Is Health for Sale?

A disturbing new trend is becoming blatantly obvious for American health. Despite frequent warnings, apropos documentaries, and common sense we continue to eat more. Although maybe people eating does not disturb you. Here are some facts that might help you in that regard. * Currently, an estimated 65.2 percent of U.S. adults, age 20 years and older, and 15 percent of children and adolescents are overweight and 30.5 percent are obese. * An estimated 400,000 deaths per year may be attributable to poor diet and low physical activity. * It has been estimated that the annual cost of overweight and obesity in the U.S. is $122.9 billion.Hopefully these figures have your attention. Because when you consider that the last elections have been won or lost by single states, imagine the voting block Overweight America commands. These figures though, are only the end result of the problem.Our Friend CapitalismCapitalism has been the driving force of American success since its inception. However, is capitalism now destroying our lives?Two ad campaigns have swept the nation. One from McDonald’s and the other from Taco Bell. McDonald’s has been kind enough to remind us that between our three meals we must have crunchy fried snacks, lest we lose our wits and become an office or home joke. Taco Bell, however, will tell you that three meals are not enough. After all, we are active people who stay up late, late enough for a fourth meal.Combine these two statements… The average American needs four meals and a number of snacks in between. Without this we will not have the energy to be the happy thin people in the commercials. And this is where the problem lies. Overweight people are not hired to represent the products they are being sold.If you saw 15 people in a room who all weighed in at 200 lbs. you might think twice about how many stops you need to make at your local fried good retailer. Just like Jared the happy newly reduced weight spokesman for Subway recommends healthy sandwiches, but the commercial advertises foot-long subs. Just like Domino’s and Pizza Hut offer salads, but the coupons you receive are for large, XL, and multiple pizzas. Does this make sense?We live in a country where smoking companies produce commercials against smoking (although outside the US their aim is certainly different). They have to tell you to quit because society and doctors have told us smoking kills people. Yet at the same time we have a drive to make people healthier, but you don’t see any fast food companies telling you not to eat their products.Smell something amiss? Maybe we should check the deep frier.

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