It's Not You, It's Me: How Society Inflicts Obesity A Rhetorical Analysis. In the essay, "Why Shame Won't Stop Obesity," author Dhruv Khullar begs the

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1 Meagan Borgsmiller Prof. Hays Rhet February 2018 Word Count: 1303 It's Not You, It's Me: How Society Inflicts Obesity A Rhetorical Analysis Borgsmiller! 1 In the essay, "Why Shame Won't Stop Obesity," author Dhruv Khullar begs the question, whom do we point the finger at for these skyrocketing obesity rates? Medical student Dhruv Khullar argues that society has created a lifestyle of obesity. The author proclaims, "[w]hile taking responsibility for one's health is certainly part of the solution, we must also recognize that we have created a food environment so ripe for obesity that to expect anything else would be irrational." (Khullar 136). In the author's thesis, the word 'ripe' is unbearably powerful. Ripeness is urgent, it has been prepared to the fullest, almost oozing for attention. Now apply that thought to nutrition, the junk food is unavoidably toxic. Expenses, advertisements, convenience and addiction, how could one possibly avoid junk food? In this essay, Khullar goes against popular opinion of shaming obese individuals and instead shames society for not making healthy options more accessible to all kinds of people. The author argues how richer people are healthier because they can afford the prices of better quality food. People on the lower tier of the social pyramid can rarely afford the luxury of fresh food. Khullar states, "[ ] people living in low-income areas

2 have limited access to healthy food options for a variety of reasons, a barrier that! 2 contributes to their particularly high risk for being obese." (Khullar 136). Ponder this, how is Khullar supposed to advise his patients to eat healthy when they cannot afford a healthy lifestyle? Khullar recalls his exigence, "[ ] it's lunchtime and I'm hungry. I slip off to the hospital cafeteria and begin to ponder why these patients can't seem to lead a healthier lifestyle. As I wait in line, I consider a more pressing problem: should I get the fried chicken or the four-cheese pizza? [ ] Only then do I ask myself what exactly I would have recommended my patients eat [ ] had they joined me for lunch. (Khullar 134). Khullar, himself admits he has a difficult time making healthy habits. His ability to admit to his faults brings truth to his writing. Khullar's truth is mirrored through both the logos and pathos end of the Rhetorical Triangle. By bringing truth to his writing, Khullar touches the hearts of his readers and keeps a logical elaborate argument. The author evolves this logic through the Toulmin Analysis. In the Toulmin Analysis, warrants are expressed as seldom stated values that the author has. Khullar shows one of his warrants through the sentence, "This, sadly, is the case in the cafeteria of a major hospital, an institution devoted to preserving and promoting health." (Khullar 135). The author uses the word 'devoted' to show the warrant to his readers. Khullar's warrant is, an institution sworn to helping others is hurting them through their contradictory behaviors, such as the cafeteria menu. This example is one of the many corrupt issues that sparked his desire to act on obesity. Khullar is interested in "public health and social justice," (Bauer 134). His interests have inspired him to be the change in the obesity community. Khullar, "considers obesity a public health as well as a social justice issue, one that

3 disproportionately affects minority groups and the poor." Bauer 134). As a medical! 3 student, Khullar has likely struggled for money and experienced the lower end of the social pyramid. Khullar realizes that not only is healthy food often inaccessible but, when it is, the cost is detrimental. Many may say it takes a larger sum of money for fresh foods to be convenient because of the preservation process. What about the atrocious amounts of money spent on promotions for junk food which could be used towards the harvesting and preserving of fresh foods? The misconception that there is no money for fresh foods is what inspires obesity. Advertisement leaves a memory in our brains every time we catch a glimpse of an ad. Our brains will recall this ad later in the day increasing our chances of consuming the product. No matter what, the devilish behavior of advertisements controls our thoughts. Khullar argues, "Americans today are exposed to an unprecedented amount of readily available high-fat, high-calorie, and low-nutrient foods. We are saturated with junk food advertising. We are eating more and more meals outside the home, and portion sizes are bigger than ever. Healthy options are more frequently the exception than the rule." (Khullar 135). The author makes a strong argument that healthy foods should be the rule and not the exception. Growing up around all these kid-directed advertisements have forced parents to praise their children for eating healthy. Imagine if there was no praise around eating vegetables and it was the norm among children. Instead, children are the targets and main business partners to this scheme. Children are relentless, so much to the point parents tend to give in. Not only are the children having the junk food, but the parents are more likely to indulge as well. As the author states, "Another important

4 measure would be to minimize junk food advertising, especially to children. Each year,! 4 the food industry spends nearly $2 billion marketing its products to children, and evidence suggests that children exposed to junk food advertising express greater preference for these types of foods." (Khullar 135). In this portion of the essay, Khullar reaches both the pathos and logos side of the reader. Khullar uses intense imagery to affect the intellectual aspect of the reader. Khullar argues the logical side because as we think of how vulnerable children are to advertisements. Khullar then adds the pathos, emotion, that we are defensive and protective of our children, younger siblings, cousins, etc. The colors, the characters, the commercials of kids enjoying the product, all of which contribute to the obesity among children. All of which does not help solve the problem since, people of obesity are already "[ ] struggling with the psychosocial consequences of being overweight," (Khullar 135). The smallest details of advertising lure the adolescent minds. Consumers have not noticed that children cereal boxes with a mascot have their eyes directed downward; a tactic for children to buy the product. According to Cornell University s Food and Brand Lab, When cereal spokes-characters on the package make eye contact with consumers, consumers feel more positive feelings towards the product. (Cornell University, 1). Of course, these elaborate details are not seen in the vegetable aisle. Khullar demands that healthier foods are to be made more convenient to the public. As many could agree, junk food is normally abundant. Junk food takes up the majority of shelf space in grocery stores. Even though there are designated areas in the grocery store, junk food has no boundaries. Impulsive temptations that comes from

5 unavoidable junk food, inflicts obesity. Not only are last-minute additions (like candy! 5 bars at the checkout) wildly available, they are often at a discounted price. Khullar shares a similar error in junk food abundance, "When you can buy 2,000 calories for under $10 at your neighborhood McDonald's, but have trouble getting your hands on an apple it is difficult to justify trying to shame anyone into skinniness." (Khullar 136). Lower income households cannot avoid these options that are readily available. The new junk foods are so well constructed that they are driving our future generations further into the ground. Dhruv Khullar's essay poses valid assumptions on how society has inflicted obesity. Obesity is not always the individual's fault. The author provides rebuttal knowing the misconceptions of the readers. One of the rebuttals given is, today's youth is healthier than ever because of healthier products on the market. Khullar denies this logic by stating, "Todays' youth may be the first generation of Americans to live shorter, [ ]. Let this not be our legacy." (Khullar 137). Khullar leaves the reader on a note of motivation in hope that this generation will rise upward oppose to the usual denial and infliction of obesity.

6 Works Cited Page Borgsmiller! 6 Cornell University. Cereal Box Psychology. Food & Brand Lab Web Accessed on 6 May Khullar, Dhruv. "Why Shame Won't Stop Obesity. Food Matters: A Bedford Spotlight Reader, Second Edition. Edited by Holly Bauer; Bedford/St. Martin's Macmillan Learning pp