Here's the question: since there's been a big rise in childhood obesity in recent years, should governments have more of an involvement in what children do and don't eat?
Should they be monitoring the foods they're given? Should they be monitoring the food we're all given, beyond just the safety regulations they currently have in place? What are the problems that might result from a heavier government involvement?
While there’s definitely a need for government involvement in our diets, particularly that of children, the question is where to draw the line around that involvement. What does the optimum government involvement look like?
Whilst we want protection as consumers, should governments be banning us from eating things like McDonald’s more than once a week? Should they be making people buy fruit and veggies and banning the more unhealthy pre-prepared foods? Should they be ensuring we all eat as well as we can?
The problem is ready made meals and fast foods are often cheaper and much more readily available than fresh foods, plus with our work hours getting longer each year, we have less time to devote to meal preparation. On top of that, overregulation can result in a black market for unhealthy foods, promoting illegal trade and potentially unsafe products and it may stigmatise certain foods, leading to an unhealthy relationship with food and the development of eating disorders, exactly the kind of thing the regulations would be trying to prevent.
Whilst we want protection as consumers, should governments be banning us from eating things like McDonald’s more than once a week? Should they be making people buy fruit and veggies and banning the more unhealthy pre-prepared foods? Should they be ensuring we all eat as well as we can?
The problem is ready made meals and fast foods are often cheaper and much more readily available than fresh foods, plus with our work hours getting longer each year, we have less time to devote to meal preparation. On top of that, overregulation can result in a black market for unhealthy foods, promoting illegal trade and potentially unsafe products and it may stigmatise certain foods, leading to an unhealthy relationship with food and the development of eating disorders, exactly the kind of thing the regulations would be trying to prevent.
Join me in conversation with Ryan O’Connor as we look at diet, weight issues, body image, obesity and discrimination and the need – or not – for more government involvement.
About Today’s Guest: Ryan O'Connor
Playwrite, Award-Winning Actor, Director, Author
Ryan is an award winning actor and playwrite who co-owns Someone New Theatre Company where he produces and directs performances. His University-level education in Psychology, Philosophy and Criminology prior to doing Theatre gave him valuable insights and experiences into human mind and behaviour.
