Big food, big trouble

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) labels the obesity problem an “epidemic.”1 Within the United States, 64.5 percent of Americans are either overweight or obese, with the number growing. For many reasons, some obvious and some not, the increase in overweight children is twice that seen in adults.

Other nations are in hot pursuit. Country after country follows the American lead and grows heavier. Overconsumption has replaced malnutrition as the world’s top food problem.2 From Banff to Buenos Aires, from Siberia to the Sahara, the world need only look to America to see its future. There are now clinics for obese children in Beijing.

Similar to a new virus without natural enemies, our lifestyle of abundant food and inactivity faces little opposition. Quite the contrary, pow- erful forces push it forward, spreading the problem to all segments of the population. These forces are woven so tightly into our social systems (economics, health care system, even education) that change seems almost beyond imagination. Despite talk of an obesity crisis, government reports, and Presidents pushing exercise, obesity is increasing in all races, ages, income groups, and areas of the world.

Projecting ahead to their adult years, today’s children face a life of serious health problems and severely impaired quality of life.4 Children are targeted in a relentless way by the food companies. Institutions such as schools that would like to pro- tect children instead must sell soft drinks and snack foods to function.

While writing this chapter, one of us (KB) visited his brother, wife, and three-year-old niece. This girl, the daughter of educated, suc- cessful, health-conscious parents, ran by, so a quick interview was conducted.

“What’s your favorite breakfast?”
“I like Buzz Lightyear” was her reply. “Where do you like to go out to eat?” “I like to go everywhere,” she said. “What’s your most favorite place of all?” “McDonald’s,” she answered.

It is easy to blame parents, but they face off every day with an envi- ronment that grabs their children and won’t let go. Children and the parents who raise them do not get what they deserve—conditions that support healthy eating and physical activity. The environment wins in most cases, and we have an epidemic to show for it.

By any definition, we face an emergency.