Classmate's Blog Critique

Tex Report's author, Courtney Batts, makes some good points about current legislation to ban trans fats in her article entitled "Health Nuts".

The fact that so many Texans are obese is a compelling problem, and Ms. Batt's quoted statistics from the Texas Department of State Health Services are indeed correct. If obesity were classified as a contagious disease, the CDC would consider its occurrence epidemic in proportion, and would be working night and day in an effort to contain it.

The FDA has done a good job warning the public about trans fats, and it is now a well-known fact among educated persons that trans fat consumption can lead to excessive weight gain and is also a major contributor to fatal diseases such as heart attack, stroke, and type 2 diabetes.

Ms. Batts makes an excellent point in her observation that it is very sad to see so many children grossly over-weight at ages when they should be care free... not burdened by a medical and social problem like obesity. When I was working as a pediatric nurse in San Antonio, the number of obese children I saw in the hospital was alarming. Many of the kids out-weighed me by the age of 9, 10 and 11 years old...some even younger. I saw the physical problems it was causing... premature joint degeneration, trouble walking, severe breathing problems (such as sleep apnea and asthma) and an overall lack of energy. However, as devastating as those problems are, they seemed like a drop in the bucket when compared with the mental and emotional problems that were emerging. Many of the kids suffered from a lack of self-confidence, depression and ruthless cut-downs and criticisms from their peers. Some of them were likely struggling with food addiction at those young ages, as the types of food that contribute to obesity (such as saturated and trans fats) tend to entice one to return for more. Obesity is a severe and disabling physical and emotional problem which is oppressing America's children and robbing them of their childhood.

I remember as I was working with those kids thinking that their parents should be charged with child abuse or neglect for allowing them to develop this seemingly preventable problem. However, after further contemplation, I realized that the issue is very complex and would likely require a complex solution. I think that part of the problem stems from a lack of education, particularly in poorer areas. Then there is the problem of being able to afford necessary resources...such as truly nutritious food and counseling for addictions (both are very expensive)... and also the difficulty of changing one's ingrained habits and cultural associations with food. I do believe that a key part of the problem is the availability and seeming in-expense (compared with nutritious food) of "junk" food and "fast" food and I think that legislation which reduces that availability will bring about a welcome result.

I agree with Ms. Batt's observation that it would be ideal if people would make good choices for themselves and their children by partaking of a healthier diet and life-style. It is sad that our country has come to the point where legislation on this issue is now a necessity. However, this is not a new trend for America. It would be nice if we didn't have to follow any laws and everyone would always choose to make good decisions for themselves and those around them. However, since many people choose not to, we must have legislation which keeps in check those who decide to do harm. It is a burden on everyone and takes away much of the freedom that we crave, but from my observation...the more a society fails to control itself inwardly, the more external force (laws, etc) has to be applied to keep it from self-destructing. We are regressing to a point of more limited freedom as our society spirals inwardly out of control. The government is indeed going to be forced to "hold our hands".

Finally, I understand Ms. Batt's comment about expecting more Republicans to "reject the bill" (that would limit trans fat in restaurants) than Democrats, because of the interview that the AAS source article included with (R) Rep. Laubenburg. Typically, the Republican party is for a "hands-off" government because the general consensus is that things run more smoothly when each person takes responsibility for his or her own actions. I believe that this is ideal and provides more space for personal freedom and creative expression; however, with a situation that is this out of control, I do think that we need the government to step in like a parent and control what we can and cannot have...for our own safety. Sometimes individual freedom has to take a back seat for the sake of the group...and after experiencing the devastation of those around me, I feel that this is the right thing to do. While some issues are certainly divided down partisan lines, I believe that Republicans and Democrats alike will evaluate this bill's content and realize that this is not a partisan issue, but an issue that we all need to deal with. The AAS tends to have a liberal lean and I think they may have sought out Rep. Laubenburg as an extreme right-wing example, but I do not believe that her sentiments reflect the general consensus of the Republican party. We are all human and can recognize when others are in distress. I believe there are many people on both sides who want to do the right thing and long to see a solution to this terrible problem.