Storm clouds over Jersey fats. By Paul Goldfinger
By Paul Goldfinger, MD, FACC
We all have heard that there is an epidemic of fat people in this country: 1/3 of the adult population is obese, and 1/3 is overweight. 18% of children are obese. This trend has been rising since 1980 and continues to go up. Obesity causes chronic diseases such as hypertension, heart disease, sleep apnea, and diabetes. These conditions in turn result in death and disability from a variety of complications such as heart attack, stroke and cancer.
Anatomically modern Homo sapiens appeared about 200,000 years ago. During most of that history, food was scarce. At first, modern man would forage for food, but later, farming was invented which created a more predictable food supply.
Around 1970, in the US, government subsidies and scientific advances created a huge increase in production by our farms. The end result has been an oversupply of cheap food. We eat too many calories, too often, and in too many places.* The caloric intake of Americans has gone up along with our weight. Now, obesity has become a norm in our society, and the image of obesity seems to be acceptable. This phenomenon of excess food intake is, according to experts, new in human history, and our species has so far adjusted poorly.
The food industry has been making huge profits by marketing foods that are high in sugar, salt and fat. These cheap foods contain excess calories and are tempting because they stimulate centers in the brain which release chemicals such as dopamine which reward the pleasure receptors that make us want more. We tend to underestimate our caloric intake and we eat more than our bodies require for normal function.
This topic is very complicated, but here are some factoids that represent the latest knowledge in the field:
—Weight gain and weight loss are usually slow processes. If you reduce your caloric intake by perhaps 200 calories a day, you will lose some weight, but it can take a year or more.
—Our agriculture industry is producing massive amounts of corn and soy beans. These are used to feed cows instead of hay, oats and alfalfa. Cheap animal food results in inexpensive fatty meats. Processed foods contain huge amounts of corn derived sugar, in the form of high fructose corn syrup. Such carbohydrates are concealed in foods such as cereals, yogurt, and peanut butter.
—Cheap sugary drinks are sold to kids in 64 ounce cups of soda which contain 800 calories. Many other foods are now sold in bigger portions including cookies and bagels. Portion sizes, in general, at home and in restaurants, have become larger than ever before. The ready availability of inexpensive and highly profitable high calorie foods has enabled the omnipresent and generally unhealthy fast food industry.
—25% of Americans get no exercise at all. Our jobs and life styles are sedentary. This is a change which continues to get worse, as we burn less calories. This is one of many modern trends which have come together to produce the obesity epidemic.
–There is little profit in growing fruits and vegetables. The agriculture industry is not interested in this kind of farming. There are no federal subsidies for growing apples or spinach.
–How to combat the epidemic? Mostly it’s a question of knowledge and self control. Government policies can help, especially in the area of subsidies. Parents need to get serious about this issue for their kids.
References:
“Weight of the Nation,” HBO documentary , May 2012
“A Mathematical Challenge to Obesity,” NY Times, May 15, 2012
“Calories are everywhere, yet Hard to Track,” NY Times, March 20, 2012
Blogfinger articles (links):
Looking for food in all the wrong places. *
“Prevention Does Work: A Guide to a Healthy Heart” (2011) by Paul Goldfinger, MD and Eileen Goldfinger, BA. Available at the Comfort Zone, Amazon.com, iUniverse.com and BarnesandNoble. com.
Thirsty and in need of a “big gulp”? Drink water!
As for Mayor Bloomberg, if only we had his insights and intellect to guide Neptune Township.
Tax sodas over 16 ounces like cigarettes. A $12 Bug Gulp should get the job done.
Don’t Burden Me, You are absolutely right. And if the government would get out of insurance, your burden would be greatly reduced.
I resent having to pay financially for other people’s behavior. E.g., the accidents motorcyclists not wearing helmets and drunk drivers have. Voluntary obesity is in the same class, major difference being it takes a longer more determined effort to put on the weight and the medical expenses are ultimately much greater, most of which are borne by others like you and me.
Charles, I agree – bad things and bad choices can kill. But adults still have the right to make choices. I’m just grateful Mr. Bloomberg isn’t the “Mayor of Ocean Grove.” Heaven knows, he’d be closing the beach between 12 noon and 4 pm; you know how bad those sun rays are for you.
My point is, I’d rather speak up now when the dictates don’t affect me (I don’t drink soda) than sit around and wait until it is an issue that is important to me.
@Nancy McManus,
You hit the nail on the head. Moves like banning “Big Gulps” is bordering on tyranny. What next, you are only allowed to buy certain groceries?
Come on folks, this is a PERSONAL responsibility issue, NOT yours or “Big Government’s”
If you want to charge people higher insurance rates for engaging in high risk activities (as in being a smoker) that is fine, but to penalize the guy who generally engages in healthy activities JUST BECAUSE he is extra thirsty is sheer “nuts.” What next, you can only buy ONE 16 oz soda, one beer?
ROLFLAO
As I said, I can take my tourist business elsewhere, other than NY.
I’ve come to look upon the types of foods Paul cites in his article as dangerous (and addictive) products — like cigarettes. It isn’t just that we all have to pay for the health consequences, it’s that millions of people get sick and die from their consumption. I think the research on that is convincing. To me, the obesity epidemic, especially among children, is a national tragedy, which only grows worse.
Yes. You might think it’s ok to allow someone to overstep their boundaries because of a potentially (but, in this case, highly unlikely) positive outcome. That pragmatism might serve you well in the moment, but would you be ok with another authority voted in who wields his or her authority against something you feel strongly about. Power is rarely relinquished without a fight. I think many of us who let this and that go by without a fight are finally waking up and saying, “Stop.”
By the way, in the case of Bloomberg’s overreach – the concern for me isn’t whether or not someone can buy an over-sized soda, it is the fact that this man has his nose in private businesses. It’s happening way too often, to the detriment of the economy, and they need to butt out.
As far as the rest of us having to pay for the consequences of obesity, that is only because the government has its filthy little fingers in the insurance business creating a false crises whereby many cannot afford private insurance. Coming in as the savior is like the man who kills both parents and then throws himself on the mercy of the court because he’s an orphan.
But do you want to reclaim it by rolling back Bloomberg’s efforts to fight obesity? Is that the right battleground for that fight?
Charles, The operative words in your post are, “…they were arrived at through a democratic process, and at the behest of the citizens themselves, not some alien “Nanny State” government,” and that is in direct conflict with Mr. Bloomberg’s ever growing authority, because he feels that he knows what is best.
Authority is essential for order. Unchecked authority is tyranny. Unfortunately, many in the public sector have taken more and more authority for themselves. Fortunately, many of us have awakened, and are remembering that they are public *servants.* They work for us. Time to reclaim that.
I applaud New York City for trying to cut down on obesity by banning giant servings of calorie-rich, nutrition-poor soft drinks. I wish other governments would do more to discourage the sale and consumption of the kind of foods that ruin people’s health. This is absolutely the public’s concern, especially when corporations promote and sell products to innocent children that damage their long-term health. (We might well call this what it truly is: child abuse.)
One could argue that I, as a free individual, have a right to eat myself to death on junk foods. However, when millions do that, it imposes tremendous health-care and other costs on all of us. It is analogous to the problem of pollution. When a company dumps toxic waste or pollutes a river or stream with its effluent, that affects the well-being of the entire society and imposes clean-up costs on everyone. Therefore the government must regulate pollution.
We need the government, as the instrument of the public at large, to take an interest in many aspects of life. Leaving the solutions to “each individual if they want to” guarantees that there’ll be no solutions.
Most Ocean Grovers understand the need for zoning, beach safety, building code, maintenance code, anti-littering and other restrictions in order for us to enjoy the benefits of a clean, healthy, orderly, pleasant society. We don’t allow dog poop to be left in the parks. We don’t let people park their cars near intersections. We don’t allow restaurants to serve alcohol. Heck, we don’t even let people paint their houses any color they choose. You might not agree with every one of those decisions, but they were arrived at through a democratic process, and at the behest of the citizens themselves, not some alien “Nanny State” government.
Fine, there is an epidemic, but that is each individual to solve IF they want to.
There is no way that a “Nanny State Minded” government should tell us what we can eat. Now, NY is banning “Big Gulps.” Fine, I’ll spend my money in another city.
This is a quote by Dr Marion Nestle, NYU professor of nutrition, food studies and public health, quoted in the NY Times March 20 article.
“I don’t count calories, and I don’t recommend counting calories,” Dr. Nestle said. “I recommend eating food. You have to pay attention to eating better and in moderation: plenty of fruits and vegetables, lean meats, and whole grains in reasonable portions, and not too much junk food.”
Thank you for this article. Earlier today we had a not-so-convincing discussion of why we were “too tired” to do the Jazzercise exercise show that’s on Cablevision’s channel 77 at 4:00 p.m.! Thanks to this Blogfinger “nudge,” we’re turning off our computers and going out for a loooonnnngggg walk!