High Obesity Rates in the US-Is Food Labeling on Junk Foods a Practical Solution?

High Obesity Rates in the US-Is Food Labeling on Junk Foods a Practical Solution?

Unhealthy food choices are among the significant causes of obesity. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) (2021), the rate of obesity has more than tripled since 1975, with over 1.9 billion adults being considered overweight and 650 million considered obese in 2016. In 2020, WHO (2021) further revealed that over 39 million children who were below the age of five were found to be obese or overweight. Insufficient or lack of physical activity, as well as a poor choice of food, have been majorly attributed to the rising rate of obesity in the world, particularly in the US (Centers for Disease Prevention and Control, 2022). Nutritionists tend to blame junk foods for the rising obesity rates. According to Boncinelli et al. (2017), various scholars have suggested a fat tax to lessen the demand for junk food. Still, this proposal has been considered ineffective as very high taxation will be required to reduce demand for cherished and addictive junk foods.

Consequently, a health warning label has been proposed as an alternative to reduce junk food consumption. This paper seeks to answer the question: “Can health warning labels on junk foods effectively influence healthy eating?” It is argued that whereas critics claim that health warning labels, especially those that include graphic texts and images, can discourage people from making unhealthy food choices, these labels might not be as effective as shown by the already-existing failure of food labels to lessen obesity rates, the complexity of information on the available food labels as well as the fact that individual factors like addiction and familiarity of food drive people’s choice of food.

The use of warning labels regarding cigarette and alcohol packages has been majorly applied and studied, with mixed results on its effectiveness. Various studies have been conducted to find the efficacy of warning labels on these products. There have been mixed results, as some studies show that graphic health warning labels lessened the probability of cigarette purchases for most smokers with low nicotine dependence. Still, there was no effect on individuals with higher dependence (Shadel et al., 2019). In another study by Strong et al. (2021), graphic warning labels on cigarette packs did not affect smoking behavior. In more shocking research on whether cigarette warning labels lessened smoking, research by Robinson and Killen (2017) showed that more excellent knowledge of warning labels on cigarette packages was highly linked with a resultant surge in smoking. The authors concluded that most smokers, particularly adolescents, fail to see, remember, or read the warning labels; hence, these labels have no impact on their smoking behavior.

Similarly, there is a low likelihood that warning labels on junk foods can reduce the probability of individuals purchasing and consuming these unhealthy products. Research by Boncinelli et al. (2017) shows that high-calorie warning labels did not impact consumers’ choices. This is supported by Golan et al. (2021), who claim that labeling may be ineffective since there are many cases where individuals care less about the information provided on the label or fail to read or see these labels. Mexico adopted food labeling, and results show that 80.8 percent of every product in the Mexican market was regarded as “less healthy,” with over 48.2 and 40.7 percent being said to have excess calories and excess free sugars, respectively (Cruz-Casarrubias et al., 2021). However, despite these food labels on foods, the rate of obesity and individuals who are overweight in Mexico continues to increase, with research showing that up to 75 percent of adults in Mexico are obese or overweight (Lapique & Rotunno, 2022). Foods that contain high saturated fats, sugars, and salts have been blamed for this surge in obesity. In addition, the fact that more individuals continue to be overweight or obese only proves that citizens tend to ignore the food labels on their products. In 2008, fast food chains in New York were required to post calories on menus, but research shows little or no effect on the number of calories purchased (Boncinelli et al., 2017). Therefore, the efficacy of warning labels on junk foods may be majorly determined by personal factors.

Food familiarity, addiction, and self-control are some of the personal factors that can help drive the effectiveness of warning labels on junk foods. According to Golan et al. (2021), consumers tend to make hasty food choices and may fail to scrutinize food labels closely. Like drugs such as nicotine, food, especially junk foods, can be addictive. Without self-control, one is likely to pay no attention to the number of calories they consume from junk foods. Unless an individual makes a personal decision to avoid or lessen the number of junk foods consumed, it would be difficult for them to be persuaded by food labeling showing the number of calories they have destroyed or need to burn after consuming the product. In addition, according to Boncinelli et al. (2017), food familiarity causes individuals to purchase certain foods, like junk foods, more frequently, and the purchase frequency has a negative link with the use of food labels. This means that familiarity regarding personal experiences is likely to lessen the probability that one would pay attention to or notice a warning label since consumers tend to show less attention when buying a product they have used frequently. Furthermore, junk foods like hamburgers and potato chips seem to be America’s cultural food and are common in bonding activities like family or friend outings; therefore, this familiarity will likely cause most people to look the other way.

Moreover, the available food labels contain information that is too complex for most Americans to pay attention to. Williams (2016) posits that Americans consider nutritional messages too tricky and are often discouraged from reading or looking at these labels. Remarkably, a nutritionist claimed it would require a minimum of 15 minutes to explain a food label (Williams, 2016). Most consumers tend to read and comprehend food labels that are concise and clear, as suggested by Clarke et al. (2020). However, most food labels contain a variety of warnings and detailed information, making it difficult for consumers to order these details in order of importance. The result is that consumers ignore these warning labels altogether or, as Golan et al. (2021) put it, overreact and underreact to less critical and more important information. Some scholars suggest that food labels showing the exercise one needs to burn off calories may help individuals make healthier choices. However, this may not work on unmotivated individuals with no interest in activity levels. Furthermore, Roberts and Chung (2022) claim that such a message is too simplistic, assuming everyone has similar genes, age, fitness level, and workout intensity. Accordingly, a more individualized approach to making healthy choices has been recommended.

Whereas opponents of food labeling on junk foods claim its ineffectiveness in influencing healthy choices, proponents believe such labels, especially when accompanied by graphic images, can cause repulsion of unhealthy foods and create awareness of issues like obesity linked to junk foods. Besides, research conducted by Ventsel et al. (2022) shows that labeling unhealthy snacks reduced motivation to purchase and consume these products. This is backed by Clarke et al. (2020), who claim that health warning signs, especially those that incorporate text and images, can lessen the selection of unhealthy foods like energy-dense snacks. In addition, in France, the French Ministry of Health used an ad showing belly fat to campaign against the rising cases of childhood obesity in the country (Pinterest, 2022). The reaction that one might get from such a photo is that of repulsion, and with such a reaction, it is hoped that individuals would make a wiser and healthier choice, that is, avoid or lessen their intake of ice cream.

Even though proponents of junk food labeling make strong and valid points, statistics have shown that this food labeling does not simply work. Research by Viola et al. (2016) on whether food labels are influential in health promotion shows that individuals have limited nutritional knowledge, and most people care more about the global quality of the food than their dietary values. This is backed by Williams (2016), who claims that consumers do not precisely rely on nutrition labels to make healthier food choices because this information is usually too complicated for one to choose. Williams (2016) further claims that food labels might mislead consumers into thinking they are making healthier choices, yet the nutrition labels might be false. Regarding the ad created by the French Ministry of Health, there is a probability that this message had a short-term impact. Still, given that obesity continues to grow at an alarming rate in the country, as cited by (Czernichow et al., 2021), it is clear that even with graphic health warnings on food, individuals are still likely to continue purchasing and consuming unhealthy foods unless other measures are taken.

Food labeling has been considered an alternative strategy to encourage healthy eating, but it has proven ineffective, given the continuing rise in obesity rates. Food labeling seems ideal at the surface level, particularly when accompanied by graphic information on calories and information such as the amount of exercise required to burn calories. However, the latter strategy tends to simplify how obesity can be dealt with since individuals tend to have varying activity levels, diet, lifestyle habits, and genetics. Commitment or personal choice to make healthy food decisions seems essential in encouraging healthy eating and, hence, lessening obesity rates. Consequently, it is necessary to use a more individualized approach to help people enhance their intake of healthy foods and improve their daily activity levels.

References

Boncinelli, F., Gerini, F., Pagnotta, G., & Alfnes, F. (2017). Warning labels on junk food: experimental evidence. International Journal of Consumer Studies, 41(1), 46-53.

Clarke, N., Pechey, E., Mantzari, E., Blackwell, A. K., De-Loyde, K., Morris, R. W., … & Hollands, G. J. (2020). Impact of health warning labels on snack selection: An online experimental study. Appetite, 154, 104744.

Cruz-Casarrubias, C., Tolentino-Mayo, L., Vandevijvere, S., & Barquera, S. (2021). Estimated effects of implementing the Mexican warning labels regulation on the use of health and nutrition claims on packaged foods. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 18(1), 1-12.

Czernichow, S., Renuy, A., Rives-Lange, C., Carette, C., Airagnes, G., Wiernik, E., … & Matta, J. (2021). Evolution of the prevalence of obesity in the adult population in France, 2013–2016: the Constance study. Scientific reports, 11(1), 1-11.

Golan, E., Kuchler, F., Mitchell, L., Greene, C., & Jessup, A. (2021). Economics of food labeling. Journal of Consumer Policy, 24(2), 117-184.

Lapique, C.,& Rotunno, L. (2022 March 16). Has the United States Exported Its Obesity Rate to Mexico? The Dialogue. Retrieved November 18, 2022 from https://www.dialogueseconomiques.fr/en/article/has-united-states-exported-its-obesity-rate-mexico#:~:text=Approximately%2075%25%20of%20Mexico’ s%20adult,future%20of%20the%20country2%20.

Pinterest. (2022). Belly Ice Cream Ads. Retrieved November 18, 2022, from https://www.pinterest.com/pin/404338872772928002/

Roberts, J.,& Chung, H. (2022, October 11). Why food labels showing the exercise needed to burn off calories won’t work for everyone. The Conversation. Retrieved November 18, 2022, from https://theconversation.com/why-food-labels-showing-the-exercise-needed-to-burn-off-calories-wont-work-for-everyone-191825

Robinson, T. N., & Killen, J. D. (2017). Do cigarette warning labels reduce smoking?: paradoxical effects among adolescents. Archives of pediatrics & adolescent medicine, 151(3), 267-272.

Shadel, W. G., Martino, S. C., Setodji, C. M., Dunbar, M., Scharf, D., & Creswell, K. G. (2019). Do graphic health warning labels on cigarette packages deter purchases at point-of-sale? An experiment with adult smokers. Health education research, 34(3), 321-331.

Strong, D. R., Pierce, J. P., Pulvers, K., Stone, M. D., Villaseñor, A., Pu, M., … & Messer, K. (2021). Effect of graphic warning labels on cigarette packs on US smokers’ cognitions and smoking behavior after three months: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA Network open, 4(8), e2121387-e2121387.

Ventsel, M., Pechey, E., De-Loyde, K., Pilling, M. A., Morris, R. W., Maistrello, G., … & Fletcher, P. C. (2022). Effect of health warning labels on motivation towards energy-dense snack foods: Two experimental studies. Appetite, 106084.

Viola, G. C., Bianchi, F., Croce, E., & Ceretti, E. (2016). Are food labels influential as a means of health prevention? Journal of Public Health Research, 5(3), phr-2016.

Williams, R. (2016, May 23). Why the new nutrition labels won’t work. The Agenda. Retrieved November 18, 2022 from https://www.politico.com/agenda/story/2016/05/the-nutrition-facts-panel-failed-policy-000125/

Reflection

1. Provide one example of a place where you have used rhetorical appeals or source material to support your argument. How does this enhance your essay? (2-3 sentences)

I appealed to the reader’s logic and emotions using statistics in most of the essay. For instance, in the introduction, I cited information from the World Health Organization, which shows that 39 million children are obese. Children are usually a soft spot for most people; therefore, such information will likely shock a reader and prompt action.

2. Touchstone 4 is a revision of this draft. What kind of feedback would be helpful for you as you revise? Are there parts of your draft that you’re uncertain of? (3-4 sentences)

I have done my best to be objective, but I still think my emotions might have affected my argument. I hope to get feedback on how best to approach this if subjectivity is evident in the essay. I also hope to get feedback on how best to make the paragraphs flow from one to the other, as I am unsure how well my paragraphs flow.

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Using your outline and annotated bibliography from Touchstones 1.2 and 2.2, draft a 6-8 page argumentative research essay on your chosen topic.

As this assignment builds on Touchstone 2.2: Create an Annotated Bibliography, Touchstone, as well as Touchstone 3.1, must be graded before you can submit your research essay draft.

Sample Touchstone 3

To foster learning and growth, all essays you submit must be newly explicitly written for this course. Any recycled work will be sent back with a 0, and you will be given one attempt to redo the Touchstone.
A. Assignment Guidelines
DIRECTIONS: Refer to the list below throughout the writing process. Please do not submit your Touchstone until it meets these guidelines.

1. Argumentative Thesis Statement
❒ Have you included a thesis in your introduction that takes a clear, specific position on one side of a debatable issue?
2. Argument Development
❒ Are all of the details relevant to the purpose of your essay?
❒ Is the argument supported using rhetorical appeals and source material?
❒ Is your essay 6-8 pages (approximately 1500-2000 words, not including references or reflection question responses)? If not, which details do you need to add or remove?
3. Research
❒ Have you cited outside sources effectively using quotation, summary, or paraphrase techniques?
❒ Are the sources incorporated smoothly, providing the reader with signal phrases and context for the source information?
❒ Have you referenced a range of at least seven credible sources?
❒ Have you properly cited your sources according to APA style guidelines?
❒ Have you included an APA-style reference page below your essay?
4. Reflection
❒ Have you answered all reflection questions thoughtfully and included insights, observations, and examples in all responses?
❒ Are your answers included on a separate page below the primary assignment?
B. Reflection
DIRECTIONS: Below your assignment, include answers to the following reflection questions.

Provide one example of a place where you have used rhetorical appeals or source material to support your argument. How does this enhance your essay? (2-3 sentences)
Touchstone 4 is a revision of this draft. What kind of feedback would be helpful for you as you revise? Are there parts of your draft that you’re uncertain of? (3-4 sentences)
C. Rubric
Advanced (100%) Proficient (85%) Acceptable (75%) Needs Improvement (50%) Non-Performance (0%)
Argument Development and Support
Provide an apparent argument with sufficient support.
The argument is thoroughly developed with highly relevant details to support it, including rhetorical appeals and source material. The argument is well-developed, with pertinent information to keep it, including rhetorical appeals and source material. The argument is not fully developed; while it is supported by some relevant information, including rhetorical appeals and source material, some aspects are neglected. The argument is poorly designed, with irrelevant details that frequently distract from the argument; there is little evidence of using rhetorical appeals and source material. The argument is not set, and the composition is not argumentative; details are irrelevant and distract from the argument.
Research
Incorporate sources through effective quotations, paraphrases, and summaries.
Cites all outside sources appropriately; incorporates credible sources smoothly and effectively through direct quotation, paraphrase, or summary. Primarily quotes external sources appropriately; contains credible sources effectively through direct quotation, paraphrase, or summary. Generally quotes outside sources appropriately; contains credible sources adequately through direct quotation, paraphrase, or summary. Quotes external sources, but most are cited improperly; has sources through direct quotation, paraphrase, or summary, but the integration is not smooth, and the credibility of the sources is unclear. Does not cite sources, or citation is consistently inappropriate; does not reference sources and sources are not credible or appropriate.
Organization
Exhibit competent organizational writing techniques.
Includes all required components of an argumentative research paper, including an introduction with relevant and engaging background information and an argumentative thesis, adequate body paragraphs with topic sentences, a body paragraph addressing counterargument(s), and a conclusion with a concluding statement. Includes all of the required components of an argumentative research paper, including an introduction with background information, an argumentative thesis, an adequate number of body paragraphs with topic sentences, a body paragraph addressing counterargument(s), and a conclusion with a concluding statement. Includes nearly all of the required components of an argumentative research paper; however, one component is missing. Includes most of the required components of an argumentative research paper but lacks two components: sequences of ideas and paragraphs such that the connections between ideas (within and between paragraphs) are sometimes unclear, and the reader may have difficulty following the progression of the argument. Lacks several or all of the components of an argumentative research paper; sequences ideas and paragraphs such that the connections between ideas (within and between paragraphs) are often unclear, and the reader has difficulty following the progression of the argument.
Style
Establish a consistent, informative tone and make thoughtful stylistic choices.
Demonstrates thoughtful and effective word choices, avoids redundancy and imprecise language, and uses various sentence structures. Explains effective word choices, primarily avoids redundancy and ambiguous language, and uses a variety of sentence structures. Shows generally effective style choices but may include occasional redundancies, vague language, poor word choice, and repetitive sentence structures. Frequently includes poor word choices, redundancies, unclear language, and repetitive sentence structures. Consistently demonstrates poor word choices, redundancies, vague language, and repetitive sentence structures.
Conventions
Follow conventions for standard written English.
There are negligible grammar, punctuation, spelling, capitalization, formatting, and usage errors. Occasionally, minor grammar, punctuation, spelling, capitalization, formatting, and usage errors exist. Significant grammar, punctuation, spelling, capitalization, formatting, and usage errors exist. Important grammar, punctuation, spelling, capitalization, formatting, and usage errors are frequent. There are consistently essential grammar, punctuation, spelling, capitalization, formatting, and usage errors.
Reflection
Answer reflection questions thoroughly and thoughtfully.
Demonstrates thoughtful reflection; consistently includes insights, observations, and examples in all responses, following or exceeding response length guidelines. Shows thoughtful reflection; includes multiple insights, observations, and examples, following response length guidelines. Primarily presents thoughtful reflection, but some responses lack detail or insight; they largely follow response length guidelines. Shows limited reflection; most responses lack detail or insight, with some questions left unanswered or falling short of response length guidelines. No reflection responses are present.