Vivid depictions of the effects of drug and alcohol abuse, as well as smoking, have been on television for years. However, America’s newest unhealthy trend, obesity, isn’t being addressed with quite the same tone.

Sometimes the anti-drug commercials were in metaphorical forms, such as Rachel Leigh Cook smashing a kitchen with a frying pan, comparing it to the effects of heroin. Other times, real life situations were shown, like the guy watching a movie with his date while spitting tobacco into a cup, which his date inadvertently takes from him without looking and drinks.

Soon very graphic commercials with anti-crystal meth messages are going to be shown in Illinois. One depicts the aftermath of a girl who prostitutes herself for drug money with the help of her boyfriend.

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While the government and various agencies have done their best to shock the population into avoiding harmful substances, another very pressing health issue is not getting the same attention.

Obesity in America is an epidemic. According to the Center for Disease Control, just more than 30 percent, 100 million people, of the U.S. population is obese. That’s roughly 100 million people. In Illinois, some 24 percent of the adults are obese. However, recent campaigns for public commercials and announcement about the problem have been labeled too soft.

The “Small Steps” campaign, a collaboration between the Ad Council and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, has put out several ads that advocate, of all things, small steps. The campaign advises things like eating half a dessert, or getting off a bus a stop early and walking.

Somehow it seems unlikely that a few light-hearted commercials about walking more would turn the tide of fat that is rippling across the nation.

One of the major problems the commercials should address is the overabundance of sugar-loaded snack food, especially its appeal to youth.

Just like graphic drug commercials targeted kids before illegal substance became a problem, it’s important to reach children before poor eating habits overrun their routine. Children need to understand that overindulgence on chips, sodas and candy can lead to multiple medical problems and even diabetes.

Somehow, though, showing commercials that highlight the negative health effects of being overweight and obesity has become the elephant in the room, possibly because of political correctness.

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One major issue that arises from addressing of obesity is that of offense. Since such a large amount of Americans are extra large, they would be offended by a negative portrayal of their lifestyle. Those with weight problems often suffer from self-image problems.

What seems to be overlooked is the point of the issue; this is not about what is socially sexy, but what is healthy and life-preserving.

With so many people in America endangering their lives with what they eat and how they live, a more aggressive campaign seems to be needed. Although officials may worry about stepping on toes, they should first concern themselves with making sure people can see those toes.

Wenger is a junior studying Spanish and journalism.

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