FHI's Week in Review

Volume V, Issue 27

July 2, 2018

Healthcare system battles obesity while others appear to encourage it

It's no secret that obesity is skyrocketing globally and is particularly severe in the U.S. We're #1 among industrialized nations. Equally clear is obesity's role in coronary artery disease, stroke, adult onset diabetes, hypertension, osteoarthritis, some cancers and other diseases and conditions. Considering this, several headlines from last week are disturbing:

Obese woman featured on digital cover of Self Magazine

Self Magazine is thrilled to share their first ever digital cover,

featuring model, author, and fat-positivity activist Tess Holliday, according to a June 27 announcement on Instagram. "Holliday identifies as a fat woman; we chose to give her a platform because she has insightful things to say about thriving in a world that devalues bodies of size," states Editor-in-Chief Carolyn Kylstra.

California bows to beverage industry, blocks soda taxes

An article by the Associated Press via NBCnews.com posted on June 29, 2018 reveals some startling news. California cities pioneered soda taxes to combat obesity, diabetes and heart disease, but the <majority Democrat Legislature and Gov. Jerry Brown <also a Democrat> on Thursday bowed to pressure from beverage companies and reluctantly banned local taxes on soda for the next 12 years. It follows similar bans recently passed in Arizona and Michigan. Voters in Oregon will decide on a statewide ban in November. The American Beverage Association, which represents Coca-Cola, PepsiCo and others, has backed the moves after several cities passed taxes on sugary drinks in recent years.

Franken Food

Paul R. La Monica reports for CNN on June 28, 2018 that Dunkin' Donuts has just released their newest menu item: Donut Fries. This is the latest in a long line of 'Franken Foods' offered by fast food restaurants. KFC boasted the infamous (and calorie-laden) Double Down sandwich - bacon, cheese and sauce between two pieces of fried chicken instead of bread. Burger King has offered the Whopperito while Taco Bell has presented us with Doritos Locos Tacos.

WIM

Contrary to the defiant headline on the Self Magazine cover, Tess's health is our business. Most Americans are paying into Medicare and Medicaid plus an employer-sponsored or Obamacare health plan. Collectively we are all paying for the health of our citizens. In a pathetic attempt to empower the obese, Self Magazine glorifies and celebrates obesity.

Meanwhile, the food and beverage industry has a lot of clout and many players are not focused on the health and well-being of their customers. As giant corporations look to pad their profits, the populace gets sicker and sicker from their calorie dense, nutrient deficient products. At some point these companies must be held accountable for their contribution to the obesity crisis and the subsequent chronic disease.

As American healthcare providers struggle with an inefficient delivery system, huge regulatory requirements and an aging demographic, the added obesity problem threatens to overwhelm. But other elements of our society appear to be actively undermining the efforts of healthcare providers in reducing obesity.

Sponsor