Con: The Waistline is Just Fine

There is a definite line between addressing a problem and plain exploitation. In Georgia’s case, their billboards displaying overweight children cross the line and should not be allowed to be put up. It is neither effective nor morally right to display them for everyone to see.

The signs show overweight kids and use phrases like, “Big bones didn’t make me this way, big meals did,” or “Fat kids become fat adults”. Children do not like being teased about their weight at school by other children, and we discourage this, so what are we teaching them by letting adults tease them in front of an entire city?

These billboards should not be p
ut up. There are other ways to address the problem of childhood obesity. Georgia took a big chance when they allowed these signs to be posted, and the huge response they have received has been largely negative. This should give them the hint that maybe they should find a better way to change statistics.

Pro: Slimming Down the Waistline

When it comes to child obesity no lines can be crossed. It requires unfathomable ignorance not to recognize its significance. Obesity is already the product of American consumer culture, and starting early will not solve any problems. The billboards posted by strong4life should not be heavily criticized for their rash nature toward child obesity; though eating addictions are arguably just as addictive as smoking and just as hard to quit, that does not equate to excessive sympathy for their situation.

Obesity doesn’t just happen to people, they allow it to happen to themselves and for it to get out of control. The fact that people can be publicly ridiculed for smoking and other bad habits, or even inalterable things like sexual preferences, but not for their weight or eating habits creates a double standard. It intends to protect others’ dignity, but only increases the waistline of the problem.

Since obesity does not have the same tag of addiction like some other harmful substances, the American public gives less thought to its harms. In fact, the public and consumerist economy plays right into it, offering fatty foods on ridiculously oversized platters, which after consumption can be cured with magic pills or surgeries.

These billboards just remind us of the harms of obesity and the even worse epidemic of child obesity.