Critical reading – obesity and public health response Read the paragraph: Obesity is a serious national problem that can lead to diabetes, asthma, heart disease, and possibly some cancers. The passage argues that major public-health campaigns which raise awareness and promote simple, sustained lifestyle changes are a crucial first step to combat obesity. Based on this, which statement is best supported by the paragraph?

Introduction / Context:
Critical reading questions ask you to select the claim that is most directly supported by the author’s text, without adding new assumptions. Here the passage lists health risks of obesity and recommends a public-health strategy as a “crucial first step.”

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Obesity is serious and linked to diabetes, asthma, heart disease, and possibly certain cancers.
• Major public-health campaigns can raise awareness and propose simple lifestyle changes.
• With diligence and desire, such changes can eliminate or at least mitigate obesity’s incidence.
• These campaigns are described as a “crucial first step.”

Concept / Approach:
Select the statement that is an immediate, conservative inference from the passage. Prefer wording that mirrors the author’s emphasis on awareness and lifestyle change as an effective first step, rather than extreme or unmentioned claims.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Identify the author’s main actionable point: launch public-health campaigns to fight obesity.Map this to the answer choice that says such campaigns are a productive way to fight obesity.Eliminate choices that introduce specifics (TV habits, fast food, asthma rates) not asserted in the passage.

Verification / Alternative check:
Paraphrase: “Campaigns that raise awareness and offer simple changes are a crucial first step.” This directly supports the productivity of such campaigns.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• “Leading cause of diabetes” is not stated; diabetes is one of several risks.
• TV/exercise habits are not discussed.
• “Radically decrease asthma” is stronger than the text supports.
• Fast-food/school lunches are never mentioned.

Common Pitfalls:
Choosing an option that seems plausible in real life but is not explicitly supported by the specific paragraph.

Final Answer:
public health campaigns that raise consciousness and propose lifestyle changes are a productive way to fight obesity.