Obesity & Weight Control in the U.S.

It’s the end of the semester, so my nutrition classes are now focusing on a topic that is always of interest to everyone—obesity and weight control in the U.S.

My instructor showed us an ABC news special titled, “How To Get Fat Without Even Trying.” (You can click on the title to take you to the shortened youTube version). Although the content was decent, I didn’t like the title at all.

It gives the impression that no matter what American’s do and where we eat, we’re bound to get fat. Our government focuses on making a profit rather than on educating the public about eating healthy and nutritious food. This bound-to-get-fat notion seems true, but only to a certain extent.

Certain “interest” groups, like the meat & dairy industry, receive government subsidies to further get their product to the American people. In turn, these “interest” groups make substantial donations to so and so’s campaign. A “I scratch your back, you scratch mine.” In the end, we, the American people suffer. I don’t support how subsidies are given to these certain groups, and how law makers in charge of our health, do not seem to care. Even so, the power to be healthy is still in one’s own hands. I believe we are all fully capable of making our own choices.

For instance, myself and many others, who choose not to eat meat don’t support these groups by not buying their products (poultry, beef) or consuming less of it. We, as consumers, do have a say in what we put in our mouths, and our children’s mouths. It is not completely out of our hands. Yes, healthy food is expensive, but this reality does not have to stay concrete. Currently, non-healthy foods received great amounts of subsidies, therefore the food is cheaper. Now, if we were able to get the right people in positions of power, we would be able to re-direct these same subsidies to more nutritious foods. Yet, this is not the case as our current department of health and human services remains unwilling to change.

I do want to add that Obesity is a far more complex topic than just choosing to eat the right foods. AS you’ve read from my little spat, it deals with race, class, and politics. Unfortunately, It’s not a surprise that ABC did not cover these aspects.

You’ll see a similar food pyramid on the video clip, but I just wanted to add this one from Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM). While it is the older version, it still gives us a fairly accurate view on how certain groups, (i.e. the ranching, and dairy industry) are favored over others.

Notice that in the pyramid to the left, fruits and vegetables are given the least federal subsidies.

Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine

Now here’s what I ate today:

BREAKFAST:

Cereal with plain soy milk

Coffee, black

Lunch:

Lemon soy yogurt topped with honey granola

I stopped by Cafe Rooze today to get Fair Trade Coffee Beans. I walked out with a free cup of coffee and a panino.

Basil, Mozzarella, tomato, and pesto panino on focaccia. I saved the other half for Long. I could have made it at home, but lately the lazy gene has consumed me.

SNACK:

cold fuji apple

Iced blended chai tea with vanilla soy milk.