Topic > Critical Analysis of the Article What you eat is your business

In recent years, obesity has become a major concern for government and healthcare industries due to its rapid growth in modern society. In "What You Eat is Your Own Business," Radley Balko opposes government initiatives to combat obesity because he argues that the government is using imprecise forms of action to overcome the problem. Balko also says that to overcome this problem it is crucial that the government establishes the importance of taking responsibility for the individual lifestyle you choose to follow and holding them accountable for your personal health. Although the article consists of the use of illogical fallacies, Balko managed to make a significantly strong argument, I agree with what Balko mentions in the article, as the government should hold individuals accountable for the decisions they make in their personal life, a personal matter. it should not concern the general public and the government should treat all individuals equally in the system. We say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay In Balko's argument mentioning ineffective forms of action to combat obesity, government involvement in the fight was of primary importance. Balko lists various initiatives taken by the government to help solve the problem, mentions how the government “…bans junk food in school vending machines, federal funding for new bike lanes and sidewalks, more demanding labels on food products… ” however, Balko argues that these Imran 4 initiatives are not beneficial (Balko 651). The request for more labels on food products may not be considered the best alternative, in an article written by David Zinczenko, he mentions how food labels are useless since “there are no tables with calorie information on fast food packaging, so as there are on food products” (Zinczenko 648), and that even if there were food labels they could be misleading. It also mentions how “President Bush has allocated $200 million in his budget for anti-obesity measures.” (Zinczenko 651) the way the government uses money is incorrect since all it does is control and limit the different foods made available to the public. The government is foolishly using this money simply to limit the consumption of certain foods; restrictions are not a sufficient means of action to stop the problem. In fact, instead of using manipulation to limit food options, they should advise the public to take responsibility for their personal health. The money set aside for fighting obesity could be put to better use, the government could also consider healthier options to make more accessible and affordable for the public. Furthermore, the government could use such funding to educate the general public on the importance of maintaining a healthier lifestyle. When problems arise that affect the public, it is important for all individuals to come together and fight the problem. However, when the emerging problem involves obesity, the drive may not benefit all members of the public, but only those affected. Balko mentions how “…wellbeing, fitness, and condition have increasingly been considered matters of “public health,” rather than matters of personal responsibility” (Balko 652). The government has made the issue of obesity a public issue and it is wrong to do so as obesity involves personal health rather than public health. Even the.