Obesity in the UK The UK obesity forecast is calling for continued waist enlargement and scales groaning under the added weight.
That prediction, from Britain's Department of Health (DOH), has set off a debate over who or what is responsible for the obesity boom. One camp believes that the food industry is to blame as companies crank out junk food and devote millions of dollars to market the junk to kids. Another camp puts the blame on people who won't curb their junk food intake and only get any exercise when they go looking for the remote control.
Professor Michael Lean has a foot in both camps. Food Navigator reports that Professor Lean (the holder of the Rank Chair of Human Nutrition at the University of Glasgow) believes that obesity is the result of high calorie intake combined with low levels of physical activity. And that's right on the money.
But he also recognizes the role that food manufacturers play. The professor told Food Navigator that when it comes to obesity, the food industry must display "corporate social responsibility."
That's a good one! As everyone knows, food corporations are strongly inclined to show a desire for the care and feeding of the public, provided the feeding calls for fried foods, cakes, candy, pie, chips, cookies, crackers, white bread, soda pop, processed meat, ice cream treats, etc.
But don't you worry. The DOH has it all figured out. According to Food Navigator, DOH officials plan to advise the public to take personal responsibility for their health (what a concept!), eat less junk, and get more exercise. And one more thing: "Health care providers will also be urged to advise overweight and obese patients to cut fat from their diet."
Cut fat from their diet. When I read that comment it occurred to me that the real cause of the obesity epidemic is the word "fat." Somewhere along the line people started believing that fat intake equals fat people. Once those concepts were connected in the mind of the general public and way too many nutrition experts, there was no letting go.
So now you can tell people all the livelong day: "Some fats are good and some are bad and you need the good ones in your diet. But virtually ALL high glycemic carbs are bad for you. Avoid them." But for most people it won't matter, because the idea that fat consumption equals obesity is stuck, and it's not going away any time soon.
More exercise? Great idea. Cut out all junk food? Perfect. Cut fat from your diet? No way. That's just bad nutrition. Sources:
"UK to Urge Obese to be 'Personally Responsible' for Weight" Stephen Daniells, Food Navigator, 8/21/06, foodnavigator.com |
