Week 6 Prompt Post: Is Fat The Next Tobacco?

            Aware that obesity is becoming an issue that America is lobbying to address, I came across an article whose title alone captured my attention.  It begins by inquiring, “Is fat the next tobacco?” which seems like an extremely bold claim. The article then accuses companies of spitefully marketing unhealthy processed foods directly at vulnerable children. It recognizes that junk food is not addictive like tobacco, but the weight put on can have just as many detrimental affects. The author compares eating a Big Mac to smoking; noting that in both cases people are consciously doing something that is bad for them. After observing 300,000 deaths per year that are linked to obesity, the Surgeon General warned, “These conditions might soon cause as much preventable disease and death as smoking.” Another topic the article broaches is the potential lawsuits that the misleading advertisements could cause. With proper evidence associates these commercials with childhood diseases, there will be an entire movement against these companies as well.

            Responding to the argument made in this article, I agree with certain portions. I do not think that companies should prey on the adolescence in order to sell their products. It is almost appalling that Ronald McDonald is the second most recognized figure after Santa Claus.  Fast food companies should alter their foods by creating healthier alternatives that still taste just as good. However, I am skeptical about other areas of the article. Junk food cannot cause illnesses such as lung cancer, so I don’t consider it as dangerous. Tobacco is a highly addictive substance and monitoring the amount of fast food you consume is relatively easy. I agree that Americans should be more mindful of what they put into their bodies, but one happy meal is not necessarily going to lead someone down a path of destruction. 

Article:http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2003/02/03/336442/index.htmSources:

Digital image. Http://bigfootchildhavediabetes.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/ronald-mcdonald1.jpg. N.p., n.d. Web.

Parloff, Roger. "Is Fat The Next Tobacco? For Big Food, the Supersizing of America Is Becoming a Big Headache." CNNMoney. Cable News Network, 03 Feb. 2003. Web. 23 Feb. 2014.