Soon there will be calorie counts on just about everything you consume, including concession stands at the movies.
It won’t work.
Sure, we all want to curve the obesity epidemic weighing down our society. But, this is an ill-conceived measure, little more than a PR move from Big Food. No doubt some outside that industry will see it as a step in the right direction, which it is in a way, if they are content with half-way measures that do little more than make us feel good. Sure, caloric content of foods will likely raise the level of awareness of this problem. But, will it have a significant impact? Will it reverse the epidemic that is breaking our health care system?
NOTHING will work until we courageously face the addicting nature of processed foods, especially sugars,[1] an unfortunately neglected issue in practically all discussions at all levels seeking to help Americans prevent most diseases.
Does an alcoholic stop drinking due to a warning on his bottle of booze?
Does a smoker quit smoking due to warnings on his pack of cigarettes?
Only behavioral approaches, public and family support AND taxes have been shown to curve consumer addictions. It will be no different with food addictions.
[1] “Toxic Truth About Sugar,” J. Nature 2012;482:27
“Neural Cortex Food Addiction,” J. Arch Gen Psy 2011, April 4th, Epub doi:10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2011.32
It won’t work.
Sure, we all want to curve the obesity epidemic weighing down our society. But, this is an ill-conceived measure, little more than a PR move from Big Food. No doubt some outside that industry will see it as a step in the right direction, which it is in a way, if they are content with half-way measures that do little more than make us feel good. Sure, caloric content of foods will likely raise the level of awareness of this problem. But, will it have a significant impact? Will it reverse the epidemic that is breaking our health care system?
NOTHING will work until we courageously face the addicting nature of processed foods, especially sugars,[1] an unfortunately neglected issue in practically all discussions at all levels seeking to help Americans prevent most diseases.
Does an alcoholic stop drinking due to a warning on his bottle of booze?
Does a smoker quit smoking due to warnings on his pack of cigarettes?
Only behavioral approaches, public and family support AND taxes have been shown to curve consumer addictions. It will be no different with food addictions.
[1] “Toxic Truth About Sugar,” J. Nature 2012;482:27
“Neural Cortex Food Addiction,” J. Arch Gen Psy 2011, April 4th, Epub doi:10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2011.32
