We often wonder why there are so many fat people in this country. Is it because we have such an abundance of food that we take advantage of it? Is it because we don’t exercise enough? Is it because we’re just ALWAYS hungry? No. It’s because the government has this sweet trick where they price healthy foods for a high amount and unhealthy foods for an insanely cheap amount. For example, when going to the pizzeria I’ve often contemplated on getting a salad rather than pizza (which is insane for me to even think because I’m obsessed with pizza). Then I looked at the price… It makes the hairs on my body stand up because it’s just insane to think that a few greens with little cubes of bread costs $12! Naturally, I said “Forget it” and got two slices of pizza and wonder why I gain weight. Charging more for what’s healthy has not only brought up the number of how many obese people are living in this country, but it’s why so many other health issues have risen. Clogged arteries, heightened cholesterol, diabetes, etcetera has all gone up and it’s because healthy food is just too damn expensive, so what choice do we have but to eat crap?
Sticking to the topic of obesity, it’s insane to believe that people that struggle financially have also had a great deal of problems involving their eating habits. The government gives people with food stamps just enough money to buy foods like mini doughnuts, potato chips and a 2-liter bottle of Coca-Cola, but very rarely enough for a small basket of strawberries or some vegetables to make a healthy lunch. But even those who can afford to eat better and keep themselves in shape to save them from this scary monster we call obesity.
We are in a very critical time now where being large is the new body image. The new wave of plus-size models has begun taking over the world, giving young girls confidence in being larger than others. Granted, it allows one to be who they are without the fear of judgment but many have interpreted being fat to be plus-size. It promotes the idea that you can be unhealthy and still be considered to have the (now) typical model body shape. Times have changed so much; women would starve themselves just to fit the perfect model image of being thin and tall. Women are accepting themselves for who they are which is great! But it’s not putting forth a healthy way of living.
My ideas aren’t to make those who are overweight to feel bad about themselves, but to extend the knowledge of how detrimental it is to many people’s lives it is to lead an unhealthy lifestyle. I’m the first person to say yes to junk food or foods that shouldn’t be binged on, but the difference it makes for a person when they eat well as opposed to poorly is incredibly immense. It’s absurd to think that there are people go on for years without struggling with weight gain. It all goes hand-in-hand with government involvement in the production of food sales. Prices should be lowered to develop a better way of living. The lifespan of millions can be extended if people were properly encouraged to change their ways.
The country, or rather the world, has enough issues as it is with the environment affecting our lives. The least that we can do is school young minds while they’re still fresh and tiny sponges, giving them more incentive to eat well. Parents should learn as well because children often do as adults do, and it can lead to an inflation of foods that are considered noxious to the general public.
