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Leonard Gordon Ms. Bessire English 1010-099 3, March, 2014 Response Essay of David Zinczenkos - Dont Blame the Eater. Final Draft. A debate has risen over the health and diet of people in America. Are Americans informed, and should Americans take responsible for their own eating habits? David Zinczenko believes the fast food industry is responsible for Americas obesity and also believes fast-food should come with a warning label. I disagree; people should take responsibility for their own health and diet. My response to Zinzcenkos article, Dont Blame the Eater, is that its up every American to become informed about what theyre eating and take responsibility for their own health; because ultimately, whats at stake here is the health of the American people. Zinczenko, the author of Dont Blame the Eater believes the fast food industry is responsible for Americas obesity and fast-food should come with a warning label. In his article, Dont Blame the Eater, there are a group of kids suing McDonalds for making them fat. Zinczenko agrees with the kids because as he puts it I tend to sympathize with these portly fastfood patrons, though. Maybe thats because I used to be one of them (391). According to Zinczenko, when went to college, he got informed and started eating healthier. Studies show diabetes accounts have grown considerably in recent history, in fact, Before 1994, diabetes in children was generally caused by a genetic disorder only about 5 percent of childhood cases were obesity-related, or Type 2, diabetes (392). As a result, more money is being spent on treating diabetes. Fast-food is very accessible, and Fast-food companies arent held to the same

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standards as grocery stores when it comes to displaying nutrition facts. Whats listed on some fast-food websites, when it comes to actually calories, doesnt always provide all the facts and it is wise to read the small print. Zinczenko writes, Make fun if you will of these kids launching lawsuits against the fast-food industry, but dont be surprised if youre the next plaintiff (393). In short, it would benefit the fast-food industry to provide nutrition facts. In his article, Dont Blame the Eater, there are a group of kids suing McDonalds for making them fat. Zinczenko sides with the kids, because as he puts it I tend to sympathize with these portly fast-food patrons, though. Maybe thats because I used to be one of them (391). Personally I blame the parents more than the fast-food industry. Some parents dont have time to cook as there is a rise in divorce rate, and a rise in single parent homes. Although some parents will disagree, most parents that allow their children to eat fast-food are lazy and its just easier to get something from a fast-food restaurant, while other parents just arent informed. Its up to America to become informed about nutrition. Responsibility and getting informed is the key to nutrition. Our diet can affect our health in a major way; reports show that a bad diet can cause health problems such as diabetes. Studies show diabetes accounts have grown considerably in recent history, in fact, Before 1994, diabetes in children was generally caused by a genetic disorderonly about 5 percent of childhood cases were obesity-related, or Type 2, diabetes. Today, according to the National Institute of Health, Type 2 diabetes accounts for at least 30 percent of all new childhood cases of diabetes in this country (392). This is a staggering statistic. Diabetes is growing in children and our childhood obesity rate is growing as well. This statistic is due to fast-food, lack of knowledge, and food processing. It is arguable if our ancestors ate better than we do today. Of course there wasnt as much processing or preservatives in food but we definitely eat more often

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then people of the past. In the Michael Pollan article, Denis Burkitt proposes, The only way were going to reduce disease, is to go backwards to the diet and lifestyle of our ancestors (437). I dont know if eating like our ancestors is the answer. I believe getting informed, eating a well balanced diet, and actually cooking whole foods is a great start. As type 2 diabetes is on the rise; Americans would be wise to look at alternative dieting options. Fast-food companies arent held to the same standards as grocery stores when it comes to displaying nutrition facts. Whats listed on some fast-food websites, when it comes to actually calories, doesnt always provide all the facts and it is wise to read the small print. Make fun if you will of these kids launching lawsuits against the fast-food industry, but dont be surprised if youre the next plaintiff (393). Zincenko concludes that it would benefit the fast-food industry to provide nutrition facts. Whether or not the fast-food industry will start putting labels on its packaging; its up to us to become informed and to do our own research, which includes reading the small print, if we want to eat healthier. Americans cant leave it up to the food industry to change how they process foods or how they label their foods. Its s up to the American people to become informed about their diet. Zinczenko himself writes industry is vulnerable. Fast-food companies are marketing to children a product with proven health hazards and no warning labels (393). Even with all the information available, parents still wont take responsibility to get informed. The amount of fast-food consumption will continue, and the diabetes rate will continue to grow if Americans dont start being responsible and informed when it comes to nutrition. Radley Balko contends Were becoming less responsible for our own health and more responsible for everyone elses (396). We need to be more responsible for our own health. Taking ownership of our health and getting informed about a healthier diet would be extremely beneficial.

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The American people need to take ownership of their health and diet. Fast-food is very accessible and the convenience of fast-food makes it very appealing. According to Zinczenko Drive down any thoroughfare in America, and I guarantee youll see one of our countys more than 13,000 McDonalds restaurants. Now, drive back up the block and try to find someplace to buy a grapefruit (392). Fast-food is very accessible and less expensive than healthier food. Everywhere you turn there is a McDonalds. When you drive by a McDonalds, your child goes crazy, and its easier to just give in to the convenience then to keep driving and get something healthy. Fast-food is very accessible and convenient. I found these articles very informative and it led me to think, as should all Americans about what we are consuming and putting into our bodies. Its the old your body is a temple narrative. I have always tried to eat healthy, but the temptation and convenience gets to us all. When it comes to the Dont Blame the Eater article, theres a chance that warning labels on fast-food packing might make us think twice, but I doubt we as a public will slow down our intake of fast-food. My point here is, people who are obese due to their diet are either lazy or not informed and should take interest to those who care about what they are eating. Beyond this limited audience, however, my point should speak to anyone who cares about the larger issue of obesity. Its up every American to become informed and take responsibility for their own health.

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Work cited

Zinczenko, David. Dont Blame the Eater. They Say / I Say: the Moves That Matter in Academic Writing. Ed. Cathy Birkenstein, Gerald Graff, and Russel Durst. New York: W. W. Norton, 2012. 391 - 394. Print.

Balko, Radley. What You Eat Is Your Business They Say / I Say: the Moves That Matter in Academic Writing. Ed. Cathy Birkenstein, Gerald Graff, and Russel Durst. New York: W. W. Norton, 2012. pg. 395 - 396 Print.

Pollan, Michael. Escape from the Western Diet They Say / I Say: the Moves That Matter in Academic Writing. Ed. Cathy Birkenstein, Gerald Graff, and Russel Durst. New York: W. W. Norton, 2012. 434 - 441 Print.