90 billion dollars. 10 percent increase in calorie increase. Three out of every five Americans. (Pollan 2008, p. 102). All three of these items are characteristic of obesity. Obesity is no longer an issue that can be fought sitting down, but rather it has become an epidemic that needs to be dealt with full force. In Chapter 6 of the Omnivores Dilemma, Pollan discusses the causes behind obesity. Pollan explains that the underlying problem of obesity goes back to the production of the food: the farms and more specifically the production of corn. As individuals, including myself, we do not consider ourselves big corn eaters. What we do not realize is that corn in some form is processed in almost all of the processed foods we get from our supermarkets today. Farmers have discovered how to produce massive amounts of corn for extremely cheap prices. It is easy to simply convert corn into alcohol or even fructose corn syrup. Consumers have no idea how much processed corn they are consuming, and because portion sizes have increased thanks to David Wallerstein, consumers are eating larger amounts of the wrong types of foods and nutrients. Humans enjoy foods with more sugar and more fats because they taste better. With increased portion sizes and increased production of processed corns, it is inevitable that Americans have health issues.
The first step in understanding obesity, is acknowledging the greatness of the problem within the United States. Obesity is no longer an issue that a very small percentage of the population, but rather obesity is an issue that nearly the majority of the population is forced to deal with. I think the first step to helping this epidemic has to come from the government and the industries. Without a significant change in our food system, Americans are not going to want to change. Currently Americans are eating what they think is good food for completely reasonable prices. Americans need to be educated because the foods they are eating with surpluses of corn, high fructose corn syrup and other products are increasing their chances of becoming obese. Obesity cannot be taken lightly, and in this case I think increasing awareness is the first realistic goal. Until the food system makes dramatic changes, the only things Americans can do themselves is become aware of what they are actually eating. Although it has become so easy for farmers to take corn and make so many different processed products, there has to be a means to an end. A way to prevent obesity, starting with the bottom of the food chain.
WHY?
What would be the most effective way to start conquering the problems of obesity?
Is it possible to wean America off of mass production of corn to another product that might be healthier and slightly more expensive?
I agree with you that to stop the obesity epidemic, governments and industry need to change. There is a lack of understanding of nutrition and in some ways I think this is intentional. It is easier for companies to make a profit when consumers are confused.
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