Obesity And Government Regulation Analysis

Why is America so fat? This is a much pondered question. Perhaps the greater question is, what are we going to do about it? But who are we per se? The question of whether obesity should be a governmental or societal concern is largely deliberated. While government should not interfere with personal lifestyle choices, obesity is largely in part a governmental concern because government care programs negatively impact the economy. The government financially accommodates the weakening economy and healthcare industry caused by people who may not be able to afford proper healthcare, nutrition or weight management.
While government assists the poor, it should also assist in initiatives that support healthy diet habits. Since the 2008 recession, many …show more content…
Public health intervention is an important component of a healthier America but could also be viewed as intrusive. According to Peter Jacobson (2014) of Springer Science+Business Media New York, Americans hope for a culture of personal responsibility and accountability, but an appropriate amount of public health regulation is necessary for a healthy culture. “For one thing, reliance on personal responsibility abandons those who, for whatever reason, are unable to protect themselves and act in their own best health interests” (Jacobson, 2014, pg. 226). By regulating the health and nutrition industry, the government provides leadership and guidance for those unable or otherwise unwilling to make healthy lifestyle a choice in an attempt to combat and avoid a worsening obesity epidemic. It is this “bigger picture” perspective that looks beyond personal choice intrusion and focuses on the greater good for the greater number of people. In a utilitarian perspective, these kinds of regulations and the benefits the outcomes promise, are about much more than individual dieting choices. They are about the economy, the structure of the health and nutrition industries, and making America healthy