The Obesity Hunger Paradox By Sam Dolnick

The first two articles discuss the hunger-obesity paradox by using statistics, which quantifies the severity of increasing obesity rates. By doing so, the authors of the first articles identify the problem and conclude that the ineffectiveness of federal food assistance and overpriced foods lead to hunger, in which people then rely on cheaper and easier to access, calorie dense foods, and ultimately results in the increase of obesity rates among low-income populations. Since the first two articles only merely hint at the social justice issues of this academic discourse, the authors of the remaining three articles provide an in-depth discussion on the social injustices behind food deserts and re-introduce the necessary emotion and passion that hopefully moves readers to not let it become stagnant. In fact, their use of pathos intensifies the academic conversation by driving readers to understand the existing implications of the prevailing issue and of the possible implications if allowed to continue. In general, the different perspectives and contributions from all the authors, in regards to the hunger-obesity paradox, gives a small insight into the larger, more complex issue and how a comprehensive discourse is critical when attempting to arise to

Obesity is defined as a medical condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to the extent that it may have an adverse effect on health, leading to reduce life expectancy and/or increased health problems. “The problem of obesity is increasing in the United States. Understanding the impact of social inequalities on health has become a public health priority in the new millennium. Social, political, and economic factors now are acknowledged to be "fundamental" causes of disease that affect behavior, beliefs, and biology.” (Goodman, 2003)  In the United States today, obesity has become an enormous problem. In the last 3 decades, the number of people overweight has increased dramatically. Obesity has not always been seen as a medical

Obesity has been a growing problem in the U.S. for more than a decade. Various reasons and theories are thrown around as to the cause of this severe problem by psychologists, dietitians, and professors trying to pinpoint a single cause. Due to America’s vast supply of resources, luxurious living standards, and moral of the country, there is no one cause for obesity contrary to advertisements offering a quick-fix drug. America’s obesity problem is rooted much deeper than just cheap fast food and poor choices. Medical conditions, influence of genes, unhealthy lifestyles, and mental illnesses are all contributors towards obesity in any one person. Obesity is a serious problem in America with multiple contributors and one lone solution

Obesity in America is a continually growing problem and even worse our own children are sharing in this problem. A commentary in the Washington Times reports that sixty million Americans are obese. What really is the meaning of obese? Obese is having a body mass index of thirty percent or more. In recent years, the percentage of obese Americans has risen. In the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics, the percentage of obese Americans rose from 22.9 in 1984-1994 to 32.2 in 2003 and 2004. The study also says if you throw in the number of "over weight" Americans (body mass index of 25 to 29.9) the total jumps to 66.3

When it comes to the topic of obesity, most will readily agree that it is a growing dilemma. This argument has many writers bringing different responses. Two explanations are debated in What You Eat is Your Business by Radley Balko and Don’t Blame the Eater by David Zinczenko. Both pieces create a good stance on the topic of obesity. Balko’s piece, however, has a better all around flow, organization and consistency.

America, like any other country, has its assortment of problems: immigration, debt, or foreign affairs but one issue that is rather hard to overlook, literally, its obesity epidemic. The extra pounds have become a sight all too common in America’s society, “men are now on average seventeen pounds heavier than they were in the late seventies, and for women that figure is even higher: nineteen pounds.” (Kolbert). Obesity does not just affect adults in this way either, the kid population has been getting bigger, according to the numbers on a scale “the proportion of overweight children, age six to eleven, has more than doubled, while the proportion of overweight adolescents, age twelve to nineteen, has more than tripled.” (Kolbert). This issue has been a major concern to doctors and scientists for decades and in recent years, has even has the American Medical Association recognizing obesity to be a disease (Pollack). That is a highly debatable statement because obesity itself is a preventable lifestyle. Obesity is avoidable and curable to all (or at least most) of its sufferers. For some citizens, obesity is not a choice, rather genetics, but for the majority of the population, obesity is caused by an unhealthy diet and lazy lifestyle, and for these certain individuals, through a lot of work and discipline, the return to a healthy lifestyle is not as impossible as it may appear.

Our culture uses health and wellness with food to divide groups as well. Julier ("The Political Economy of Obesity: The Fat Pay All") discusses how obesity vilifies certain groups and how poverty and obesity have a function in society, serving the industry and the economy. Julier says rhar obesity vilifies women, the poor, and people of color, groups of people that are already marginalized, and the stress of life as a marginalized group can lead to a disordered relationship with food. Americans are incredibly intolerant of individuals who have let themselves go, and get even angrier when those individuals don't do anything about it to get to the socially accepted normal: skinny (Mead "Why Do We Overeat?"). Julier ("The Political Economy of Obesity: The Fat Pay All") gives 13 political, economic, and cultural functions of poverty and obesity, one of them being the idea that when fatness is related to irresponsible behavior, those who aren't fat and stick to the socially constructed normal of thin are able to maintain and create public agenda to control and vilify the obese and overweight.

As seen during the eighteenth century, the presence of excess body fat was envied and very rare; seen only in kings, the rich, and the wealthy as a sign of power and prosperity. Once food shortage was no longer relevant, the 20th century re-assessed this “sign of power” as a sign of ill health, and was then documented in medical practices as the chronic disease known as obesity. As we look at the roots of obesity today, causes of the disease cannot be attributed to a single origin. However, there are many daily influences that justify our nations expanding waistlines; the most obvious being an unhealthy diet. The role of food in our society has altered the way Americans perceive nutrition. Meal times are advertised as social events; an instance of mindless eating, with little awareness on stopping when you’re full, and overeating as a result. Portion sizes are much larger than nutritionally necessary, and lack in substantial protein, causing you to

Obesity has become an epidemic in the United States with wide-reaching effects. In “America’s War on the Overweight” by Kate Dailey and Abby Ellin, they discuss the prejudice encountered by people in America, and how it’s difficult for most people to fight against obesity and not the obese. Then in “The Cooking Animal” by Michael Pollan, he describes the rapid decline of home-cooked meals. Furthermore, he writes how the more time a nation devotes to food preparation at home, the lower the rate of obesity. Finally, “The Problem of Childhood Obesity” by Ginger Beebe and Joe Thompson, explains the strides that Arkansas has taken to fight the epidemic of obesity by coordinating school health and cooperative education. All three articles target

In the American culture, obesity is seen as a bodily abnormality and deviance that should be corrected. Obesity has indeed become one of the most stigmatizing bodily characteristics in our culture (Brink, 1994). In the Western culture, thinness does not just mean the size of the

Picture this; a child is looking in the mirror. Ugly, worthless, disgusting, are the words that go through their mind as they look at their reflection. They struggle to comprehend their situation, while they long to look like their healthy, thin peers at school or the athletes and models they are exposed to day in and day out on television. For many our fellow American citizens, this is the reality they have to live with. This is the reality they are forced to deal with. Although obesity can be viewed as a user error, it is the the fault of our companies we trust to provide for our families that instead cheat, lie, and deceive in order to keep our money flowing through their wallets. For generations, across the world, we have relied on our

Obesity has caused great dilemma in America. It was known as an adult disease. “Over two thirds of adults are over weight or obese.”(Obesity, Jerry R Ballenttne) these numbers are increasing rapidly. Obesity is not just a appearance

Louise Townend in her research concerning the moralizing of obesity addresses the issue across a wide spectrum of categories such as economic, health and social policy. She enumerates the different social contexts of the obesity debate and begins by stating that obesity is no longer a trouble but an epidemic which is now a “significant issue for health and social policy, with major ramifications for general economic productivity across the globe”. (Townend) 2009: 3. She points out obesity is often associated with stigma such as laziness, dirtiness, illness and poverty (Townend, 2009). This connects the problem of obesity with the history of poverty and creates the question of why is laziness connected to obesity? And why does that consequently turn into poverty.

Obesity has increased in North American society (especially in the states). The United States has even been called an overweight nation. About 20% to 30% of American adults are now considered obese. Even though some Americans are in the healthy category, others enter the underweight, overweight, and even obese categories. Not only is obesity unhealthy, but it is also considered unacceptable. People have been labeled and made fun of their entire lives do to obesity. For some this is an uncontrollable way of life. An example of this are shirts which say "No Fat Chicks", showing that overweight people are unacceptable and undesirable. People are made fun of, often never to regain full acceptance.

While for many feel that obesity is a personal and must be fought in secret with no involvement of anyone else, many will disagree with that because obesity affects every tax payer and impair a community as a whole. Obesity is a big problem here in my America and it has to be a matter of public discussion. This fight can be done through a lot of places, churches, physician offices, dietary and nutrition offices this fight cannot be done by individual, people that are obesity need the public to pitch and help them in how to lose weight and start a healthy life style. This paper will address why and why not obesity is considered an epidemic, and address why the fight against obesity should be a public discussion and concerned.