Personal and public health are tightly related to food choices. While some people believe that the government should regulate nutrition to improve public wellness, others argue that it should be people’s decision whether to pursue a healthy diet or not. This essay will discuss both points of view and explain why the authorities should not control the types of food people can buy.
Legislators could impose laws concerning nutritious food in an effort to have a healthier population, therefore, decreasing public health costs. Even if this could be considered a good idea, it would be very quite difficult to implement. To achieve this target, the rulers could impose a levy on unhealthy food options, or reduce their availability on the grocery stores shelves. In Italy, for example, products such as carbonated sugary drinks and chips are heavily taxed. As a result, the sales of these items have decreased. However, if the authorities start to take control of what their citizens can or cannot eat, it may be seen as limitation of freedom.
Since personal freedom is an extremely important human right, many people think that they should be responsible for their choices regarding the food and drinks they decide to consume. I agree with this opinion because limiting nutritional options, even if it is done with the best outcome in mind, could consequently create dissatisfaction among the population, which would possibly lead to other public issues such as protests and demonstrations. A better approach could be educating the public about a healthy diet, which would help people make better-informed decisions about the food they consume. Many developed countries around the world employed this strategy and saw public health gains.
In conclusion, even though the government is able to control the dietary habits of its population through taxation and restrictions, healthier citizens and reduced public health expenses isn’t the only possible outcome. Limiting personal freedom could result in social unrest and for that reason diet decisions are better to be left up to well-informed individuals.
Personal and
public
health
are
tightly
related to
food
choices. While
some
people
believe that the
government
should regulate nutrition to
improve
public
wellness, others argue that it should be
people’s
decision whether to pursue a healthy diet or not. This essay will discuss both points of view and
explain
why the authorities should not control the types of
food
people
can
buy
.
Legislators could impose laws concerning nutritious
food
in an effort to have a healthier population,
therefore
, decreasing
public
health
costs. Even if this could
be considered
a
good
idea
, it would be
very
quite difficult to implement. To achieve this target, the rulers could impose a levy on unhealthy
food
options, or
reduce
their availability on the grocery stores shelves. In Italy,
for example
, products such as carbonated sugary drinks and chips are
heavily
taxed.
As a result
, the sales of these items have decreased.
However
, if the authorities
start
to take control of what their citizens can or cannot eat, it may be
seen
as limitation of freedom.
Since personal freedom is an
extremely
important
human right,
many
people
think
that they should be responsible for their choices regarding the
food
and drinks they decide to consume. I
agree
with this opinion
because
limiting nutritional options, even if it
is done
with the best outcome in mind, could
consequently
create dissatisfaction among the population, which would
possibly
lead to other
public
issues such as protests and demonstrations. A better approach could be educating the
public
about a healthy diet, which would
help
people
make
better-informed decisions about the
food
they consume.
Many
developed countries
around the world employed this strategy and
saw
public
health
gains.
In conclusion
,
even though
the
government
is able to control the dietary habits of its population through taxation and restrictions, healthier citizens and
reduced
public
health
expenses isn’t the
only
possible outcome. Limiting personal freedom could result in social unrest and for that reason diet decisions are better to be
left
up to well-informed individuals.