Analysis Of Too Much Of A Good Thing Crister

African and American populations share the same Earth, but the former suffers from hunger, lack of food, while the latter suffers from obesity, the state of being overweight. What’s ironic is that the rate of increase in obesity and the fatal consequences dragged along are causing almost as much concern as the hunger epidemic is. In an op-ed essay “Too Much of a Good Thing” featured in the Los Angeles Times (22 July 2001), Greg Crister introduces the widespread epidemic and points out that Americans should stigmatize the concept of overeating. Having thoroughly researched obesity in his book: “Fat Land: How Americans Became the Fattest People in the World”, Greg Crister, in yet another work on the topic, advises parents on how to prevent or …show more content…
Those suffering from obesity are not only facing heart diseases, diabetes, or crippling bone conditions, but are also increasing the national cost of treatment of those disastrous consequences. Crister emphasizes that in modernizing nutritional knowledge, one should condemn the behaviour causing obesity and not people who are obese, thus avoiding stereotypes. In his essay, Crister refers to three beliefs that serve as “inhibitions to imposing dietary restraints”. The parental misconceptions: “kids know when they are full”, “kids have the right to make bad nutrition decisions”, and “never put a kid on a diet” are getting in the way of reducing the soaring rates of obesity in America. Crister, by tackling the above delusions, reaches his main purpose that is to change parental opinions regarding children’s’ eating …show more content…
Even though he put most of the blame on nationwide delusions and not enough blame on parents, his argument remains convincing. What contributes to the validity to his claim that children are flexible and respond positively to nutritional advice are the variety of experiments, studies, and research presented regarding the subject. His discrediting of parental beliefs serves as a significant first step in the fight against the obesity epidemic. However, it is important to point out that the essay lacked details on how to embark on the journey of eliminating obesity. Explaining in detail how some foods are corrupt and how others are healthy would have had more impact on an adult reader after reading the essay. Knowing that many movements like “Weight Watchers” and the show “The Biggest Loser” are leading the way to a leaner nation, this text is definitely valuable and fits perfectly in the midst of the obesity crisis that Americans are suffering