them up. If McDonald’s can offer a “1550-calorie after school snack to kids” then how can anyone blame the individual for becoming obese (Motluk 563)? Nobody can blame the individual forced into giving up a healthy life style. 

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Adding some exercise to a balanced diet would be an ideal way to live. But within this country the fear of losing one’s job or doing well in school prevents people from finding time to live healthily. Adults must work to put food on their table and if some work more than one job then when can an individual find time to exercise? The economy creates an environment where exercise loses value to hard cash. Kids are equally forced to give up exercise in exchange for better grades. As Binks graciously puts it, “the average child doesn’t have any physical activity in school” (Motluk ...

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