Too Much Of A Good Thing Greg Critser Analysis

Need more food. Need less food. I’m too thin. I’m too big. How is this diet better than that one? Go to the scale and check my weight. Watch the calories. Fat free and sugar free are better. These are the thoughts that most people have at some point in their lives. Obesity has been a growing problem, along with how fat people are stigmatized and treated. There is even an organization, the National Association to Advance Fat Acceptance (NAAFA), for fat people so that they have support in their lives because of this treatment. The fact that this organization exists tells us something about what we have been doing as a society. In his article “Too Much of a Good Thing,” Greg Critser, writer for the Los Angeles Times, claims that our society should …show more content…
The Pennsylvania State University study on kids and whether they know they are full contradicts what Critser had originally said about parents. He believes we should not put the blame on parents, when in reality kids do not know when they are full; therefore, the parents are to blame. The study was conducted between five year olds and three year olds. Obviously, the five year olds had eaten more; they are bigger, more energetic, and need the extra portions. As for Worley, she takes the words of Dr. Budd to heart, assuming that medical professionals do not know what they are doing; they will simply tell a fat person to go on a diet and not listen to the reason the person had wanted to talk to the doctor. Worley listens to one doctor because it is what she wants to listen to. Dr. Budd had seemingly caught Worley at an emotional point. Both Critser and Worley bring their points on unhealthy lifestyles and doctors to extremes. Critser assumes that all overweight or obese people are living unhealthy lifestyles, but not uncontrolled health problems that could lead to being overweight or obese. Worley, however, makes the assumption that it is not the fat person’s fault and that health professionals are biased and opinionated in their work. Both authors make valid claims, but contradict themselves and do not give actual …show more content…
Worley defends what seems like every fat person, even if it is their own fault for being overweight or obese. Fat people are constantly looked at as if they are disgusting creatures, criticized on just about any aspect of their lives. They are the most obvious about their issues. In our society, it is acceptable to criticize a smoker for being unhealthy, but not a morbidly overweight or obese person. Critser assumes that all healthy people are stigmatizing others. However, he does not consider the health issues that could lead to obesity, such as a thyroid problem, while Worley fails to remember that not all health professionals are biased or healthy themselves, and that it is not just fat people that are criticized for their weight. If an anorexic person goes to the doctor, they too will be criticized and be told they need to do something about their weight. Worley speaks from a personal perspective and fails to realize that it is sometimes the person’s fault for being fat, while Critser fails to give an example of how to stigmatize the behaviors leading to obesity. He only focuses on overeating and fast food choices, such as McDonald’s, and says that parents should follow France’s example and monitor their kids’ food choices.