When I was poking around the Web earlier for interesting takes on today's obesity topic, I sent an e-mail to my friend Mike Fumento, asking if he'd seen the L.A. Times story we linked to. Mike wrote an excellent book 10 years ago called The Fat of the Land, which was one of the first to tackle the politics, prescriptions and personalities surrounding America's obesity epidemic. He's kept abreast of the subject ever since. Here is Mike's reply, which he graciously gave me permission to post here:
I've seen it a million times. There's a cottage industry in telling fat people it's not their fault and they shouldn't worry about doing anything about it since there's nothing to be done. Gina Kolata joined it lately. Nobody doubts environment has played a huge role in the obesity epidemic. But how many articles or books do you see saying that a kid born in (South-Central) L.A. or (Southeast) D.C. shouldn't even try to rise above the violence and the drug culture?
Fact is, one-third of the population remains thin despite the environmental pressures. Others who were in the two-thirds have joined the one-third. We all know of these people; they aren't urban legends. You're hearing from one. I had already lost a lot of weight since my high point when, last April, I crippled my back in Afghanistan. I knew every pound I lost would help. So I lost an additional 22 pounds. Was it because Arlington banned fast food restaurants and snack foods? Don't think so.
It's just the old nature vs. nurture argument. Nature can be a mean mother, but we have brains that allow us to rise above it. The first thing we need to do with those brains is to accept the simple formula that weight is a factor of calories in and calories out. Or maybe the first thing should be to ignore articles like that in the L.A. Times and opportunists like Gina Kolata.
Thoughts
Those are great points, and
Submitted on January 15th, 2008 by ReneeThose are great points, and very well put. It is not the supermarket's fault that I choose to eat ice cream instead of carrots, it is mine and mine alone. It is always easier for people to blame everyone but themselves. I think I will pick up a copy of that book... : )