The World Health Organization (WHO) released a report last week that found that 41 million children around the world “under the age of five were either overweight or obese.” The report also found that obesity is no longer restricted to the wealthiest countries. Half of those overweight or obese children live in Africa and one quarter in Asia. Peter Gluckman, one author of the WHO report, called childhood obesity “an exploding nightmare in the developing world.”
An obesogenic environment, put simply, is one in which people are encouraged to eat an unhealthy diet and not do enough exercise. Clearly, children under the age of five are not in control of what foods they consume, and other than toddling around the park, they don’t require an exercise regimen. The problem is centered, then, on the global food and drink companies that purposefully maintain an obesogenic environment, one where processed and nutrient poor foods are peddled for profit regardless of the consequences.
And the consequences are becoming more dire. It has been established that obese children generally remain obese as adults and the subsequent diseases resulting directly from obesity are becoming a more expensive problem. Chronic illness not only costs more money but also drains from the health and prosperity of any given country. The obesity epidemic has been roundly discussed over the years with little effect and many scientists are once again arguing for governments to step up programs to reduce the problem.
One recommendation put forth by the WHO, the Lancet and Cancer Research UK, among others, is an imposition of a tax on all sweetened drinks and junk food. Taxing products that have little or no nutritional value has proved to be effective where enacted. In Mexico, a soda tax of 10% and a tax on junk food of 8% has been successful. There has been a 12% drop in overall consumption of soda, and this in a country with poor water quality and a culture devoted to sweet beverages. It is obvious that this tax affects the poor more than middle or upper income populations, but any such protests can be drowned out by the fact that the poor are also less able to manage the diseases resulting from obesity.
Another wonderfully extreme proposition put forth by Cancer Research UK is an outright ban on the advertising of junk food and soda on television from 6 am to 9 pm. Their report notes that over the last few decades the food conglomerates have hijacked our food system. They state that “food is now more readily available, more heavily marketed, promoted and advertised and, in real terms, is much cheaper than ever before. [And] all of these nudge us towards overconsumption.”
It’s clear that in order to combat obesity governments must be involved. Although the Mexican government fought an uphill battle against the soda industry, it was able to prevail with the 10% tax on soda, even as they initially campaigned for a 20% tax. It’s exceedingly difficult to counter the political influence of the food and drink industry but it must be done. Industry has responded to a degree because of consumer demand for healthier food, but that still leaves us with pop tarts, even though they may be reduced sugar pop tarts.
The Lancet has labeled obesity “a form of serious malnutrition.” They cited The Scientific Report of the 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee as showing that the “US population has a shortfall of vital nutrients, such as vitamins A, D, and C, folate, calcium, magnesium, fibre, potassium, and iron.” It is easy to see how this could occur when the average diet consists of fast and/or processed food and sugary drinks. All of the organizations mentioned above call for governments and health organizations to pay much more serious attention to the health of its citizens.
Education programs for children in schools must be developed and implemented. Along with that nutritional information, federal and local governments must ensure that fresh, locally grown food is provided for school lunches and after school snacks. Offering up deep fried factory chicken most certainly sets them up for a lifetime of struggles with their weight and subsequent health issues.
Obesity among children, especially those younger than five, is not a matter of self control or personal responsibility. It is rather the result of poor nutritional education, wholesale and unregulated advertising practices and a lack of government oversight. Screaming about the “food police” only lines the pockets of multinational food companies and does nothing to reduce the global epidemic of obesity.
Recipe of the Week
Pasta is not necessarily a good choice for a meal, but once in a while it’s fine and this recipe is simple, vegetarian and I found it to be tasty.
Pasta with Lentils and Tomatoes
1/2 cup lentils
6 cloves garlic or more to taste, minced
1 can Muir Glen Fire Roasted whole tomatoes, pureed
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 onion, chopped small
1/2 lb of pasta, your choice
About 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
Parmesan cheese
Cook the lentils in plenty of water until completely cooked, anywhere from 20 to 30 minutes. Drain. Pour oil into a large cast iron frying pan. Heat to medium high and add onions. Lower heat and cook until onions are very soft and just beginning to brown. Add the garlic, stir it in and add the tomatoes. Cook the sauce on low for about 1/2 hour. Add the lentils and heat through. Turn off the heat and add the balsamic vinegar. Taste. Add the cooked pasta that has not been rinsed and serve with Parmesan cheese.