There was a recent article out claiming that all of the obesity problems could stem back to one common factor, and that is the "Low - fat" craze. Some people may even believe that it is a smoke and mirror scheme to deflect the laziness of obese individuals, giving pause to the underlying fact that obesity is still and will always remain a top killer in America.
Others may think that with this new knowledge, maybe there will be new ways to better understand the psyche of an obese individual and potentially eliminate room for blame/error in the near future.
So what did the story say? Can it be possible that one simple element in society's day-to-day living caused a domino effect randomly in a person's life to make them, "obese'? The truth is, there is John Bowen's recent article, "Why Low-Fat caused the Obesity Epidemic," there are now signs that point to the low-fat movement erected from the after effects of WWII when heart disease was on the rise.
In his article, Bowen says that:
In the 1970s, a committee led by Senator George McGovern issued a report advising Americans to lower their risk of heart disease by eating less fat. This recommendation was based on evidence that linked diet to heart disease. Unfortunately, the report wrongly singled out saturated fat as the wicked element in our diet responsible for all our problems. This was the beginning of the low-fat movement...and of the obesity epidemic.
Before the Low-fat movement/the obesity epidemic, although people may have been living a shorter lifespan due in part to the rise of heart disease, on whole, they were healthier and lighter. Bowen also points out that around this time, high fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated oils and "food like" products were rampant in grocery stores, one "food like" substance was the replacement of the dreaded butter; margarine.
With promises of low fats, margarine was an overnight sensation, as well as many processed meals including frozen dinners that are replacement meals for the hard worker without much time on their hands.
So without all the fats that created heart disease and foods/food like products that taste great and have been claimed to be a better alternative to foods high in fat, there should not be a problem with health right? Wrong!
Most food byproducts, processed foods, and low-fat foods are higher in sugar. When a person intakes more than their daily allowances of sugar (which, in processed foods are easy to do), they sugar turns into fat the body stores, and places nicely on the hips.
Before the low-fat movement, foods were not rampantly put through the processes that they have been put through beginning in the 70's. Most of Americans foods were fresh produce, straight from the farm. Now with pesticides, even the meat as Chicagoans, would eat, can affect their health, and their body's general makeup.
Every person needs fatty acids/lipids, in their life. Fat is a macro-nutrient that helps the body feel fuller longer, and stops the overindulgence in unnecessary caloric intake. Bowen said it best at the end of his article by saying, "Low fat has a lot to answer for. It may not be the only reason we're experiencing one of the worst health epidemics in modern times, but it sure is one of the biggest."
The Obesity epidemic has been the most impactive, and most misunderstood disease in American (and other countries as well), culture. Whether or not the problem can be cured is partially up to that individual as well as food manufacturers; not counting out environment in this equation, but if it starts with home and the quality of food production, it's at least a start.
Comments
Good article. It gives a person lots to think about.
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