food & obesity politics 101

7/28/2019 Food & Obesity Politics 101

1/23

Food & Obesity Politics 101

Its more fun than it sounds,

promise!

http://www.feedmeimcranky.com


2/23

Food Politics, huh?

What are food politics? In simple wordsFood politics are the systems, legislation, influence, and

power that govern our food system.



3/23

Food Politics, huh?

How are food choices both personal andpolitical?- The way we eat is the result of a social, economic and cultural

environment that in most cases supports making

unhealthful choices rather than healthful choices- We could, as Michael Pollan & others suggest, vote with our

forks and make personal choices to eat more healthfully, but

that is one component of a complex web of change we need.

- We must also bring about governmental reforms that willtruly empower people to make sustainable & healthful food

choices



4/23

Food Politics, huh?

Some basics: What is the USDA? The United States federal executive department responsible

for developing and executing U.S. federal government policy

on farming, agriculture, forestry, and food. It aims to meetthe needs of farmers and ranchers, promote agricultural

trade and production, work to assure food safety, protect

natural resources, foster rural communities and end hunger

in the United States and abroad. [per Wikipedia] Some things the USDA does: SNAP, Healthy Hunger Free Kids

Act, federal meal programs



5/23

Food Politics, huh?

Some basics: What is the FDA? The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or USFDA) is an

agency of the United States Department of Health and Human

Services, one of the United States federal executivedepartments. The FDA is responsible for protecting and

promoting public health through the regulation and

supervision of food safety, tobacco products, dietary

supplements, prescription and over-the-counterpharmaceutical drugs (medications), vaccines,

biopharmaceuticals, blood transfusions, medical devices,

electromagnetic radiation emitting devices (ERED), and

veterinary products. [per Wikipedia]http://www.feedmeimcranky.com


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7/23

Food Politics, huh?

Whats wrong with our current food system?- Why is our Standard American Diet so SAD?

- SAD has enabled diet-related diseases such as heart disease

and diabetes to proliferate.

- Other things it causes: environmental & ecologicaldevastation due to unsustainable agricultural practices (i.e.

factory farming); and the widespread exploitation of farm and

food industry workers across the world (not just U.S.!).



8/23

Food Politics, huh?

Cant people justchoose

to eat better?Consider this:- We make Twinkies dirt cheap and fruits & vegetables

expensive. 84% of subsidies are commodity crops (cotton,

wheat, corn, rice and soy); 15% are dairy, livestock & other;less than 1% is fruits and vegetables

- Lack of access to healthful foods is a HUGE issue. 23.5 million

Americans live in food deserts (roughly 75% of these are in

urban areas)



9/23

Food Politics, huh?


to eat better?- Food insecurity & poverty are the real crisis. 50 million

people in the U.S.-one in four children- are food insecure

(i.e. dont know where their next meal is coming from)

despite the U.S. having the means to provide nutritious,

affordable food to all Americans

- The United States ranks worst amongst the IMFs

Advanced Economy countries on food security

- $0.90-$1.00 is all schools have per student per

day for reimbursable school meals



10/23

Food Politics, huh?


to eat better?- The cost of hunger and food insecurity to the US economy is

$167 billion a year

- We dont know what were eating!

- Lack of transparency in labeling- Natural is meaningless

- Health washing

- GMOs infiltrating our food supply



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Food Politics, huh?

Speaking of GMOs.70% of processedfoods on supermarket shelves have

GMOs! The Monsanto Protection Act



12/23

Food Politics, huh?

Speaking of GMOs. The good news?



13/23

Food Politics, huh?


to eat better?- Nutrition label deception

- Trans fat loophole

- Additives

- When juice isnt juice

- When flavored means chemically-flavored

- Low-fat is good? Low cal is good?

- Marketing $s

- Organics



14/23

Food Politics, huh?


to eat better?- The USA has more liberal additive & GMO standards than the

EU & other developed nations



15/23

Food Politics, huh?


to eat better?- Our government, non profits & public institutions are in bed

with Big Food



16/23

What is obesity?



17/23

What is obesity?

Obesity is a clinical definition that attemptsto pathologize size via

BMIwhich is the number that is generated

after dividing someones weight in pounds by

their height squared in inches and then

multiplied by 703.



18/23

What is obesity?

In other words

BMI is gobbly goop.



19/23

What is obesity?

Why did BMI gain public health cred?- Met Life began using it to predict mortality in the

1940s (too bad its sample pool had as much

diversity as the cast of Mad Men)

- NIH decided to use it & in 1998, lowered BMIcutoffs, effectively making 25 million people

overweight overnight. The horror! ;)

- Its profitable to use it



20/23

What is obesity?



21/23

What is obesity?

What does BMI measure?- Your height-to-weight ratio. How very scientific,

doctor!

- Potentially--your rights! Unfortunately, employers

are using this AGAINST employees! See CVS.

What doesnt BMI measure?

- Your health

- Your worth

- Your moral character



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What is obesity?

Obesity is a weight-focused paradigm With such a paradigm, how do we

measure success?

How else can we measuresuccess of public

health reform?



23/23

Questions?


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