Fast-Food Companies Or Personal Responsibility

The American Obesity Association says obesity is the second leading cause of preventable death in the United States. Preventable being the keyword here, but preventable by who? Who is responsible for the millions of overweight and obese Americans? Are the fast-food companies to blame or is it our own personal responsibility to take care of ourselves?

As of July 2008, in accordance to a menu-labeling ordinance, New York City chain restaurants are required to provide consumers with calorie content on fast-food menu boards and on printed menus, and if several lawmakers get it their way, the same menu board labeling system will be coming to California, as well as other states.

Councilman Jose Huizar introduced a proposal to post calorie information at fast-food and chain restaurants in Los Angeles county, and it was approved by a 14-0 vote by the Los Angeles City Council to draft a law that could be on the books as early as next month.

"We Aren't telling people what they can eat or banning products in the preparation of food," he said. "What we are doing is providing information to parents so they can think about what their kids are eating.

"We know for a fact that once people know how many calories are in something they are eating, that they eat less" (Source)

The causes of overweight and obesity according to the Surgeon General are:

• Overweight and obesity result from an imbalance involving excessive calorie consumption and/or inadequate physical activity.
  
• For each individual, body weight is the result of a combination of genetic, metabolic, behavioral, environmental, cultural, and socioeconomic influences.
  
• Behavioral and environmental factors are large contributors to overweight and obesity and provide the greatest opportunity for actions and interventions designed for prevention and treatment. (Source)

The last bullet point is where legislation against fast-food companies comes into play. Studies link frequent eating out with obesity and a higher intake of calories. Some lawmakers feel by forcing fast-food restaurants to disclose the calorie information on their menu boards, consumers will make more informed decisions on what to order, and thusly help reduce the nation's obesity epidemic.

So, who is responsible for the millions of overweight and obese Americans? Are the fast-food companies to blame or is it our own personal responsibility to take care of ourselves?

To me, it is a matter of personal responsibility, not only to myself but to my son to teach him the facts about eating too much fast-food. I do not need full disclosure of the calories in fast-food to know that it is not good for me and my family to be eating every day. Cruz and I have a weekly ritual of going to McDonald's before going to Gymboree, and he loves McDonald's food. He asks to go there almost every day, but regardless of his persistence, I only allow him to eat fast-food once a week.

And to Councilman Huizar, whom assumes parents do not already think about what their kids are eating, we are not as dumb as you might think. I know for a fact that parents care about their children's health.

A good compromise would be requiring fast-food restaurants to have nutritional information easily available at cash registers and upon request for those who want it. Placing the information on menu boards will only hurt the targeted businesses. Fast-food chains should not be punished for making food that consumers think tastes good and like to eat.

UPDATE: Poll Results 9/20/08 - 9/27/08

Who is responsible for obesity in America?
00% Fast-food companies
25% Personal responsibility
75% A little of both
00% Neither
00% Undecided

Should Fast-food restaurants be required
to post calories on menus?
85% Yes
15% No
00% Undecided