HEALTH POLITICS - A diet that is heavy on oversized sodas and trans-fats will hurt your waistline and your health. We know this. Breastfeeding is preferred over formula-feeding for its nutritional advantages and bonding opportunities. Most of us know this, as well. In fact, we are bombarded with facts, data, and studies reiterating the basics of nutritional health to us on a daily basis, and this information is nothing new.
What is new, however, is the control that some governments are exercising over their citizens’ nutritional and parenting choices. For instance, the Cleveland city council passed a law last year to ban restaurants from using cooking oils containing trans-fats and New York City Mayor, Michael Bloomberg, recently proposed a ban on the sale of large sodas and other sugary drinks.
Additionally, beginning on September 3, pursuant to the Latch On NYC initiative, new mothers who request that their newborns be fed formula in NYC hospitals must first state a reason for choosing formula and receive a lecture on the advantages of breastfeeding.
While breastfeeding activists are applauding Latch On NYC and health advocates promoting the removal of trans-fats and sodas from restaurants, many others are balking at the power that some governments are attempting to exert over citizens’ ability to make private and personal choices.
Regardless of the foundational good intentions of these bans and restrictions, they verge on infantilizing adults by removing their ability to make decisions about what goes into and out of their bodies.
Latch On NYC comes dangerously close to the implication that women are either ignorant of advantages to breastfeeding or selfishly making a poor choice, and thereby demoralizes women who, for whatever reason, have decided not to breastfeed.
While breastfeeding may be nutritionally advantageous, there are a myriad of reasons that breastfeeding is not the optimal option and women who choose to exercise control over their bodies and their relationship with their child will now have their parenting skills called into question.
The same is true for nutritional restrictions. By taking away our ability to enjoy a jumbo-sized sugar-laden soda or indulge in an order of onion rings that is dripping with trans-fats, government officials are assuming that we, as adult citizens, are incapable of making our own decisions.
They presume that without their bans and restrictions, well-informed adults will make the “wrong” decision.
They picture us as children who, under their heavy hand of discipline, will be lured into making the “right” decisions. And, ultimately, they believe that they know the right and wrong decisions.
Don’t get me wrong. I am not promoting that we throw caution to the wind, disregard known medical facts, and encourage a diet of soda and fried foods. Nor am I suggesting that breastfeeding be shunned. I am a strong proponent of a healthful, well-rounded diet. I know and understand that breastfeeding – for many – is the preferred nutritional choice, and that breastfeeding should be encouraged and supported.
But perhaps health initiatives would be better served by more education and access to information, and less control and admonishment. Or I fear that, like a child with an overly-strict parent, we just may turn into headstrong, rebellious teenagers who are incapable of making any of our own decisions, much less positive ones.
(Christine is a freelance writer and blogger. As a freelance writer and former lawyer, she frequently writes blogs and web content for attorneys and law firms. She blogs at Random Reflectionz. This piece was posted first at theurbn.com)
Photo Credit: Robyn Lee via Flickr
-cw
CityWatch
Vol 10 Issue 64
Pub: Aug 10, 2012