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I'm going to lay out this argument in a non-snarky way.
I actually think one can argue that some US gov't actions have contributed to obesity.
What I think is wrong is the popular claim that the gov't is the main cause of the obesity epidemic via its dietary advice. https://twitter.com/whsource/status/1357357031561121793
I actually think one can argue that some US gov't actions have contributed to obesity.
What I think is wrong is the popular claim that the gov't is the main cause of the obesity epidemic via its dietary advice. https://twitter.com/whsource/status/1357357031561121793
I don't think this claim is popular because it fits the evidence. I think it's popular because it appeals to the time-honored American tradition of mistrusting the gov't and authorities, and the deep-rooted human tradition of deflecting responsibility onto mistrusted targets.
The problem with this idea becomes apparent if we examine what Americans actually eat. Here were the top 10 sources of calories in the US diet as of 2006.
https://health.gov/sites/default/files/2020-01/DietaryGuidelines2010.pdf
https://health.gov/sites/default/files/2020-01/DietaryGuidelines2010.pdf
Take a moment to examine the list.
At that time, the #1 source of calories for all age groups was "grain-based desserts", i.e., cake, cookies, and pie. The rest of the list isn't much better.
At that time, the #1 source of calories for all age groups was "grain-based desserts", i.e., cake, cookies, and pie. The rest of the list isn't much better.
Let's look at this from another angle. In 2010, 58 percent of calories in the US diet were from ultra-processed foods, plus another 3% from added sugars and fats. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2015-009892
Examining the data in this study, at least 1/3 of the calories we eat come from foods that are widely recognized as fattening, like cake, fries, pizza, and soda.
If we're looking for an explanation for the high prevalence of obesity in the US, isn't the fact that at least 1/3 of our diet comes from obviously fattening foods a pretty good candidate?
Why do we eat these foods?
No one is going to convince me we eat these foods because we think they're slimming or healthy. Or because we think the gov't or health authorities told us to eat them.
That simply defies common sense.
We know these foods are fattening, and most people eat them anyway.
That simply defies common sense.
We know these foods are fattening, and most people eat them anyway.
So what's the real reason we eat these foods?
The full picture is undoubtedly more complex than I can put into a tweet, and some aspects of it are undoubtedly beyond my knowledge. But here's a hypothesis that I think explains some of it.
The full picture is undoubtedly more complex than I can put into a tweet, and some aspects of it are undoubtedly beyond my knowledge. But here's a hypothesis that I think explains some of it.
We like foods/drinks that are convenient, cheap, and tasty.
As technology and affluence have progressed, processed foods fitting that description have become more available. We also have less time to cook as women have entered the workforce.
Result: more fattening foods.
As technology and affluence have progressed, processed foods fitting that description have become more available. We also have less time to cook as women have entered the workforce.
Result: more fattening foods.
I don't think it's very useful to think about this situation in terms of who we should "blame". That puts things on a moral/emotional footing that clouds judgment.
Better to simply understand why things are the way they are without wagging fingers.
Better to simply understand why things are the way they are without wagging fingers.
