It's also the result of the profit motive: large
corporations are making lots of money convincing Americans
to eat more, thus becoming larger corporally.


Frank Boettcher wrote:
With all due respect, please elaborate on this. They advertise their
offerings, healthy or not, but, how do they convince Americans to eat
more?

???

This is like saying "Yes boats are bouyant and they float,
but how do they stay on top of the water?"

Statistically speaking, advertising works. Spend a bazillion
advertising on the Super Bowl, increase sales two bazillion.
Galbraith spoke quite a bit about this.

Plus, as you observe, it's not totally a question of eating
more, but what you eat and what activites you pursue.


... I believe the current thinking is that overeating is an
emotional response to something wrong or lacking in an individua'ls
life. And we all at one time or another probably qualify.

Sure. I would be better for losing a few pounds myself.

Hunger is basic drive, I don't think people must have a
screw loose to over eat. OTOH to stuff oneself with all
sorts of unhealthy things can best be explained by social
norms... it's what everybody else is doing...


... Corporate
America responsible for that? Possibly, if they've convinced us that
our lives are empty without their product(s). It requires some
individual responsibility and discipline to avoid succumbing to that
folly.


Agreed. And it used to be a common value, everybody "just
knew" that advertising was mostly lies, or at best
exaggerations. Nowadays people get offended if you question
advertised claims of products they like.



Be back later, have to run, weather's right. Planning 6.3 today. Run
30-36 miles per week. A much better solution than more regulation.

If your feet & knees can take it, yes it is.



... I
can, as you might expect, eat anything and don't gain any weight.
But, I naturally choose to avoid those things that are not good, or
more aptly, provide no room for them by choosing those that are good.
(Scotty, Spam doesn't qualify)

You just haven't had it when it's cooked right.



... I don't need the Government to tell me
what they are.

Well, nobody should, but the American parent has abdicated
to the TV and nobody can make a profit by telling you what's
healthy. Kind of the same way nobody ever lobbies Congress
to spend *less* money on any given issue.


... After all, they gave you fifty years of fake butter
with trans fats as a better choice than the real thing. And had eggs
on the taboo list for many years.


And you know what? They didn't fool me with that, not for
one minute.

DSK