Before coming to the US I used to eat a fair amount of junk food, it was quick, tasty and a cop out because yours truly is a lousy cook. My soda intake? We went through several of the litre bottles in a week, Coke, Diet Coke, Sierra Mist, Seven Up. Veggies were mostly potatoes in various different guises. My diet wasn’t healthy but I walked a lot and played badminton and that kept my weight down. In 2001 we moved to Utah no exercise, no job and no motivation I piled on the pounds but I looked skinny compared to some of the population. For the first time in my life I saw people who were fat above and below the belt.
So now you know I’m not a health Nazi my body isn’t a temple. It’s gone from new sky scraper - all sleek and businesslike to listed building, ageing gracefully but in need of constant vigilance in case the roof falls in or something goes wrong with the plumbing.
So here’s my take on what’s wrong and maybe how to fix it.
For starters, the portion sizes in the US are out of control, all you can eat, endless, free refills, supersize and of course – the buffet. The advertising of fast food after 8pm should be banned – you’ve just had dinner and now here comes a hamburger/taco/steak all glistening and shiny and your taste buds go ‘ping’ and you want to eat again.
Most of the food you eat wouldn’t have been classed as food a couple of generations ago. I used to love chicken nuggets until I found out what goes into making them and don’t get me started on the evils of the twinkie.
Being overweight causes health issues, heart problems, digestive disorders, sleep apnea, types 1 & 2 diabetes. So overeating is the problem what about solutions?
Regulate Food Advertising, make them pay to play but not on their terms. Advertise fast food during the day and not on every ad break. No fast food ads after 8pm. The money this brings in could be used to build community gardens in every area, giveaway seeds to encourage people to grow their own vegetables.
Tax soda. This is being widely considered by several states more as a revenue generator than a health concern. The Time article (link is shown at the bottom of the page) suggests that putting 1 penny in tax on each teaspoon of sugar in a bottle of soda would up the price by 10c and generate 90 million dollars would could then to be used to fund obesity fighting initiatives.
Ban High Fructose Corn Syrup. This cheaper alternative to sugar is found in everything from breakfast cereal to processed meats, hfcs has been linked to obesity, although if you search the web you’ll find the hfcs people have been busy for every article saying its bad for you there’s one saying that’s rubbish. If you want a persuasive argument try taste, sugar just tastes better, that’s why most of Europe still uses sugar.
Access to fresh fruit and vegetables. There are areas in the US where lower income families have little chance of buying fresh produce and the selection at convenience stores is expensive and inferior quality. What they can get on every street corner is cheap, empty calories for only a dollar.
Overhaul fast food. There’s a difference between junk food (empty calories) and fast food (fresh, nutritious and made in front of you) Mediterranean, Asian and Indian which are good for you and full of flavour should be encouraged as a healthy substitute.
In conclusion I’d like to end with a joke.
How many psychiatrists does it take to change a lightbulb.
Only one but the lightbulb has got to want to change.
And that could be the biggest problem, changing the national mindset. In UK hardly any one over 35 would be seen dead in a McDonalds unless they had a child in tow. In the US it is not uncommon to see seniors 65 and older chowing down on a burger as part of their daily routine.
Michael Pollan – The Omnivore’s Dilemma, In Defence of Food
Food Inc
Supersize Me
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