Downsizing Supersize and Why Shame Won't Stop Obesity

               In “Downsizing Supersize” by James Surowiecki, the author writes about the ideals of Michael Bloomberg. In particular, Michael Bloomberg proposes that the maximum amount of ounces that a soft drink can be is 16. The author emphasizes how Americans would be angry because freedom would be taken away. Another fact emphasized by the author is that a population purchases something if it is the standard size. For example, people will choose the middle option if there is a more expensive option with tons of features, a middle expense option with a medium amount of features, and a low price with low features. Another approach to help discourage the large consumption of sodas is to enact a tax on sodas. The tax would just be like the tax on alcohol or tobacco in which the consumer is deterred from buying less of it.

               In “Why Shame Won’t Stop Obesity” by Dhruv Khullar, the author writes about the irony of a hospital serving unhealthy foods. The author then relates the irony of the hospital to the reality of the availability of healthy foods. Healthy food is harder to come by location wise and financially. Also, over a billion dollars is spent on food advertisement every year to influence children. The author then also looks at Georgia’s effort to curb childhood obesity. Many children are suffering from obesity and Georgia created commercials to almost shame parents on letting their children become overweight or obese. Although this highlights parental negligence, it does not reflect true circumstances. Most parents probably want their children to have a healthier lifestyle, but do not have the funds to do so. Later the author reiterates the fact that almost 75% of America is either overweight or obese, and that if health problems continue, several billion dollars will be spent on operations related to nutritional diseases