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So, today, we watched Peter Jennings’ program entitled “How to Get Fat Without Really Trying”, in which compelling associations were made between our growing obesity epidemic and the big business of food industry and government. What were some of the “aha” moments that you experienced during this piece? What were some of the questions that arose when you saw how different officials in high places responded to Jennings’ probing questions? Do you see the problem as discussed in our textbook in a different light now?
“How to Get Fat Without Really Trying” was an interesting documentary that I watched yesterday. The documentary focuses its attention on America’s food and the correlation it has with the government. As I was watching, I was extremely flabbergasted. I was flabbergasted over the production of American foods and how it has manipulated society. However, nothing put me in more dismay than that of the American government. When asked questions by Peter Jennings, government officials seem to weave their way around the basis of them. This goes the same for head-positions for corporations and marketing companies. These two groups of people had an answer for everything, yet they did not respond fully to the basis of the questions. They answer in in ways that made them looked good. At the time, and even still today, obesity has been a direct hit to the American public. The question seems to be, Is profit more important, or is the health of American society? Personally, I would choose the health of the American public. This documentary has definitely made me think more about the foods I put into my body. It has also made me think about what others put in their own body.
As far as obesity, and general unhealthiness goes, I feel it is a horrible epidemic in the United States. I know from experience the struggles of keeping a healthy weight and diet in today’s surgar coated industrialized world. I’ve been a large child, and up until recently very much over weight. It is so easy to eat unhealthily and the media promotes it, just like what the video in class explained. Since these companies are targeting younger and younger audiences it’s no wonder children are in the predicament they are today. I know every other commercial on TV is one from either McDonalds or some other fast food resturant trying to sell some kiddie meal or another. Even as adults we are manipulated by images set on gaining our attention and stimulating our “got to have it” part in our brains so that they can make a profit. If there is to be a change it will need to happen fast or kid’ll develop even worse health than ever before.
I never really thought about the government’s responsibility in the nation’s obesity problem before viewing this video. The government is putting money into programs that ultimately contribute to the nation’s unhealthy eating habits. It really made me think about those commercials that talk about how high fructose corn syrup is something grown naturally and is ok in moderation. The truth is that, though it does come from a natural vegetable, it is reduced in a laboratory to glucose. It has the same effect as sugar, which is not healthy. There are many things that are good only in moderation, but I do not think these things should be getting government backing. I also watched a commercial the other day that advertised meals as “farm harvest” fresh. Just because something has ingredients that are grown on a farm does not mean it should be considered a healthy meal. These packaged foods have all sorts of things added to them that are not “farm fresh.” Nevertheless, Americans are buying into these advertisements because the government has backed the propaganda. The main thing is that the government refuses to take responsibility for their part in the obesity epidemic. Instead, they focus on how to get Americans to lose weight and become healthier when they should be focusing on how to promote and insure healthy lifestyle habits for all Americans, before they are too far down the pathway of an unhealthy life. The best defense is a good offense, but the lineup of “players” that were interviewed in the video make me wary that any goal will be reached.
When we watched “How to Get Fat Without Really Trying” was a real eye opener for me to see the effects that the food industry really has on our society. The biggest “aha” moment for me was when the film showed a variety of commercials targeted to children. The sad part was I could remember every single commercial form my childhood to today and I was shocked. The food industry is targeting our youth to begin unhealthy habits from a young age and I feel that this truly is shaping the way I view our world. The way the officials answered were what I liked to call safe. They would avoid answering the real question which in turn made them look even worse. I feel that we can discuss our book in a different light because we had the opportunity to see the problems facing our development in a new light and it will really add to the class and our discussion.