Maggie Pfaff EN 102 Summary/Response Essay 5 February 2019 Fast-Food is to Blame Obesity is on the rise. “According to the most recent National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), 18.5% of children and nearly 40% of adults had obesity in 2015–2016. These are the highest rates ever documented by NHANES” ("National Obesity Rates & Trends”). David Zinczenko, editor-in-chief of Men’s Health magazine, further discusses this issue in his essay “Don’t Blame the Eater.” He uses personal narratives to support his argument that fast food is the leading cause of obesity. Zinczenko also argues that the fast-food industry is to blame for the rise of obesity in American society; he correctly affirms that fast food is more accessible than nutritious food, that fast-food companies falsely advertise their products, and that fast food causes an increase in diabetes. In Zinczenko’s essay “Don’t Blame the Eater,” he argues that the fast-food industry misleads customers, resulting in an increase of obesity, specifically in children. He begins his essay with an anecdote from his early childhood, describing that he was once a heavy-set child before joining the military and losing his excess weight. Unfortunately, not all children are so lucky and Zinczenko goes on to say, “They’ve [children] crossed under the golden arches to a likely fate of lifetime obesity” (392). Fast-food companies are targeting their advertisements toward the youth, which has resulted in a higher percentage of obese children. It is because of this that Zinczenko later claims, “And I’d say the industry is vulnerable” (393). He believes that the recent lawsuits involving teenagers and fast-food companies will continue to increase due to companies’ indistinct marketing strategies. Zinczenko believes that a huge factor in the rise of obesity is accessibility of healthy food. Zinczenko makes this clear when he suggests, “Drive down any thoroughfare in America, and I guarantee you’ll see one of our country’s more than 13,000 McDonald’s restaurants. Now, drive back up the block and try to find someplace to buy a grapefruit” (392). As Americans, fast food is more accessible than healthy, nutritious food. For example, my mother is highly allergic to both dairy and gluten; when my family goes on a trip, it is difficult for her to find food to eat. Even in our rural town, dairy- and gluten-free options are limited. However, there are multiple fast-food restaurants lining the main road. People eat fast food because it is not only cheap, but it is convenient. Zinczenko also believes that fast-food companies do a tremendous job of marketing their products in a way that targets children. Zinczenko comments, “Fast-food companies are marketing to children a product with proven health hazards and no warning labels” (393). I noticed that when my family eats out for dinner, many restaurants fail to inform customers of the amount of calories each item contains. No serving sizes are mentioned, and ingredient lists are nowhere to be found. As a customer, it is imperative to realize how poorly the actual product is being revealed. I do recognize that some fast-food companies are beginning to provide information regarding nutrition value, calorie count, and serving size, but many companies have yet to do so. If people want to refrain from becoming obese, they must be conscious of what they are putting into their bodies, which they are not capable of doing if the information is hidden from them. If one is not conscious about the food they eat, it could lead to lifelong issues. This is especially true in regards to diabetes. In his essay, Zinczenko asserts, “Before 1994, diabetes in children was generally caused by a genetic disorder . . .” (392). Now, the leading cause of diabetes is obesity! However, one must realize that Type 1 diabetes is generally something that people are diagnosed with as kids. On the contrary, Type 2 diabetes is more commonly found in overweight individuals; with the rise of obesity comes the rise Type 2 diabetes. Many times, Type 2 diabetes runs in families, and often enough, these families struggle with weight. These people must be more mindful of the food they eat and how often they exercise; therefore, people with diabetes must be aware of how much fast food they consume. In his essay “Don’t Blame the Eater,” Zinczenko attests to the fact that the fast-food industry is to blame for the rise of obesity; he correctly affirms that fast food is inexpensive and convenient, that fast-food companies do not adequately provide information such as ingredients, calorie count, and serving size, and that fast food leads to obesity, which causes an increase in Type 2 diabetes. Whenever people pull up to the drive-through window, they must ask themselves what exactly they are putting into their body. They must also realize that their choice could lead to poor health down the road and a continuing rise of obesity for our country.
Works Cited "National Obesity Rates & Trends." The State of Obesity, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, 2018, stateofobesity.org/obesity-rates- trends-overview/. Accessed 2 Feb. 2019. Zinczenko, David. "Don’t Blame the Eater" They Say I Say with Readings, by Gerald Graff et al., 2nd ed., New York, W.W. Norton and Company, 2012, pp. 391-93.