Overweight and Unhealthy Food Choices

Overweight and Unhealthy Food Choices

At a time in the United States when obesity is an epidemic and the healthcare system is in crisis, it makes sense to consider the effect that one may have on the other. In particular, what can be done to influence overweight children and adults to make healthier food choices, thereby reducing their risk for medical complications that contribute to skyrocketing health insurance premiums? After all, it is a known fact that obesity is a major risk factor for diabetes, certain types of cancer, and heart health issues (staff, 2010). San Francisco has recently taken the forefront in this effort by voting in favor of a measure to ban toys in children's meals containing excessive fat, sugar, or calories, or lacking sufficient fruits and vegetables (Gordon, 2010). Although it is questionable whether this type of law will have any lasting impact on children's food choices, it is increasingly evident that something must be done by lawmakers to offset the obesity epidemic and its effect on the overloaded healthcare system.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2009 not one state in the union qualified for the Healthy People 2010 obesity rate target of 15% (staff, 2010). Also according to the CDC, poor food choices and a lack of physical activity are in competition with tobacco use as a leading cause of death in the United States (Osterweil, 2004). Even worse, recent statistics reveal that more than one-third of children over age 6 are obese or nearly obese (Fried & Simon, 2007). Many experts blame this epidemic on the predominance of soft drinks and "junk food" readily available nearly everywhere in the United States. In schools, this type of food is sometimes called "competitive" because it competes with healthier, federally funded meals that taxpayers shell out billions for each year. However, schools struggling to meet funding needs in other areas welcome the substantial revenue from the sale of soda and snack foods. (Fried & Simon, 2007) So what can be done to encourage healthier food choices in schools and elsewhere? In fact, the USDA and local school officials have been concerned about this issue for over forty years (Fried & Simon, 2007); the fact that the situation has only worsened means stricter measures must be enforced by lawmakers.

Some current measures being discussed or implemented include "snack taxes," bans on trans fats, bans on the sale of soft drinks in schools, increased education about healthy food choices, and even zoning regulations to control the overabundance of fast food restaurants in certain communities. (Spacht, 2007) in my opinion, these types of laws are necessary in a society plagued by obesity and the exorbitant healthcare costs resulting in part from obesity-related health problems. Already, nearly 17% of American healthcare costs are linked to obesity (Bhasha, 2010). Under the new health care reform legislation of 2010, employers are not allowed to deny insurance based on a person's weight; however, there's a caveat in which employees in wellness programs can be charged up to 50% more if their weight exceeds specified levels based on age, gender, and height (Downey, 2010). Whether government should be involved in increasing premiums based on lifestyle choices and weight, or penalizing and restricting "junk" food consumption, is highly controversial; I would argue that this involvement is necessary to control obesity among Americans and control healthcare costs. Furthermore, corporations producing unhealthy foods should be taxed, and healthy foods should be made available at more affordable prices. The sad fact is that poor people often cannot afford healthier options (Osterweil, 2004).