Obesity in Small Town USA
How many times a week should one be allowed to eat fast food before it becomes unhealthy? How does one effectively care for his or herself if the town he or she lives in does not accommodate a healthy lifestyle? In his article, “Kentucky Town of Manchester Illustrates National Obesity Crisis,” Wil Haygood, who writes for the Washington Post and the Boston Globe, writes about the obesity problem in the small town of Manchester, Kentucky. Haygood’s argument that becoming overweight is a norm for Manchester residents because of a lack of healthier choices is easy to agree with, as are his ideas that the residents are being negatively affected and are overeating.
Many children and adults in Manchester, Kentucky, are overweight and are not taking measures to make themselves healthy. According to Haygood, “The national obesity rate for adults is 24 percent; in Manchester… it’s estimated to be as high as 52 percent” (407). In other words, Haygood believes that Manchester, Kentucky, is considered to be one of the most unhealthy towns in the United States. A majority of the people in the town are affected by obesity because of the abundance of fast-food restaurants and not many other healthy choices. A few of Manchester’s patrons are trying to educate and help obese members of their town by giving them opportunities to exercise. Dr. Jill Day, resident of Manchester and doctor of internal medicine, conducted a study on fourth and fifth graders in the town and found that many were overweight or obese. Changes will need to be made to make a better outcome for the people of Manchester. Obesity is beginning to take over the little town and people are becoming overweight.
Many patrons of Manchester are becoming overweight because of a lack of healthier choices. Haygood himself writes, “The number of overweight children is rising; there are not enough places to buy nutritious food in small towns; many places lack recreational venues” (407). Haygood is surely right about obesity rates in children growing because his article shows that small towns do not always have the right resources to help their patrons to stay healthy and in shape. There are not always healthy options when trying to eat out. Also, eating fast food is more convenient for families than cooking and eating healthy foods. However, a “recreational venue” should not be necessary for a person to be able exercise. No matter where a person lives, there is always the option of going outside to go for a walk or run, or he or she could stay inside the house and do yoga exercises or abdominal workouts. A gym or YMCA is not needed for a person to be active and healthy. Overweight people need to take more responsibility for their health and take control of the negative effects.
Many young people are being negatively affected by habits of eating unhealthily. Charlie Rawlins, a resident of Manchester, was categorized as obese until he took control of his life and made a change; he wishes the same could be said for more of the young people in his town: “The kids round here, they’ll eat cornbread and tators for lunch. They’ll get a 20-piece chicken meal. It’s killing them” (qtd. in Haygood 410). I agree that childhood obesity is becoming a problem, and eating junk is harmful to young bodies. Children that are fueling their bodies with unhealthy food are creating a habit that will be hard to break as they grow older. If they are accustomed to only eating fats and sugars now, that will be the easiest lifestyle to choose as an adult. Eating fast foods in moderation, like anything else, is not bad for a body, but when eaten too often can harm the consumer. Individuals need to care for themselves and eat healthier foods.
Citizens of the United States tend to overeat in an attempt to finish all of the food on their plate. Regina Stevens, a pharmacist in Manchester, feels that “part of the problem may lie in a cultural feeling about the food that is set down in front of a child at home at mealtime… ‘you don’t throw food away. So the child has to eat all of the food, even if they are already full’” (qtd. in Haygood 411). Haygood uses Stevens’ thoughts to show the ideals of many families in the United States. I agree that many people feel the need to clean their plate even when they are full. Overeating, however, can cause obesity, which can lead to other, more serious, diseases. This does not seem to be a problem in the United States where the phrase “starving kids in Africa” gets thrown around when it comes to people not finishing their plates. Instead of being condescending, people should focus on being healthy and eating safe amounts of food.
Wil Haygood makes many agreeable points about residents of Manchester, Kentucky, having a lack of healthy food options, being negatively affected by fast food, and overeating for virtuous purposes. In his article that is entitled “Kentucky Town of Manchester Illustrates National Obesity Crisis,” Haygood contemplates the factors that are causing Manchester to be overweight in most of their population. His conclusions find that many of the people in the town are not overly worried about their condition, and will more than likely continue with their unhealthy eating habits.
Many children and adults in Manchester, Kentucky, are overweight and are not taking measures to make themselves healthy. According to Haygood, “The national obesity rate for adults is 24 percent; in Manchester… it’s estimated to be as high as 52 percent” (407). In other words, Haygood believes that Manchester, Kentucky, is considered to be one of the most unhealthy towns in the United States. A majority of the people in the town are affected by obesity because of the abundance of fast-food restaurants and not many other healthy choices. A few of Manchester’s patrons are trying to educate and help obese members of their town by giving them opportunities to exercise. Dr. Jill Day, resident of Manchester and doctor of internal medicine, conducted a study on fourth and fifth graders in the town and found that many were overweight or obese. Changes will need to be made to make a better outcome for the people of Manchester. Obesity is beginning to take over the little town and people are becoming overweight.
Many patrons of Manchester are becoming overweight because of a lack of healthier choices. Haygood himself writes, “The number of overweight children is rising; there are not enough places to buy nutritious food in small towns; many places lack recreational venues” (407). Haygood is surely right about obesity rates in children growing because his article shows that small towns do not always have the right resources to help their patrons to stay healthy and in shape. There are not always healthy options when trying to eat out. Also, eating fast food is more convenient for families than cooking and eating healthy foods. However, a “recreational venue” should not be necessary for a person to be able exercise. No matter where a person lives, there is always the option of going outside to go for a walk or run, or he or she could stay inside the house and do yoga exercises or abdominal workouts. A gym or YMCA is not needed for a person to be active and healthy. Overweight people need to take more responsibility for their health and take control of the negative effects.
Many young people are being negatively affected by habits of eating unhealthily. Charlie Rawlins, a resident of Manchester, was categorized as obese until he took control of his life and made a change; he wishes the same could be said for more of the young people in his town: “The kids round here, they’ll eat cornbread and tators for lunch. They’ll get a 20-piece chicken meal. It’s killing them” (qtd. in Haygood 410). I agree that childhood obesity is becoming a problem, and eating junk is harmful to young bodies. Children that are fueling their bodies with unhealthy food are creating a habit that will be hard to break as they grow older. If they are accustomed to only eating fats and sugars now, that will be the easiest lifestyle to choose as an adult. Eating fast foods in moderation, like anything else, is not bad for a body, but when eaten too often can harm the consumer. Individuals need to care for themselves and eat healthier foods.
Citizens of the United States tend to overeat in an attempt to finish all of the food on their plate. Regina Stevens, a pharmacist in Manchester, feels that “part of the problem may lie in a cultural feeling about the food that is set down in front of a child at home at mealtime… ‘you don’t throw food away. So the child has to eat all of the food, even if they are already full’” (qtd. in Haygood 411). Haygood uses Stevens’ thoughts to show the ideals of many families in the United States. I agree that many people feel the need to clean their plate even when they are full. Overeating, however, can cause obesity, which can lead to other, more serious, diseases. This does not seem to be a problem in the United States where the phrase “starving kids in Africa” gets thrown around when it comes to people not finishing their plates. Instead of being condescending, people should focus on being healthy and eating safe amounts of food.
Wil Haygood makes many agreeable points about residents of Manchester, Kentucky, having a lack of healthy food options, being negatively affected by fast food, and overeating for virtuous purposes. In his article that is entitled “Kentucky Town of Manchester Illustrates National Obesity Crisis,” Haygood contemplates the factors that are causing Manchester to be overweight in most of their population. His conclusions find that many of the people in the town are not overly worried about their condition, and will more than likely continue with their unhealthy eating habits.
Works Cited
Haygood, Wil. “Kentucky Town of Manchester Illustrates National Obesity Crisis” They Say I Say With Readings. By Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein. Ed. Russel Durst. 2E ed. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2012. 406-416. Print
Haygood, Wil. “Kentucky Town of Manchester Illustrates National Obesity Crisis” They Say I Say With Readings. By Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein. Ed. Russel Durst. 2E ed. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2012. 406-416. Print