Is Big Business Making Us Fat?

Okay, maybe it's just another excuse for the overweight, but I've been reading lots of research and nutritional articles about how business and government are actually PROMOTING the weight issues of Americans. Not intentionally exactly...just by lack of government influence over what companies can put in food or sell to us in restaurants.

First of all, I keep coming across "studies" (I place this word in quotes b/c how do I know how official these websites I looked at are?) talking about just how unhealthy anything labeled "diet" can be to a person's health. The studies talked about the toxicity caused by artificial sweeteners, which can cause cancer and other health issues. Scary?! We drink diet soda almost exclusively and in large amounts in my house. And, food for thought, Coca-Cola and Pepsi are two VERY large industries, which I am sure have at least some influence over the FDA/government decisions. (My opinion of course, no proof that I know of...)

MSG. Okay, I love Chinese food, but I am the first to say that every time I eat it, I get kind of sick (and, no, it's not a "I ate too much" problem, I actually avoid buffets). It is the MSG! I'm not the only one I know that gets sick b/c of this additive. And, it's found in almost everything, especially canned and processed foods. So much for that healthy soup or tuna salad. And, guess what.....there is a link b/t MSG and obesity. BIG BIG correlation.....

High Fructose Corn Syrup. Okay, powers-that-be, forgive me, but I saw this on Oprah...and I believe it, unlike most TV stuff. High Frustose Corn Syrup (HFCS) is found in most of our foods today--pasta sauce, soda, anything sweet, etc. And, it is a scary thing. Since its invention decades ago, it has replaced normal sugar in recipes/products....and the American obesity problem has grown immensely ever since. The Doc on Oprah says it is because HFCS actually cause the brain to continue thinking it's hungry, even when it's not. So, you keep eating. Let me say that again, another way:

High Fructose Corn Syrup stimulates appetite!

Okay, okay. We overweight people (oh yeah, I weight almost 200lbs, scary and one reason for my recent research) like the American/postmodern attitude of "blame someone/anything else for my problem" because it relieves us of personal responsibility for our behavior and physical problems. I get that---I even believe it. But, the nutritional info I keep coming across (and, btw, the lack of physical activity in K-12 schools and everyday adult life) SCARES me. There is a correlation (in my mind, if nowhere else) of the growth of big businesses that sell fast food for cheap (which contains those things I talked about b/c they are addicting), or soda, or....well and the fatness of America, and increasingly, Britain.

And, while I'm ranting I want to wrap it up by saying this: it's cheaper to eat badly/unhealthy. Fresh meat or fish and fresh vegetables cost far more than prepared fast foods or canned soups. But DO THEY REALLY?

Taking into account all I wrote above (and I admit I am no logician, so apologies for lack of coherence or sequence) wouldn't a person eat less if they avoided "red flag" foods and stuck to REAL food. I think so. As a matter of fact, using my own experience as a case in point, I know so. Three years ago, I underwent a lifestyle change, that has since eroded of course. I exercised 5 -6 times a week, ate salads, fresh meats, fruits, nuts, dairy in moderation, etc. And lost 30 lbs in a relatively short amount of time.

And I don't remember feeling deprived at any point. I felt amazing.......

Stupid processed foods and food addictions. I just have one question for myself: Objectively speaking, is it the processed food or the lack of willpower that makes people overweight? Or is it the combination of both? If a person has no food "issues" then does it make sense that the processed foods wouldn't affect them as strongly, thus explainin why not everyone is fat?

Because, weird as it seems to me, foodie that I am, many people don't think about food at all. Weird. :)

BTW:
www.newstarget.com/001253.html
www.rense.com/general52/msg.htm www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/chronicle/archive/2004/02/18/FDGS24VKMH1.DTL