Looking for the obesity bogeyman
The fast food, snack and confectionery companies seem to be in the dock for the rising levels of obesity in the UK. This is all based on a mixture of bad science, risk aversion and societal self-loathing.
(1) We have enough food to go around for the first time in our history. We can actually fuss about the quality of what we eat, when and where we eat it, and if we're all eating too much. Most of us eat a greater variety of foodstuffs than ever before. But this achievement is generally ignored.
(2) MPs asked various food companies to explain how far people would have to run to burn off the calories consumed in their products. So, for example, running off the energy from a Big Mac meal would require running nine miles. But this is a stupid comparison. Most of the calories we burn each day would be burned even if we lay in bed, because they are required for the general maintenance of our bodies. It is unrealistic to assume that people always eat 'junk' food on top of their normal food intake. If I've eaten a Big Mac meal, that is generally as one of my three meals per day. If people decide to eat more than three meals a day, they're bound to get fat. That's not the responsibility of McDonalds.
(3) The obsession with obesity ignores the fact that our food is not toxic. Obesity will not kill people in and of itself, but being heavier does dispose us to other diseases. However, even fat people will probably live into old age. So, the 'obesity epidemic' is really about determining whether we live a few months, or a couple of years, longer but eat less. Some people might decide to be fat and happy, as opposed to thin and always watching their weight. Let's have the freedom to decide for ourselves.
(4) People are, apparently, all morons. One look at Ronald McDonald, and we're all desperate for a hamburger. One 'Books for Schools' promotion and all our kids are shovelling crisps down their throats like there's no tomorrow. There is a vein of utter contempt running through the discussion of food.
Guardian Unlimited | The Guardian | Blame obesity on bad diets, say food chiefs