The most difficult part of my research project so far has been picking a side. Obesity is obviously a huge problem in our country which carries with it the question: who is responsible, society (the food industry) or the individual? When you think about people’s health, your first thought is it is always their choice and in their control. But is it? Through advertisements, toys in McDonald’s Happy Meals, and manipulative branding it is hard for people to think clearly and really know what they are getting themselves into. When companies brand products as “healthier” and “better for you”, most people, including myself would believe them without a second thought. If food companies are allowed to post that, than we generally assume it must be true, right?
After exploring both sides of the argument, I came to the conclusion that although the choice is ultimately up to the individual, we are not in a position where we can make the right choices between what is actually good for us and what isn’t. This might seem a little extreme, but it is almost as if the food industry is brainwashing us. Going back to the McDonald’s example, by offering a toy from a popular movie, kids are going to want to eat the food to get the toy. This is wrong! McDonald’s also uses professional sports players in their commercials to endorse their products. If your favorite NBA player is eating McDonald’s, you are probably going to want to eat it too.
After struggling with picking a side for my argument, I think I came out of it with stronger reasons about why I feel it is more the food industry rather than the individual. I also think that by looking at both sides of the argument I will be able to come up with strong counter-arguments to help support my paper.