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Essay / Critical Analysis of the Article What you eat is your business
In recent years, obesity has become the main concern of the government and health industries due to its rapid growth in modern society . In "What You Eat Is Your Business," Radley Balko opposes government initiatives to combat obesity, arguing that the government uses inaccurate forms of action to overcome the problem. Balko further states that to overcome this problem, it is crucial for the government to establish the importance of taking responsibility for the individual lifestyle one chooses to follow and holding them accountable for their own personal health. Although the article is about using illogical fallacies Balko was able to make a very strong argument, I agree with what Balko mentions in the article because the government should hold individuals accountable for the decisions they make in their personal life, their personal problems. should not be a concern to the general public and the government should treat all individuals equally in the system. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why violent video games should not be banned”? Get the original essay In Balko's argument, he mentions ineffective forms of action to combat obesity, government involvement in the fight was a major concern. Balko lists various initiatives taken by the government to help solve the problem, he mentions how the government "...bans junk food in school vending machines, federal funding for new bike lanes and sidewalks, stricter labels on food products…” however, Balko asserts that these Imran 4 initiatives are not beneficial (Balko 651). The requirement to have more labels on food products may not be considered the best alternative, in an article written by David Zinczenko he mentions how food labels are of no use because "there are no calorie information tables on fast food packages, like there are on grocery products" (Zinczenko 648), and that even if there were labels on foods, they could be misleading. He further mentions that "President Bush has earmarked $200 million in his budget for anti-obesity measures." (Zinczenko 651) The way the government uses money is incorrect because all they do is control and limit the different foods available to the public. The government is foolishly using this money simply to restrict the consumption of certain foods, restrictions are not an insufficient means of action to end the problem. In fact, rather than resorting to manipulation to limit food options, they should advise the public to take responsibility for their own health. The money set aside for the fight against obesity can be put to better use, the government could also consider healthier options to make them more accessible and affordable for the public. Additionally, the government could use these funds to raise awareness among the general public about the importance of maintaining a healthier lifestyle. When issues arise that affect the public, it is important for all individuals to come together and fight against the issue. However, when the issue at hand concerns obesity, unity may not benefit all members of the public but rather only those who are affected. Balko mentions how "...well-being, fitness and health status are increasingly seen as 'public health' issues, rather than.