The Killer American Diet That’s Sweeping the Planet Article Analysis Example

In the Article “The Killer American Diet That’s Sweeping the Planet” author and nutritionist Dean Ornish claims the spike in global deaths is due to ill eating habits and can be easily prevented by making a diet change. Ornish speaks on how adults and children alike are falling into dangerous habits and why they need to be addressed. Their diction in the writing is very critical to encourage the reader to take it seriously. He brings up many different statistics to set the tone for the rest of the article. The tone is also set by bringing awareness to the unhealthy American diet and how other countries that are adapting to it are dying. The author writes because they want to make a change in the world. By using an analytical tone and data from a variety of sources Ornish conveys to the reader that by creating awareness about our diet and making an effort to reverse the damage already done we can improve the overall health of people around the globe. 

There needs to be more public awareness of what Americans consume. In the article the author is constantly bringing up this “American Diet” this refers to the fast-food and overall unhealthy food we intake. While talking about this we see statistics such as two-thirds of adults and 15% of children are suffering from obesity in America, we also are told that diabetes has increased by 70% from 1995 to 2006.  Because these statistics are straight out said and are noticeably large numbers make it easier for the reader to understand. Seeing how the author uses children in their claims can make the reader more empathetic to the cause, this can help push the author's claim. Adding to that we also notice the tone in this section of the writing to be very dry, showing that the text is focused on getting the analytics in the open for the reader to see. In the text, Ornish also states that Because of the way kids are eating they might be the first generation to live a shorter life than their parents. This creates a dilemma for the audience because what they are putting inside of their kids and themselves is only causing them harm. Secondly using this data gathered about diseases caused by these diets and mentioning their fatality the author hits a soft spot for readers. Many already know that an ill diet can negatively affect one's life but to this extent, it gives them cause for concern; this is how the author uses pathos in their writing. 

Because other countries are starting to develop traits as America has, there are mass amounts of health crises going on. In the passage Ornish is constantly comparing America to other countries and how they differ but what do they have in common? They all have had a sharp decline in health over the last several decades. He uses Asia as a specific example stating that they went from one of the healthiest countries to one of the worse in a short amount of time.   The author includes lengthy evidence to back up these claims. He mentions other countries and their data to compare it to America to show how drastic and dangerous these changes are. Ornish overall uses a very logical tone in the text; this is told by his monotone wording and how he does not use too much emotional appeal. They are at the top of diet-related health problems. Heart, blood vessels, and weight-related diseases still kill more people than all other health maladies combined, all over the world, Ornish says. By mentioning this the author exerts the more unsettling facts for the reader's reaction. Additionally by mentioning death Ornish is using emotional topics for his argument. Furthermore, the author describes his data in a way to get the reader's attention but not bore them.

More effort needs to be made to reverse the damage that has already been done. Ornish expresses that because we can control our diets we can control the diseases caused by them. He also mentions that with his and others' efforts they are trying to make healthy food more convenient to obtain on the regular.. While talking about this we can see a change in diction because the author is now using more first-person nouns. They are doing this because it establishes a better connection with the reader, this is because it is like they are talking directly to them. We often do not give too much thought to what we put into our bodies until it causes a problem. Ornish notes that the American approach to food tends to focus on convenience and flavor, not nutrition, this can be read through other statistics he has brought up earlier. By backing up these claims with data the author is establishing credibility. In addition to this, he also connects to readers by then using more inclusive nouns. Altogether Ornish does well at finding the problem and trying to work towards a solution.

Overall the author's exigence shows how they are willing and prepared to try and make a change in the world. Ornish wants to help people get healthy and stay that way. They use data and real-life accounts to help back up all their claims and try to convince readers that they also need to make a change. During the last paragraph, he turns his tone around by talking with emotion directly to his audience. The style of the author’s writing and the statistics they use all push the main claim: by creating awareness about our diet and making an effort to reverse the damage already done we can improve the overall health of people around the globe.