Government Control Over Public Food Choices in America

Introduction

"Obesity poses a greater threat to our national security" (Nestle 2011, p. 1). Along with other major health conditions such as heart disease and diabetes, the rise in obesity is almost wholly explained by the rise in unhealthy junk foods within the typical American diet. Fast food companies often ignore the real needs of their consumers — namely health and well-being — opting instead for a path of lucrative profits. The government should implement programs to reduce the prevalence of fast food in America.

Background: Fast Food, Disease, and Industry Behavior

One of the worst consequences of the increase in fast food consumption is the corresponding rise in related diseases within American society. Since the beginning of fast food's dominance in the late 1940s, the fast food industry has been growing at an alarming rate. This growth has influenced several generations of Americans to eat less healthy food, as fast food alternatives became increasingly available. As the popularity of fast food increased, so did the risks associated with poor diets. Diabetes, obesity, and heart disease are now among the biggest killers in contemporary society, alongside tobacco and alcohol. The rise in obesity and its corresponding health conditions is directly linked to the increase of fatty and sugary foods within the typical American diet (Garcia et al., 2004). The more popular junk food becomes, the more dangerous it proves to be.

Yet most of the food companies responsible for this trend are clearly ignoring the warning signs. Rapid and uncontrolled growth has produced a desire for profit rather than concern for customer well-being. Research shows that "over the last three decades, fast food has infiltrated every nook and cranny of American society" (Schlosser, 2004, p. 3). In the year 2000 alone, Americans spent over $110 billion on fast, unhealthy foods (Schlosser, 2004). Poor dietary habits are a direct result of this saturation.

Additionally, advertising techniques and strategies have played a large role in how brazenly food companies pursue profit. McDonald's is now the world's most recognizable brand image (Schlosser, 2004). There is a clear trend of exploiting the most vulnerable populations within American society; high rates of junk food advertising are even found on educational television programs (Jacobson, 2007). Most of the more notorious companies have shown great resistance to change. Several major companies that produce healthier alternatives also own brand names of pure junk food marketed directly to children (Jacobson, 2007). Efforts toward reform have been shallow, doing little to curb the national epidemic. Consequently, advocates outside the industry have called for external government intervention. Junk food politics has become a controversial subject, riddled with partisan biases. As Nestle (2011, p. 1) observes, "junk food and obesity are key indicators of political divisions in our society." Yet many people continue to advocate for some form of intervention.

Children and the Case for Government Intervention

Proponents of government intervention often focus on the betterment of vulnerable demographics, particularly children. Junk foods are present nearly everywhere children spend their time, even in schools, where there is little oversight over what America's children are eating. As Jacobson (2007, p. 2) notes, "Millions of kids are eating white bread instead of whole grain, drinking soda pop instead of water, and consuming far more calories, sodium, sugar, and saturated trans fat than they should." This is creating an environment in which children today may become the first generation to have shorter life expectancies than their parents (Garcia et al., 2004). Childhood obesity has increased at an incredibly rapid rate over the past few decades. As more of America's children become overweight, their futures grow grimmer with respect to conditions like diabetes and heart disease. Today, 13% of children ages 6 to 11 are obese, with an even higher rate among older children (Garcia et al., 2004).

Such numbers are alarming. Many of the nation's schools earn substantial profits — hundreds of thousands of dollars annually — by allowing junk food and soda vending machines on their campuses. According to the American Alliance for Health (2002), one school district brought in over $350,000 in revenue from vending machines each year. Unethical advertising is also making food companies a notorious part of the problem. Such companies have targeted children since the earliest stages of the fast food industry's development (Schlosser, 2004). Children are being encouraged to eat unhealthy foods more aggressively than ever before (Jacobson, 2002). During the twentieth century, children came to be seen as a developing demographic with enormous consumer power, and many food companies have exploited this reality to their advantage (Schor, 2004). Combating such advertising is difficult for governments, but necessary. Research shows that local and state regulations on junk food often fail without the broader support of federal action and legislation (American Alliance for Health, 2002). There are examples of school districts being unable to fully enforce strict state regulations on the presence of junk foods in schools (American Alliance for Health, 2002). Success has been very limited, and federal assistance is needed.

Government intervention thus far has been limited but not without results. A variety of programs funded by government organizations aim to educate and encourage children to live healthier lives. Local, state, and county governments have also taken some action by banning the sale of junk foods in schools. Community-oriented programs demonstrate that government sponsorship can strengthen local efforts. One such program is Let's Move, led by First Lady Michelle Obama. The program is "dedicated to solving the problem of obesity within a generation" (Let's Move, 2011, p. 1). It aims to reduce obesity rates by at least 5% within twenty years by improving healthy options for children and families, advocating greater physical activity, and presenting the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award (PALA) to children who commit to increased weekly exercise. Such efforts have proven successful in disseminating health information.

Conclusion

It is clear that despite opposition, the government needs to step in and curb the growing problem. Obesity is only getting worse, and government action can help save millions from unnecessary suffering. As tensions in this debate continue to rise, only time will tell what the future holds — but the evidence strongly suggests that federal intervention is both warranted and overdue.

References

American Alliance for Health. (2002). Texas restricts junk food sales in schools. The Journal of Physical Education, 73(6), 18–19.

Garcia, Robert, Flores, Erica S., & Chang, Sophia Mei-ling. (2004). Thirteenth annual symposium on contemporary urban challenges: Urban equity. Fordham University School of Law. Fordham Urban Law Journal, 31, 1267.

Jacobson, Michael F. (2007). As the junk food world turns. Nutritional Action Healthletter, 34(5), 2–3.

Lazarus, David. (2011). Tax junk food: Fight obesity one penny at a time. The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 2, 2011 from http://articles.latimes.com/2011/feb/25/business/la-fi-lazarus-20110225

Let's Move. (2011). Programs and resources. About Let's Move. Retrieved February 28, 2011 from http://www.letsmove.gov/programsresources.php

Nestle, Marion. (2011). Culture wars: How junk food and obesity became politicized. The Atlantic. Retrieved February 28, 2011 from http://www.theatlantic.com/food/archive/2010/12/culture-wars-how-junk-food-and-obesity-became-politicized/67841/

Schlosser, Eric. (2001). The Dark Side of the All-American Meal. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Schor, Juliet. (2004). Born to Buy: The Commercialized Child and the New Consumer Culture. Simon and Schuster.

Violand, Adam. (2008). 10 things the food industry doesn't want you to know. U.S. News. Retrieved February 28, 2011 from http://health.usnews.com/health-news/difitness/diet/articles/2008/10/17/10-things-the-food-industry-doesnt-want-you-to-know