good evening everyone
ever wondered about the sudden increase in an interest in obesity in the last 10 years or so? if you’re a cynic like me (yes, part cynic, part polyanna) you were probably also asking yourself whose interests are behind all this. especially since to this day, i haven’t seen anything that proves increased mortality rates (or lower life expectancies) for people who do not develop the kinds of illnesses that are often associated with obesity (such as diabetes, joint problems, etc.)
don’t get me wrong – i think that eating healthy and exercising well are really important. but this whole preoccupation with weight … i don’t know …
anyway, here’s an excerpt of an article that looks at the obesity debate. it’s about this woman, abigail c. saguy, who is studying this from a larger-picture point of view. (thanks to the big fat blog, who brought this to my attention).
here goes …
Based on an evaluation of more than 100 books, articles and studies about the issue and interviews with researchers and activists, the study documents mounting opposition to anti-obesity messages since 1994 when the rise first grabbed public attention. In the intervening decade, the number of articles published about obesity has tripled in medical journals and quadrupled in the popular press, calculates Saguy and co-author Kevin W. Riley, a UCLA graduate student in sociology. A fierce "credibility struggle" has ensued between the anti-obesity camp and the camp advocating skepticism about the health risks of being heavy.
"The mistrust between these two camps can make it difficult to find a middle ground," concludes the study.
…..
"Media coverage of obesity overtook reporting on hunger and malnutrition in 2002 despite the fact that the World Health Organization deemed hunger to be the leading cause of world death," she said. "Similarly, cigarette smoking continues to be the leading cause of 'preventable death' despite the increasing shift of focus from smoking to obesity."
…..
Saguy argues that the medicalization of obesity is part of "a strategic attempt to make weight-loss treatments and surgery tax-deductible or covered by Medicare."
the full article reporting on saguy’s research can be found here:
http://www.college.ucla.edu/news/05/obesitystudy.html
thanks for reading!
take care, all of you
isabella
moritherapy
counselling in vancouver
http://www.moritherapy.com/
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2 comments:
It is true that there has been a huge global increase in the prevalence of overweight and obesity (particularily levels of obesity) in the past 20 years as defined by the BMI. Statistics generated by governmental surveys generally adjust the numbers to account for different cut-points, especially when looking at trend data. The incidence and prevalence of diabetes has also paralleled the increased rise in obesity (worldwide). Type 2 diabetes cutpoints have also been lowered over the years and obviously medical technology/management has improved so that the increased prevalence of type 2 diabetes may be due to both an increase in new cases, better screening, and lower mortality. Nonetheless, obese patients have at least a 2-4 fold increased risk of type 2 diabetes (the general range is due to any stratification you might potentially use). The childhood obesity epidemic is completely scary and out of control. Many diseases once exclusively seen in middle aged adults are now being managed in obese children. These kids - our next generation - will be facing a full adult working life of chronic disease medical management, which will cripple any healthcare system. Simultaneously, there are huge profits to be made by the treatment and management of obesity or diseases associated with obesity at whatever age or status in life. The dire health and economic projections on our healthcare system, workforce, etc... associated with the obesity epidemic is really the primary motivation of governments primary interest in tackling the issue, which would make sense if 30% or more of our future adults - young adults were projected to be on disability for life. Simultaneously, there are profits to be made for various entities by addressing and tackling the issue. That goes for anything in life. One man's problem is another man's profits.
The article you present is extremely naive and has a very biased look at reality.
thanks for taking the time to comment on this. it is obvious that this is something that you are very concerned about, and i particularly hear you regarding childhood obesity.
i personally take a moderate stance on the size of the obesity epidemic, and am perhaps not skeptic but somewhat agnostic on how obesity is measured. of course, it is clear that someone who is very overweight would do well to pay special attention to the various health risks she or he might be facing.
again, thanks for bring up this topic. it prompted me to do a new entry on it - see
http://vancouvertherapy.blogspot.com/2006/04/obesity-research.html
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