Do you think Sugar Companies are to blame for the large epidemic of Obesity in America?

[Anonymous]

Do you think that these big companies that are fueling what we put in our bodies to blame for childhood obesity? Why?
Do you think it has something to do with the child who is consuming the sugary foods?
Or do you blame the parents or caregivers for providing their child with said foods?

Today, more and more children are being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes (which is known as a disease that was common in adults and not children). This is due to our primary choices of food being loaded with vast quantities of sugar (not calorie intake). Sugar is know as (wait for it) the legal drug of our lives. It "lights" up our brain the exact same way Cocaine does. People have a large addiction to sugar, that is in more food products than we can count. EVERYTHING has sugar (not including the natural sugars in fruits). I believe that the large corporations are poisoning our populace with sugar. YEAH, I KNOW. Sugar is fucking good. Coca-Cola is awesome; but I think I would rather live a long healthy life, for as long as I can, without having to leave my future family early, for the sake of sugar. So, Tell me what you think!

I think its these damn corps.!

It's the kids' fault... why can't they just eat less, and exercise more?

I blame the parents for not providing adequate healthy choices for their children

I believe that the blame doesn't lie on the parents! They don't know how serious it is

Both A & D

[Levin]

Well, despite playing lip service to social concern, we know that big business' true orientation is towards profit maximisation. This is self evident and should not surprise us.

I'm convinced a lot of dietary choices are due to a 'lack of consciousness' and reflective of far from rational human psychology. I see people eating mountains of biscuits at the office, in one sitting, while professing to eat healthily, or that they don't eat a lot of sugar. Or people who claim to be on a diet, while eating a salad with a *huge* block of cheese, because apparently, cheese is healthy. So the intellectual statement that sugar is bad for them, in my view, is some lofty, far removed statement, which has not yet penetrated their being. They haven't yet experienced, though personal bitter experience, that that particular food or item is bad for them. It's the live fast, die young mentality that a lot of young people are afflicted with. Doing what ever they are doing feels good, and they are currently in a good state of health (or the pain has been pushed to the unconscious level). In their minds, there is no reason why they should change. It's that old cliché of 'rock bottom', and people that are interested in these topics and the health of people around them, know not to interfere with these people; precisely, because they are not ready to see yet. The paradigm currently works for them. Only when the paradigm is broken, and a the mass of unacknowledged pain is dealt with (so called, karma), will there be a new consciousness.

Oh, and just to append, this lack of consciousness with regard to the effects of sugar are nationwide. Only in the last few years has the scientific community started to catch up to the fact that *all* sugar in quantity, is bad, *including* fruit. People still get through a whole watermelon, and think they are being healthy. Again, a lack of consciousness. A lack of with connectivity with their bodies, feelings, pains and emotions.

[Asker]

Well, I loved your answer and insight! :) You're right. Too much of anything is bad. Drinking too much water is bad for you. Too much sugar is bad for you. Moderation and finding a healthy medium in eating habits is necessary. But trying to change someone's eating style is similar to trying to get them to switch religions. It's a painful process that people will fight to maintain. If our government (not that this would ever happen) deemed that all sugar related products and processed foods were bad, and that our society would solely live on veggies, beans, standard meats, fruits and water, our populace would absolutely lose their shit... because sugar... fuck... is such a huge part of everyone's diet its insane. A huge portion of people would probably die or commit suicide, riot, become violent. Its not something thats ever going to be taken off the shelves. We have a sugar dependency.

[Levin]

The issue as I see it, is a fundamental one about the orientation of society. In my eyes, even looking at people (and myself) visually, I can see a lot of ingrained physiological weakness, that have arisen from bad emotional, psychological, and dietary habits that may have spanned decades in that individual. You are right, they are incredibly deeply ingrained and unconscious to that individual. And secondly as I say, the orientation of society, which is largely technocratic and knowledge based. Knowledge based society causes us to accumulate as much knowledge as possible; this is the new survival of the fittest; but it also causes to lead unbalanced, head based lives, where we lose connection to our bodies. Our diet is reflective of this quick fix/paced existence. And so this dominant, apparently superior paradigm (also, materialist, scientist, reductionist) unconsciously causes us to look at so called rustic, simple basic wisdom of living from the past, with a degree of contempt.

[Levin]

And also, the implied out of sync with nature. Hard to write about in 1000 characters but those are just some things to ponder on in addition to the ones about corporations/parenting.

[Asker]

Well said. You are very well spoken, and I agree 100% Thanks for your opinion! :)

[heavensgift2girls]

Sugar actually isn't used that much in America. It is mostly high fructose corn syrup. High fructose corn syrup It is much cheaper to use than sugar because the American government subsidizes the corn industry so much.

This is also the reason the beef industry now feeds corn to all the cows, and even farm raised fish are being fed corn. Being fed a diet of corn, makes the animals unhealthy, which in turn makes people that eat them more unhealthy. If anything I would say the government is to blame for making corn products so cheap that it has lowered the quality of our food.

The government also told people to eat less fat, which had food makers creating low fat foods that then added more sugar to replace the flavor that was lost when the fat was taken out. The government also has failed at regulating these industries so that people are being tricked into eating candy thinking it is health food. Even the American heart association has openly indorsed foods like Coco Puffs treating it like it is health food when in fact it is just candy for breakfast. I would say the government holds most of the blame for the reasons I mentioned.

Then food makers are to blame for misleading consumers about their products. I don't care about McDonald's, they aren't trying to tell us it is health food. It is the companies doing things like selling low fat yogurt then replacing the fat with sugar that I am upset with. People trying to eat healthy are being tricked. The American heart association is also to blame for indorsing junk food.

Parents should be held responsible for their child's diet, but as I mentioned many parents really don't know how to eat healthy. If parents had been properly educated about diet, and weren't being tricked into buying unhealthy food thinking it is healthy then I would have no problem throwing them under the bus.

[Asker]

I absolutely loved your answer, sir! That was almost identical to what was said in the documentary FED UP. Which was very interesting, and sad to watch. These corps are advertising all this shit day in and day out... its hard to know what is the obvious sugar, and what is not. Sugar also is a blanket term. Sugar (s) is what I should say. HFCS is actually under "added sugars," which is sugar all the same, simply cheaper to manufacture. Funny how they change the names around. Parents really don't know whats good for their children, or themselves. I mean parents are hooking their children on to sugars during infancy with Formula's without knowing it. I don't know. I think that we have a serious over population issue around the world. Its not only happening in America... but all over the world. I wouldn't be surprised if new diseases related to over consumption of sugar popped up that could kill quicker than Diabetes or any other illness...

[lumos]

There are plenty of foods that don't contain sugar, or contain such a small amount of sugar that it's barely noticeable/doesn't have a negative effect.
I think everyone is responsible for what they CHOOSE to consume. And since kids don't buy their own food, due to the lack of money and due to the fact that the parents provide them with the majority of the food they consume, the parents are essentially at fault if they constantly choose products that are high in sugar.
Nobody is forcing anyone to drink coca cola/other sweet drinks, eat candy and cookies etc. People buy those things entirely on their own accord, so to blame the companies for selling those products is stupid. It shows lack of personal responsibility. You can't blame stores that sell alcohol for alcoholism. You can't blame fast food chains for obesity. You can't blame stores that sell candy or other sugary products for diabetes. The only one you have to blame for buying and consuming those things is yourself. If people can't control themselves and end up taking it to the extreme, they have nobody to blame but themselves. They had the choice to put down the box of cookies. They had the choice to pick up a fruit or vegetable instead. But they didn't.

[Kiwedin]

No, I think it's due to the overconsumption of animal protein and fat. It's been shown time and time again that high fructose corn syrup is not bad when eaten on occasion when partnered with a high carb low fat vegan diet. However, when high fructose corn syrup is paired with an omnivorous diet, the results are about 100x worse. This is due to the fact that fat actually decreases your body's ability to metabolize sugar. So yeah, high fructose corn syrup isn't good, but the only reason people demonize it is because they eat it in conjunction with a high fat diet and I think people blow it out of proportion by saying that sugar in general is bad, when it really isn't. If sugar made people fat, then fruitarians (people who live on majority fruits) would be fat, and there literally aren't any fat fruitarians. So it really depends on the type of sugar and whether it's processed or not. Every single cell in our bodies run on sugar, and sugar alone, so how can the very fuel our bodies require be so damaging? The evidence just all points to fat, not sugar.

[Asker]

I mentioned specific types of sugar. EXCLUDING the natural sugars found in fruits. Obviously those aren't this issue. its the HFCS that is basically sugar... on crack... for lack of a better term. But too much meat is very bad for you. Who would have guessed in the past that it'd be possible to be obese and malnourished...

[NateInAk]

I blame people. Yeah, it's hard to know what's actually healthy and what's not, and it's even harder to abstain from it. I'm terrible at it myself, but a company selling a product that is unhealthy in large quantities isn't to blame for YOUR PERSONAL DECISION TO CONSUME IT IN UNHEALTHY QUANTITIES.
Soft drink companies aren't pouring soda down kids throats, yeah, they make it readily available, but THAT'S WHAT YOU DO when you sell a product, you sell as much as you can, because you need money, your employees need money, and your company needs money.
It's a personal choice to eat crappy food, or to feed crappy food to your kids, there's no excuse, NO EXCUSE, to shove that crap down your gob?
Am I guilty of doing this? Hell yeah! I'm overweight, quite a bit as a matter of fact, and that's my fault, and I'm doing what I can to rectify that. A company that sells a product people enjoy isn't to blame for that product being misused.
And yes, this applies to tobacco companies too, they have a product, a product horribly unhealthy however you look at it, but it's a personal choice to use it.
You can't blame a company for providing something that a consumer misuses, what you can blame a company for, is misinforming the consumer on the proper use of their product, hence those nutrition things. Yeah yeah yeah, they're hard to read, but they're there, and if they aren't correct, then that company needs a talking to.

[TJM27]

That's like saying gun companies are responsible for shootings. In the end all the companies do is make a product if the consumer eats too much of it and becomes obese that is 100% their fault. People need to grow up and take responsibility for their actions instead of blaming others

[Asker]

People do need to take responsibility. But think about this: guns aren't advertised as widely as food. Guns are considered evil, sugar is considered a happy food. Sugar pretty much took the place of tobacco companies. Why? because we demonized tobacco companies. "they advertise to kids." "it causes addiction" "they advertise like its a fashion statement" The advertisements on tobacco is an exact replica for advertisements like Coca-Cola. With handsome/beautiful wealthy people consuming it. Urging that it brings about happiness. People do need to take responsibility for what they put in their mouth. And I see some either do take responsibility, or simply have no idea that what they are consuming is bad for them until its too late. It's becoming more and more difficult to determine what food is good or bad for you. Other than the obvious fruits and veggies in the produce section.

[TJM27]

It's still not the company's fault. Their products are not healthy but you you still need to eat or drink a much larger portion than they recommend to become obese. If you can't eat or drink something in moderation that's on you not the company who made the product

[Asker]

Like I said, I agree. People need to take responsibility. In that documentary I was watching (that I mentioned in another comment) FED UP, there was a kid that was talking about his eating habits; he was obese, and struggling to eat healthy and lose weight. He was talking about how difficult it is to monitor what you eat on a daily basis when its in your house; much like an alcoholic struggling with sobriety would struggle or not be able to resist drinking a bottle of Gin at his bed side. I feel like its all in the same. It is hard when we have all these ads and small mental notes around putting messages in our heads to buy a certain thing. Its the brilliance of advertisement. Doing too much of anything is bad for you. But I think we should be encouraging our kids to eat healthier instead of choosing the pizza and soda or cheese burger. The problem I fear is only going to get worse. :/

[TJM27]

I think it's the parents' responsibility to make sure their kids have a balanced diet and don't eat way too much junk food. Little kids aren't going to the grocery store and buying their own food so ultimately it's their parents fault and not the companies that make unhealthy foods and drinks if they have an unhealthy diet and become obese

[Illusive_Man]

Well the fault in those companies are not in selling those products but in the misinformation and lobbying in the sake of maximizing profit for their stockholders in exchange for the common's health.

*which is ironic when we consider how people who support BIG CORP , SMALL GOV also happen to be fatter than the rest in general lol but just a funny observation , not correlation
www.psmag.com/.../grand-obese-party-republicans-weight-mitt-romney-72519

Anyway. Yeah. It's their fault partly but also partly the consumer's fault... but then again... in the battle of misinformation should those who are gullible enough to believe the said "facts" to blame or should it be those who set out to mislead?

Tricky question.

[LiveFreeorDieHard]

They did not force kids to eat their fault. People need to look themselves in the mirror and be responsible for their own decisions. Too many people want to point their finger and someone and put all the blame on them. Grow some balls and take the responsiblilty. Kids need to watch thsy eat and excersize, government has no right to make companiea offer healthier foods. So no, i do not blame the businesses but the people.

[JackKerouac77]

Technically it's all personal responsibility, but lack of health education and advertising (corporate brainwashing) doesn't help.

[Vetsin]

I blame the people. The sugar companies are only catering to the demand of the people. That's business. If people didn't want sugary foods, then these companies would go bust.

[abundantlyrich]

it's the parents' fault for not looking after their children properly

[atomique]

Some part of it is personal responsibility and parenting. I am glad I was encouraged to stay active and taught to love veggies.

[dudeman]

This is what happen when women leave the kitchen.

[Asker]

The comedic relief is much needed! lol

[dudeman]

I was being serious. When women joined the workforce the rise in fast and processed foods happened.

[Asker]

Well, I suppose to some degree thats true. However, women needed to join the workforce. If you look at how difficult it is now, (especially here in California) to support a family of 4 on only one income. I'm sure that wasn't why women wanted to join the workforce to begin with; however women joining the workforce was indeed a sales pitch for stay at home dads, or women on the go in the work place. But I'm sure the problem would have eventually surface whether women stayed in the kitchen or not. It was still funny to read at first. Perhaps due to the fact that it was already 1 in the morning when I read your opinion... 0. o

[dudeman]

Very untrue women entering the workforce caused these problems. Its simple supply and demand.

[Asker]

Welly well, Mr. Dudeman... we all have our opinions. Yours belongs to you, and mine to me. Have a lovely rest of your day. :)

[dudeman]

Women are overrepresented in government and do jobs that dont need to exist. Who are caretakers. Women for the most part same as day care workers. Womens jobs mainly exist because of rising taxation which lowers the value of the doller and creates these problems.

[dudeman]

It created more competition for housing and killed the family. Not saying women shouldn't have entered the work force but the way it was done was just retarded

[dudeman]

Mine isn't an opinion. Its a fact.

[Consultant]

Definitely A & D