Photo: Ian Britton

A study, conducted by RTI International and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), shows that each state spends, on average, 1/20th of it’s medical costs on obesity related problems. And according to the CDC, 64% of the adult population in the US is overweight or obese.

The problem is world wide, prompting the World Health Organisation (WHO) to launch a global campaign on diet and exercise. According to The North American Association for the Study of Obesity, the sweetening of the world’s diet is in part responsible, as «increased consumption of caloric sweetener is one element in the world’s dietary changes, represented by a 74-kcal/d increase between 1962 and 2000. Urbanization and income growth represent 82% of the change. U.S. data shows an 83-kcal/d increase of caloric sweetener consumed—a 22% increase in the proportion of energy from caloric sweetener. Of this increase, 80% comes from sugared beverages; restaurant and fast food sources are represented in greater proportions.»

So why the fuss all of a sudden? Those overeating habits cost the US taxpayers a hefty 75 billion US$ for 2003. Thus, the growing concern. There has even been ongoing talks of a «junk tax», rejected once more by majors of the food industry at the Davos summit in Switzerland (ironically, PepsiCo now generates 60 percent of its revenues from healthy foods). Interestingly enough, Lucas van Grinsven from Reuters, cites Unilever Chairman Antony Burgmans : «He said the food industry also needed better labels to tell consumers which elements their product contained. "That is an area where we can remarkably improve," Burgmans said.» It's a step that could allow consumers to really know what’s in their food.

In spite of the importance of this issue and all the arising questions (labeling, food processing, number of ads for junk run on TV, lack of exercise, etc.), why do I have a feeling of «déjà vu»? Could it be because this war on junk resembles the one on tobacco? Probably…

Smoking, including all related medical expenses, costs the US roughly 150 billion US$ a year (157 billion US$ between 1995 and 1999 according to the CDC). The government has tried taxes, bans and prevention, the tobacco companies have been asked to develop awareness programs, they’ve been sued by consumers… and the latest trend is to fight against smoking scenes in movies.

Unfortunately, there is one war that’s being fought with a lot less enthusiasm: the one on alcohol. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) estimated the economic costs to society of alcohol abuse and alcoholism in the US at 116 billion US$ for 1983 and at 148 billion for 1992: an increase of 27,58% in nine years!

If I look at the situation in Canada, I can’t help but wonder… Ever since tobacco companies have been banned from sponsoring cultural events, guess who took their place? Beer manufacturers!

Categorie(s)/Catégorie(s): Lifestyles , Lifestyles , World

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