Group 3 - Nicole, Jeff, and Scott (Banzhaf)

Fat lawsuits are the most effective weapon in fighting obesity in America. As in tobacco lawsuits that were once considered frivolous, lawsuits force corporations to make changes in their policies that have an adverse effect on consumers. After the flurry of lawsuits against big tobacco, they were forced to print a warning label on tobacco products and produce anti-smoking commercials to reach large audiences. A reduction in tobacco use has been documented in the U.S. since tobacco companies were forced to limit their marketing to youth and there was also increased education implemented regarding the dangers of smoking.

Banzhaf, who is called the Ralph Nader of Junk food, lists several proposals for congress to consider in the fight against fast food induced obesity. He is not simply placing blame on the fast food industry and leaving it at that, he has a laundry list of possible requirements that could be governmentally enforced to protect consumers. These corporations don’t deserve blanket immunity any more than the tobacco companies do; their product is just as harmful to humans as smoking is and requires regulation. A Canadian writer and political activist says: In fact, diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, and many other life threatening diseases are linked to obesity caused by high fat/high calorie fast food (Engler 173).

Another inaccurate view is to place the blame solely on the obese person’s lack of self control. The editor of Men’s Health Magazine asks, “Whatever happened to personal responsibility?” (Zinczenko 153). My question to them is: How can the consumer have personal responsibility in their choices if they aren’t even aware of the calories and fat they are taking in via fast food? Simply providing nutritional information on the menu would help consumers make more knowledgeable and healthier choices. The truth is that fast food consumers are intentionally mislead by grilled rather than fried options and salads that are actually packed with fat and calories. I find it funny that McDonald’s clearly prints the danger of choking on their action figures but fights vehemently against putting a similar warning on their disease causing food (Banzhaf 168). Most people believe details like this are common sense, so what is the harm in putting the warning in ink? It could simply state, “Warning, regular consumption of fast food may cause obesity.” This would be one step for fast food companies to cover their assets, so to speak.

Yet another inferior suggestion from Radley Balko, an investigative journalist for Reason magazine, is that insurance companies be freed to penalize poor lifestyles (Balko 160). This is a completely unfair way to promote a healthy lifestyle and would not be an effective measure. Penalizing people is never the way to initiate good behaviors. Perhaps the nutritional information and more healthy options at fast food restaurants would be a start in the right direction. The fact is, pointing fingers and placing blame isn’t going to solve the problem of obesity in America. The fast food industry needs to be held accountable for their harmful products as the tobacco industry was. If the fast food industry was a willing participant in the fight against obesity then lawsuits would not be necessary to produce change.

Works Cited

Balko, Radley. “What You Eat Is Your Business.” Cato.org. Cato Institute. 23 May 2004. Rpt. in They Say/I Say with Readings. Gerald Graff, Cathy Birkenstein and Russel Durst. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2009. 157-161. Print.

Banzhaf, John H. III. “Lawsuits Against Fast-Food Restaurants Are an Effective Way to Combat Obesity.” Personal Responsibility in Food Consumption Act. Preceedings of the Congressional subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law, June 19, 2003. Rpt. in They Say/I Say with Readings. Gerald Graff, Cathy Birkenstein and Russel Durst. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2009. 162-171. Print.

Engler, Yves. “Obesity: Much of the Responsibility Lies with Corporations.” Z Magazine(2003). Rpt. in They Say/I Say with Readings. Gerald Graff, Cathy Birkenstein and Russel Durst. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2009. 172-181. Print.

Zinczenko, David. "Don't Blame the Eater." New York Times. 23 Nov 2002. Rpt. in They Say/I Say with Readings. Gerald Graff, Cathy Birkenstein and Russel Durst. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2009. 153-156. Print.