by Barry Williams

Created on: January 09, 2010

If it wasn't for rules and regulations as set by the government we would have a lawless society. People are lost  unless someone sets the standards.  You can't just go and shoot someone because they're fat. It's not the done thing.  There are rules set by the government imposing penalties if you do.  There are special  people employed by the government to make sure you live by the rules.  No matter how much you would want to blow up all the fast food restaurants if you let it be known that that is your intention chances are you will be arrested as a terrorist.

Everyone is out to make a fast buck if they can. At one time substandard aircraft parts  found their way into air force one. By the same token if it wasn't for government controls imported  foodstuffs would also be substandard. Those lovely tasting multi colored candy beans imported from overseas would no doubt find their way onto the supermarket shelves.  Even if the candy beans were made locally If there were no government controls all sorts of food additives would be used.  Any candy colored yellow and blue should be suspect.

No matter how much you would like the government to control over eating there is simply no way  effective laws could be passed.  Despite the best efforts of government there are still some areas where the individual has some freedom of choice. If a person wants to eat  foods loaded with fat then they are free to do so. No laws would be tolerated by the fast food industry banning the sale of foods loaded with fat.  At least some fast food outlets are making some attempt to encourage healthy eating by making available fat reduced meals. Unfortunately most people ignore them and order the fat laden meals. After all the fat laden meals do taste a lot better than the fat reduced meals. Even if you go to a fast food chain that allows you to select the ingredients their low fat rolls have your tummy rumbling for more food  a short while after.  Fat laden foods make you feel full. The problem is the fatter you get the more you want to eat to get that full feeling.

For far too long governments have ignored the problem of an ever increasing obese population.  The cost of providing medical services to cater for heart disease , diabetes  and all other health problems associated with the obese is going to be enormous.  It seems that while there is freedom of choice people will  opt for the unhealthy foods rather than healthy foods . The fast food industry  , confection industry and  beverage industry have all become entrenched in today's society. Health food belongs to health nuts.

Given that no government can pass laws to outlaw unhealthy foods they do have a responsibility to encourage consumption of healthy foods. It is probably to late too change today's society with the fast food mentality but not too late to begin an education program for school children just starting out.  Just maybe that generation given guidance  with just the right amount of government control as to what constitutes healthy eating , will grow up shunning and finding fast food as unhealthy and disgusting as smoking.

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