Nutrition-Related Diseases In America

Nutrition-related diseases kill millions of Americans every year, and a major cause of these epidemics is that many consumers do not know enough about the role that foods play in health. Countless Americans feel that eating healthy consumes too much of their precious time during their busy schedules. Since fast food places seem to be everywhere, it means more convenience. A small part of the problem is the number of fast food places that are available, but when it comes down to it, it is the individually the person’s choice on what they are putting in their mouth. With increasing rates of obesity and diabetes, Americans need better education about healthy eating. It is argued that with a better understanding of eating habits, it won’t be as big of an issue. People will stop hitting the drive-thru, people will go home and cook their meals. Americans that are educated will bring more motivation to healthier eating. While fast food can sometimes cost less and be more convenient, American's should be more educated on what they are eating because it is progressively getting worse and causing health problems.
People refuse or don’t like to be informed about eating healthier. “But the
messages about how to eat healthfully – buy local, eat seasonally, shun industrial meat – can be overwhelming and unrealistic for both low-income and time-stressed, middle class families” (Black). In making this comment, Jane Black is expressing a main reason to why Americans are choosing fast food over groceries at the market. Grocery stores can be more expensive and out of the way. While fast food is all over and can be cheaper. Another fundamental truth that does not like to be recognized is that the majority of Americans just would prefer fast food. “Most Americans seek out fast and processed foods, not for the price, but for the convenience and the taste” (Black). Jane Blacks point is that the problem isn’t the price of the food, Americans just want better tasting food and that is not what grocery stores seem to have.
Often it can be hard to understand how or why to eat healthier choices due to the way it is communicated. “Nutrition studies tend to focus on single nutrient, making their results difficult to understand and to apply to real diets” (Nestle). In this quote, Marion Nestle believes that people are bombarded with conflicting advice and have a hard time with knowing who or what exactly to believe. Eating in larger portions can result in obesity and diabetes, and food companies do not care because they will do everything they can to sell more food. “So they make foods available everywhere – even in drug, book, and clothing stores – and in very large portions” (Nestle). What Nestle is trying to say is that this availability of unhealthy food can encourage people to purchase and eat it. Few people remarkably can’t resist eating better tasting food when it’s right in front of them.
Another argument that is conveyed is how “available” the unhealthy choices are.
“23.5 million Americans live more than a mile away from the nearest grocery store, it can be difficult, if not impossible, to find fresh, good quality produce at an affordable price” (Lehmann). In Yael Lehmann’s view, healthy food that is not “available”, is a given that people won’t eat it. This can cause health problems to Americans who are not eating healthy. Yael Lehmann agrees when she writes, “Studies have shown that people who lack access to healthy foods have a higher rate of obesity and other diet-related diseases than those who have convenient access to healthy foods” (Lehmann). The essence of Yael’s argument is that obesity or other health problems can occur due to their unhealthy eating
habits.
Indeed, while fast food can be more convenient and cost less, American's should be more educated on what they are eating, in a more precise way. Unhealthy eating is one of the main reasons to helping the rates go up in obesity and diabetes. Americans are refusing to eat healthier, most of them aren’t even trying to. When it comes to eating healthy, it is entirely up to that individual. Education will help a person have better acknowledgement and understanding about ways to help solve this issue. Americans need to eat at home more often because it then they will consume less calories than eating out. We can’t stop how the numerous fast food places there are, but we can encourage them to devise better meals with healthier choices.