Obesity editorial’s message irresponsible

The Chicago Tribune ran an editorial early this month with the headline “We know we’re fat.” A report by the CDC about a rise in obesity and the Senate approving a $4.5 billion bill to improve school lunches sparked the article, which basically said that people don’t need the government telling them how fat they are, nor do they need constant reminders to do healthy things, such as nixing doughnuts and deep-fried foods.
“Not only are we fat, fellow Americans, but we know that we’re fat. Inexplicably, we accept it. We’ve … forgiven ourselves,” it reads.
The author characterized the government as if it were an irrational, nagging parent. The problem, however, is that the government — through such legislation and Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! campaign — is trying to help kids who aren’t getting proper nourishment or education at home or at school. Maybe their parents and educators know better, but if they did, wouldn’t they teach their children? Wouldn’t this problem that eats at two-thirds of our country already be resolved?
It’s irresponsible to possess such an attitude and to then disseminate that irresponsibility to others. It’s not something that we should be teaching our children.