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TAKING SIDES ANALYSIS REPORT (LONG FORM)

Name: Ana de Freitas
Course: Biology 1090
Book: Taking Sides: Clashing Views in Food and Nutrition
Issue number: 3 Title of issue: Can an Overemphasis on Eating Healthy Become Unhealthy?
1. Author and major thesis of the Yes side: Lindsey Getz states, Theres a fine line between including
foods deemed healthy in your diet and eating nothing but! The author believes that dieticians and
other health specialists should be cautious of the potential dangers of Orthorexia. Orthorexia is a term
which is said to be a desire to eat a perfectly healthy or even pure diet it is not an official term or
eating disorder but its important to know about. Eating healthy is good and is very encouraged but can
be very dangerous if taken to the extremes.
2. Author and major thesis of the No side: Chris Woolston draws his attention to the flaws of the
American diet. He and many other health specialists say that calories are to blame. He came up with two
ways that we overeat calories; either by eating too many calorie-dense foods, or eating too much food
or beverages in general. He states, Many people choose to do both. He talks about two types of diets
which most Americans fall into and their differences. He compares the calorie intake from before and
now which has increased. Overall his main statement is to take control and have moderation.
3. What fallacies of question-framing are made by the authors of the text? None, both authors state
their questions and answer them themselves or talk about the questions. Some questions lead into
different paragraphs. Some make a smooth transition from topic to topic.
4. Briefly state in your own words two facts presented by each side.
Yes side: Orthorexia is not like anorexia. Orthorexia has an emphasis on eating a pure healthy diet.
Anorexia is about the desire to become thin. Another example would be the fact that Orthorexia is
gaining more popularity. A lot of people are trying to be healthy and there have been cases where they
take it to the extreme, so its getting more attention.
No side: Woolston gives statistical information. He states, The average American eats only three
servings a day, and 42 percent eat fewer than two servings a day. He was talking about fruit servings. It
is a fact, there was calculated data. Another fact states was that there is no single American diet. And it
is very obvious. Many people eat differently. Some choose to eat more fruit or not as much meat, etc.
These facts support his overall claim.



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5. Briefly state in your own words two opinions presented by each side.
Yes side: In Getz article, Evelyn Tribole states, Its not an official diagnostic term, but I think its
something thats important for dietitians to know about. This is an opinion because its one person who
thinks that Orthorexia is important. It does not say Orthorexia is important. Another opinion was
stated on the next page when referring to children and the relationship between the dieticians and the
adolescents. Kauffmann says I believe many well-meaning parents, teachers, pediatricians, and even
dietitians are passing on their beliefs about unhealthy foods to children. It seems arguable but it is not
fact. Not all dieticians or health specialists influence the children. He also says I believe it would be
biased.
No side: Personally, I dont think there is much opinion. I think the author uses a lot of statistical data to
prove his points. There is no I statements. This article is fact based. The only opinion that I could see
was at the end when he talks about moderation and taking control over what you eat because that is
what he thinks will help Americans be healthy. But it makes sense, there has been proof to show that
smaller portions help maintain a healthy weight. This avoids opinion completely.
6. Briefly identify as many fallacies on the Yes side as you can. False Clause is shown on the first page
of Getz article. Bratman an MD and author said that he suffered from a psychological obsession with
food and when he was involved with that he said it took up way too much of my life experiences when
there were other things I could have been doing. He demonstrates a relationship between the food
addiction and his thinking after he passed the obsession. Another example is the categorization of
Orthorexia as a disorder. I believe it to be a False dilemma because some believe that it should be an
official eating disorder and others believe it to be a subcategory of already known disorders.
7. Briefly identify as many fallacies on the No side as you can. The No side has no fallacies. It is very fact
based and is not faulty in its wording. The writer used good word choice and had his facts straight.
8. All in all, which author impressed you as being the most empirical in presenting his or her thesis?
Why? I found both sides convincing. I have never heard of Orthorexia before and I have a friend who fits
the description and symptoms. It is a real thing and it does need to be watched for. The author captures
the reader and provides a lot of information and credible sources. In the No side, the author uses a lot of
facts and numbers to back up his claims.
9. Are there any reasons to believe the writers are biased? If so, why do they have these biases? In the
Yes side, there were cases where some health specialists would say I believe and that is bias. In the No
side there was little to no bias.

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10. Which side (Yes or No) do you personally feel is most correct now that you have reviewed the
material in these articles? Why?
I think both are correct. Americans do need to eat healthy and be moderate. Mainly because its
common sense. Obesity has inflated. Fast food companies continue to expand. But also on the Yes side,
Orthorexia is a real thing and going over the limit is bad even if its eating healthy food. Variation is key.
Eating healthy is important.