Junk Food: American Crisis

Isaiah Miller
Argumentation
5/20/13
Mrs. Chamberlain

Junk Food: American Crisis We shouldn’t put a higher tax on junk food. It’s stupid to do that! People can eat what they want to eat, and it’s their problem if they get fat. If they abuse the “privilege” of eating unhealthy food, it’s their problem. We shouldn’t be worrying about what other people eat. You can’t change how someone lives their life. If they have lived for years one way then they will live that way for the rest of their life. There is no use in trying to change the way someone lives. How about we just leave the whole thing alone? It hasn’t been a problem in the past, so why is it such a problem now? If people want to live a certain way, then let them. It’s not our
responsibility to make sure that everybody is eating “right”.
Junk food consumption in America is leading to a health crisis, but should it be taxed? In his article “Tax on Junk Food Can Help the Costs of Diet-Related Diseases”, National Director of the Organic Consumer Association Ronnie Cummins argues that a hefty tax on junk food, along with other incentives, would help solve the problem.
Cummins describes the unhealthy effects of junk food.
He goes on to describe how it costs Americans not just health wise, but financially. He states, “Diet related obesity, diabetes and heart disease are now the nations #1 public health program, generating an estimated $150 billion in health-care costs every year.” Cummins asserts that the government could reduce these costs by putting a tax on junk food. Despite government efforts so far, obesity is still on the rise. Therefore, Cummins argues, the government must stop subsidizing the growing of unhealthy foods and farming practices and starts subsidizing organic foods and sustainable farming. Cummins fails to address that the American people have the choice to eat what they want and must know that they will still buy the junk food, even if the taxes are
raised. Junk food has been linked to the childhood obesity epidemic in America, so some states are enacting strict laws regulating its consumption.
In the article “Study: Junk Food Laws May Help Curb Kid’s Obesity,” AP Medical Writer Lindsey Tanner reports that a new study shows that states which enforce stricter junk food laws have a lower childhood obesity rate. The study showed that fifth through eighth graders in states with stricter laws gained less weight than their peers in states without the laws. Additionally, kids who were obese in fifth grade were more likely to reach a healthy weight by eighth grade in states with strict laws governing junk food. States were considered to have strict laws if they contained specific nutritional requirements rather than vague statements that weren’t well defined. Strict laws on junk food may work in some states, it may work in all states, but that still doesn’t address the fact that people that want junk food will still go and buy it if they really want it. Also, this study was only done on 5th graders. How are we supposed to know what the rest of the country is
like? According to a Boston University statistician, however, it is difficult to make a definitive conclusion based on this study alone. Dr. David Ludwig, a Boston obesity specialist, states, “The challenge is that there are a great many factors that coalesce to influence body weight.” This could be interpreted that fat is not the only thing that contributes to a person’s weight. Other things, such as bone or muscle mass also play a role in weight.

Andrew Morris, a professor of law and business at the University of Alabama, tackles the question, “Should Congress tax obesity-producing foods?” In the article “‘Bad Food’ Tax will clog our Economic Arteries beyond Repair” he argues that taxing unhealthy foods is not only a bad solution, it will actually cause more problems. (Morris, Andrew). In conclusion, I disagree with having a higher tax on junk food in America. As I stated in my introduction, we have the right to eat what we want and live our life how we want. It’s not the government’s job to make sure that we are eating “right”. That is our choice.

Works Cited
Cummins, Ronnie. "Tax on Junk Food Can Help Pay the Costs of Diet-Related Diseases." McClatchy Newspapers. 10 May 2012: n.p. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 20 May 2013.
Tanner, Lindsey. "Study: Junk Food Laws May Help Curb Kids ' Obesity." Sun Herald. 13 Aug 2012: n.p. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 20 May 2013.
Morriss, Andrew P. " 'Bad-Food ' Taxes Will Clog Our Economic Arteries Beyond Repair." McClatchy Newspapers. 10 May 2012: n.p. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 20 May 2013.