Does Healthy Food Prevent Obesity?

¶ … Business of Obesity Obesity is big business according to Ashley Matuszak. A recent article in the New York Times revealed that 34% of American adults and 17% of American children are currently obese. This is twice as many adults, and three times as many children than just 20 years ago. Despite all the information available on the negative effects of poor eating habits the number of obese people continues to climb.

Matuszak contends that this development has led many major corporations to target overweight people, urging them to buy such things as workout DVDs, pre-packaged frozen dinners, and gym memberships, creating a new and lucrative market they do not want to lose. Another corporate culprit profiting from and some feel responsible for the rapid rise in obesity is the fast food industry. Over this same period, the number of fast food restaurants more than doubled.

Facing fierce competition for customer loyalty, fast food chains such as McDonalds, Burger King and Wendy's have promoted their over-sized burgers, extra-large servings for fries, and buckets of soda, all at low prices. Busy and cash-strapped families increasingly rely on take-out food for family dinners, and regular consumption of over-sized portions of fatty foods can lead to widespread obesity. I agree with Matuszak that obesity is a problem that doesn't seem to go away. It is ironic that corporate America is profiting by killing its customers.

While the exercise and diet industries are making huge profits helping people to lose weight, the fast food industry is making huge profits selling foods that make people fat. There is plenty of information available to confirm that a healthy diet will prolong your life. It amazes me that people are given choices every day, and many of them do not listen to what the experts are telling them about the consequences of poor eating habits. Health care costs of treating obesity related illnesses continue to climb.

People need to have more self-control. I think it is time for the government to step in and create policies and regulations to control.