Obesity: Personal Responsibility or Blame Food Companies?

Both are responsible. We should not be shoveling McDonald's down our throat, but darn it, it would be easier not to if big ag hadn't made our veggies taste yukky. If you're not lucky enough to have a farmer's market, it can be tough to find that fruits and vegetables that have flavor.

Why do people always say that fast food is low cost? It isn't. It would cost a lot of money to have three fast food meals in a day, even if it wasn't a complete "combo" meal or anything, you can't eat fast food for as cheap as grocery store food (unless you're buying all natural/organic everything at the grocery store). I wouldn't be able to afford to eat out all the time.

The food a person eats completely the responcibilty of the consumer other than children. Who drives up to the window? Who asks specifically for a double cheeseburger with mayo, hold the ketchup? Who willingly lifts the burger to his mouth, manually chews, and swallows? I don't see why smokers think they have the right to sue the tobacco industry either (at least not anymore). It basically says, "this product is addictive and will slowly kill you" right on the box. If you started after that warning appeared, you were asking for it.

Interesting. [sarcasm]I think we should blame everyone else but ourselves... [/sarcasm]

I just came back from a 2 week trip from overseas. What we are missing are small mom & pop grocery stores, open markets, and such. Where I was people picked up vegetables for the day, not for a month. The scent of fresh fruits and vegetables was everywhere! Large grocery stores made it easy. We like it easy. We want it easy. We demand it fast.

Why do you think we have Sam's, Costco, BJ's, etc?

We complain when the drive through takes longer then usual. Do we think companies come up with ideas to reduce the time because we didn't suggest it, one way or an other? Do business invest in things that is not demanded by the customers?

It's all us baby! It's all us. We made our 1-minute drive through, where they put the sugar and cream in it. They might even pre-chew it for us... :-(

Personally, I think it is the person's responsibility. Fast food is so popular now because it is quick and easy to get and consume. You don't need to spend 4 hours in the kitchen cooking a turkey dinner, instead you can order a pizza from Pizza Hut. This I believe, is why the fast food industry and succeeded.

I believe that the way to eat healthier is to have it available to you easier. When buying a house, consider the proximity of the nearest farmer's market. I'm not sure how, but we need to make healthy food so easy to obtain, that the health benefits will outweigh the ease of Fast food.

I work for a large food company that produces fried appetizers for fast food/fast casual/retail stores. Mostly, it's things like mozzarella sticks, fried jalapeno poppers, onion rings, etc. As a company, we definitely are looking to increase sales, but the execs aren't stupid...they KNOW people are trying to be health conscious, so the marketing trend is to convince the public that these treats are OK in moderation. They are also trying to come up with healthier products that aren't deep-fried and that are made with different ingredients (ie, sweet potato fries vs. regular ones).

It's definitely the individual's responsibility to learn how to eat properly. If anything, I should be a prime candidate for being an overconsumer of the products we sell because I have to test them for QA, plus I get all the free product I want. Does that mean I eat them? Nope. I'm not even tempted...I know they're bad for me, so I don't eat them. It's not brain surgery or anything. I don't think it's that difficult to make the connection that deep-fried=unhealthy

Absolutely; let's stop wasting our time blaming and take the time to come up with out own solutions to our health>

I have been very overweight most of my life. Whose fault is that? Mine and mine alone. I cringe when I see obese people blame food companies for giving them what they want. If we wanted fast good food they would give it to us. To me its the same as with a computer. Junk in, junk out. If we sat down and took responsibility for our hand to mouth disease maybe we could see the changes we do desire and the food companies could focus on other things

Our responsibility. As said, nobody's putting guns against our heads and force us to eat fast food. What IS a bother to me, though, and where I'd like to see more responsibility taken, is in offering at least a coupe of better alternatives--because at least in France, if a McDonald's is the only alternative you have at a given moment, you're not really worse off eating the burger than the so-called 'healthy' salad which is 1) MUCH more expensive, and 2) seriously crappy and disgusting, not to mention laden with stuff which names I can't pronounce anyway. :|

It's above all a matter of self-discipline. We should be in control of our body needs and not desires. That can only be done through education and debates. People should understand that their lives could be in danger if they do not respect the real needs.

Understanding why we can become fat is easy (check out the website www.tips-4-success.com ). Once you understand that, it all makes sense.
Then, beyond the diets, it becomes a matter of self-improvement and to learn self-control.

I think that it is personal responsibility but I also think we need better nutritional education for kids.

Where the responsibility lies is a mute point. We, as a society, need some help! We are losing this fight.

Good luck! California passed Proposition 99 in California back in 1988, which put a 25 cent sales tax on snack/junk food. It ultimately failed because it became a regulation nightmare. Who can decide what is healthy anyway? I don't want some regulatory agency deciding what is right. It didn't work in the ninth largest economy on the planet,(California, or whatever it was at the time) so take heed!

Or maybe, we can get the government involved and have a yearly weigh-in. We could have all our citizens go to a weigh station, and for the overweight and obese, we could instill a tax penalty they would pay on April 15th. Perhaps the overweight could get the tax penalty credited by joining a “weight camp.” For those that are in control of their physique, they would be issued a credit or a refund.

If you want to live life to the fullest, that means getting healthy so your body can function to its highest potential no?

The food industry is a potential obstacle in that endeavor. Who is to blame or responsible is not really going to help you with the goal is it?

At least for you, right here and now...

If fast food is a problem for you, a better question might be -- How can I change to a healthy diet and thereby avoid the pitfalls of fast food?

Ultimately, whoever is to blame, we have to deal with the currently reality. Wishing it wasn't there or blaming them for your problem won't actually achieve much.

Focusing on what you want to happen is a better route.

I reckon education is generally better than legislation. Give folks the real truth and the tools to make effective changes and see what happens.

We need to make the real cause and effects of lifestyle choices vivid in the public consciousness. We tend to think of health in such abstract terms... because we don't pay for our health mistakes straight away.

I think our elected leaders are really failing us in terms of health education -- public awareness and especially in terms of funding solid science.

Bottom line: It's supply and demand. When we stop consuming drugs and fast food, the "bad guys" will disappear, as if by magic :-)

~Mike

At this point, I don't think there is anyone in the US aside from children who doesn't understand that eating a ton of fatty fried fast food is bad for you. Most people are now learning that fast food salads and deli sandwiches aren't exactly what you'd call health food. Dozens of articles, ad campaigns, and health classes have reminded us that we should eat fats, sugars, and so on in moderation while eating plenty of healthy, unprocessed, natural foods.

If the message has not sunk in, that's not the fault of McDonald's or Hershey, it's the fault of the consumer. These corporations are out to make a buck, and if people want to buy junk food, they are going to sell junk food. Consequently, they are going to advertise junk food. If people rose up and unanimously demanded healthy foods, I guarantee you that corporations would listen...because they want to make money.

It is entirely possible to tune out the adverts and to make informed decisions about food, but it requires thinking critically about what you eat and exercising willpower.