pull down to refresh
47 sats \ 9 replies \ @Undisciplined 17h \ parent \ on: How can we combat the obesity epidemic? AskSN
I almost never make absolute claims. People do and will continue to do any stupid thing you can think of. What matters are changes on the margins.
Yes, smokers are aware of the health problems, but there are fewer of them, now that people know about the health problems. Some people stopped and now smoking is a much smaller problem than it used to be.
Imagine if sugary, highly processed foods were 10x as expensive as they are now. Lots of people would change their habits and producers would substitute for the cheaper healthier alternatives.
There would still be obese people, but the epidemic might end.
The 10x cost would come from tax in all likelihood. I imagine that would prevent people from eating as much, bit it would still be direct government intervention.
It would likely be effective, but you'd have to be willing to allow intervention to the free market.
reply
I think it's all downstream from opening these manufacturers to liability. I don't want the government intervention, but it's coming whether I want it or not.
reply
How do you hold a company liable for selling a product that people willingly buy? Most people know the difference between what is and isn't healthy, at least to some degree.
reply
The issue is that people are sold things like food and medicine that contain known toxins, without the manufacturers disclosing the known harms of the ingredients they're using.
That was the tobacco industry's downfall. They knew they were selling poison to people and they weren't disclosing that.
If they disclosed things like "this shot contains known neurotoxins" or "this cereal contains known carcinogens", they would sell fewer units, but not be liable for those damages.
reply
Unfortunately, it all goes right back to the government creating the problem in the first place. When the FDA approves it, it gives companies a pass.
To your point, we could certainly hold companies more accountable in the future. Hopefully this administration takes a long look at all of the governing bodies that essentially remove liability in the first place.
reply
I think this administration will take the more draconian measures of just banning various food additives. That's definitely RFK Jr.'s inclination.