Obesity has become a real problem in countries around the globe, in America especially. Corpulence, when seen so widespread, is an epidemic and it is one that needs to be rigorously helped. Soda is a large part of Americans’ lives which is unfortunate knowing what it can do to you. These laws to be passed in New York that bar the use of food stamps for excessively sugary beverages are hopefully a step in that direction. However, soda is not the only cause for people’s rotundness. Many factors including fast foods, junk foods, and the egregious amounts of sugar in too many products also contribute to this sweeping problem. So my question is this: why stop at sodas? New York could really set a precedent if they bar the use of food stamps for
As an attempt to reduce the rising obesity and obesity-related disease rates, Mayor Bloomberg of New York City has proposed a ban on soft drinks larger than 16 oz. According to an infographic created by the Huffington Post, extra large soft drinks have accounted for an average of 301 extra calories in people’s diets across the US. Although measures need to be put into place to improve the unhealthy diets and lifestyles of many Americans, a ban on large soft drinks is not the solution. The ban on soda would be an ineffective attempt at reducing obesity and obesity-related diseases, as well as an infringement of civil liberties and an attack on businesses in New York City.
Coke or Pepsi? Diet or regular? These are questions that many of us hear on a regular basis when making choices about what we want to drink. But if a new law has its way this variety of drink choice could be no more, which is largely because soda and sugary beverages are contributing to the staggering increase in obesity rates in recent years in the United States. Obesity is defined as an abnormal accumulation of body fat that is usually 20% or more over an individual’s ideal body weight for their specific height, age and gender (Free Medical Dictionary 2007). Body weight and obesity risk are a result of genes, metabolism, behavior, environment, culture and socioeconomic status, wherein behavior and environment play two of the largest roles (University of Drexel 2015). People make decisions based on their environment or community which influence their health decisions and due to this it is essential to create environments that make is easier for people to engage in physical activity and eat a healthy diet (University of Drexel 2015). This is a problem that is particularly persistent in low-income populations causing them to suffer higher rates of obesity and the adverse health consequences that follow as a result of these poor diets. This is due in large part to their poor economic state but also their environment because they are surrounded by people that are in similar situations and dealing
In New York City the mayor is trying to ban sugary sodas to decrease the amount of obesity. Two-thirds of adults in New York are overweight, 40% of elementary and middle school students fight obesity. Is this because of the intake of sugary sodas or is it the lack of self control? "Liz Berman, the coalition's chairwoman" states "We are smart enough to make our own decision about what to eat and drink."
According to the WHO (World Health Organization) the health of the people in the United States has not always been the greatest. With an obesity rate of 33.9 percent, which translates into over 106 million obese Americans, this has caused many problems to arise and impact the daily lives of Americans. Many have tried to help in regards to this issue by improving school foods or attempting to encourage more physical activity. Unfortunately, these may have helped but only in a small scale. However, a fellow at the Union of Concerned Scientists, Mark Bittman believes that he may have a definitive solution. On May 25, 2016, in “Taxing Sugar to Fund a City” New York Times food journalist, Mark Bittman, by using the taxing of sugary beverages in Philadelphia - America’s poorest big city - earnestly
Do you think Soda Pop is a caring/helpful person for others? Well I think Sodapop is because he is considerate for everybody. Soda pop is in a gang in the Outsiders and they are a group of teenagers that are that have low income. Soda pop sent a letter to Ponyboy and half of his paycheck when they ran away to hide, then He took of Ponyboy's shoes And socks when Ponyboy passed out on the bed and Sodapop didn't even do it to himself, then he kept Ponyboy,Deli and himself together .
The article is about banning the use of food stamps to buy sugary drinks. Hence, the major Michael R. Bloomberg acquired the permission to bar the purchase of sodas using food stamps. Nevertheless, according the city statistic, I found that 40% of children from kindergarten to a 8 grade students are obese and overweight. This is a terrifying problem, but the thing the surprised me the most is that it only affecting communities with low-income. In addition, poor neighborhoods are the one whom have higher rate of obesity and the development of diabetes. On the other hand, I have to agree with the article that banning the use of food stamps to buy sodas will have dramatic change upon New Yorkers citizens. In fact, To address this problem
Obesity and diet related disease like diabetes are one of the biggest challenges today in America. The situation continues to worsen every day; obesity becomes a serious health crisis. Cities like Philadelphia and Berkeley, California, are sounding the bell of danger by imposing a tax on the consumption of soda and sugary beverages to cutback sugar consumption; which is a major contributor to the obesity epidemic. Some people say that tax on soda and sugary drinks aren’t beneficial to society and don’t generate any positive effect on public health. Others say that it is a powerful weapon against the obesity epidemic invading the American population. I agree with the later. Taxes on sugary
Michael Bloomberg, New York City’s mayor, believes that the way to do that is to have the government step in. He brought up this ban to prevent the “obesity epidemic” from worsening in New York, as he believes it as his obligation to keep the people “from harming themselves” (Tobin, galesgroup.com). He hopes that the ban will spread throughout the rest of the country to diminish the extra weight carried on American ground. But whether or not soda causes people to gain weight, is beside the point in this situation, because what the mayor does not understand is that it is still taking basic rights of the people away. People also claim that drinking this large amount of soda is no better than smoking, something the government can prohibit, so the mayor has a right to the ban because sugary beverages are dangerous to public health, just as are drinking and smoking (Tobin, galegroup.com). However, consuming pop is dangerous to the individual doing it, but only to the individual, whereas smoking around others is harmful to them, too, and driving drunk is dangerous to other drivers and pedestrians, hence “public safety”. Drinking too much sugar is not a concern to public safety because it does not refer to the public being in danger of another person’s actions. But the mayor uses a different definition to make it his excuse. Another argument of the backers for the act, argue the significance of the obesity problem. As of 2012, sixteen percent of America’s most urgent health problems were obesity (Diet, infobaselearning.com). Nevertheless, even though obesity is a growing problem and it is not going to go away on its own, this is not the way to go about lessening the situation. These complications are not going to get simpler without giving attention to the other factors of being
There must be a balance between “effectiveness and political acceptability” when it comes to making a positive impact that may affect the social norms of our society (Wiley, 2014). There have been policies made in the recent past by the government that are similar to the soda ban presented by Michael Bloomberg. A great example would be how the government has recently begun mandating the food served to students in schools. The government had to step in due to the obesity of more than a third of Americans as well as the growing prevalence of Type 2 diabetes (Leonard, 2015). These symptoms are diagnosed from poor eating habits and lack of exercise, which are actually causing the cost of treatment to rise. This rise caused the government to intervene and mandate what younger children are eating so it may put a stop to the increasing health issues in the United
New York has been taking out large and jumbo soda from New York City restaurant, stadiums and Movie Theater, because of health board. Why take out the big soda if people don't want to go back and buy another one. So the government has been deciding to make them smaller and Barclays Center has been selling small soda drinks. One reason this is bad because nobody wants to wait in line to get a soda again, soda is expensive. I think they should sell large soda drinks.
Whether we are male, female, white, black, republican or democrat, the government will weave its way into the life of the citizen. Today, the government is beginning to grow exponentially, and are now able to control our basic rights and freedoms, it can even regulate what we eat. These rights go from what size of soda we drink to whether we can eat fatty foods. The government should remain out of what citizens can eat because it limits our choices and freedoms and will put many businesses out of business.
Giving student access to eat and drink soda in campus will not only hurt the way students need to eat but it will also hurt our environment.Many students love to eat candy and drink soda but if we take action by banning candy and soda the environment would not look messy by the rappers.Take action now because later when students get comfortable with bringing candy and soda, there are going to be students selling the items to other students.Letting the students eat candy and soda is practically saying that the school and administration don’t care about your weight.It's like saying if the government doesn't care about your weight limits.Eating things like that are
With a growing epidemic of obesity in America, some states and lawmakers have resorted to taking unconventional measures in order to counter the growing issue. Many legislators are debating the effectiveness of a “fat tax” would be on limiting the consumption of soda, high fat foods, and high sugar foods, and ultimately reducing the rate of morbidity and mortality due to obesity. The idea is that long term consumption of high fat, high sugar foods and drinks lead to many health problems, so making them more expensive and less accessible should decrease the health issues related to their consumption.
Many people have had that moment where they have stared at themselves in the mirror and felt self-conscious about their appearance or felt that they needed to change something about themselves to feel socially accepted. Physical appearance tends to influence many children, teenagers, and adults in their eating habits. More than that people have to realize that obesity does not only impact their physical appearance, but it is a health hazard. Between 1977 and 2000 Americans have doubled their intake of sugar, which has led to a global epidemic of obesity. The food industry is good at selling half-truths since they are making America an “obesogenic” environment. The sugar industry and large food companies are the prime culprits behind America’s obesity and diabetes epidemic. According to former President Bill Clinton, “We’ve got to change the way we produce and consume food.” Instead, we’re leading the way on producing the world’s deadliest diet and exporting it to other countries. Healthy-eating activist want the government to tax sugary sodas, mandate expanded nutrition labels and restrict portion sizes (Kiener, Robert). To increase the amount of healthy people in this country, we need to take small steps. Therefore, the government should start by regulating foods with high sugar content.
Anyone who knows me personally, knows I drink a lot of soda. When I go to restaurant the first thing I ask for is a Dr. Pepper. When I’m having a bad day the first thing I do to try and make it better is grab a can of soda. Drinking soda is bad habit of mine, and I’m well aware of it. It’s just my drinking soda isn’t that bad, it could be a lot worse. Nothing brings me more comfort on a stressful day as the first bubbly drink of an ice cold Dr. Pepper. This is what I thought before the start of spring semester my junior year of college. Little did I know that I would be taking a class that require I give it up.