The growing epidemic of obesity is hardly news, but the increasing rates of this growing problem are alarming. According to The US World News Report (March 2024), the US obesity rate increased to 44 percent for women and 42 percent for men. Even business-focused publications like Forbes are taking note, reporting that obesity rates have grown 10 times in the last decade. The magazine cited that “…medical costs for people with obesity in the US tend to be 30-40% higher than those without obesity” and noting that “obesity is often considered a cause of multiple comorbid and chronic health conditions, including type 2 disease, some forms of cancer and heart disease.”
But who wants to think about such depressing news? The truth is it might just be Americans’ thoughts that are contributing to this epidemic. How can our thoughts lead to obesity?
Two common ideas that can help pave the road towards obesity are fat genes and lack of exercise
“It’s my heredity. I read about fat genes, and I guess that’s what I have,” some might say.
Actually as reported in the news recently, research has discovered genetic markers which seem to be linked to obesity. However, collectively, these genes explain less than 3 percent of the difference in body mass index (BMI) between individuals. The most well-known “fat gene,” FTO, explains less than 1 percent of the BMI difference.
It may be true that obesity runs in families, but as adoptive v. biological studies have shown, it’s the food the families are eating, not their genes, that better predicts obesity. For too many, thoughts that obesity is caused by genes leads to fatalistic thinking: “I can’t change my genes, so I just have to live with obesity.”
Another way thoughts can get in the way of controlling obesity is the belief that lack of exercise is the primary cause of obesity. In response to a Harris poll question, a large majority of Americans believe that too little exercise is the cause of obesity. The scientific community has come to a different view. The truth is that exercise alone, while absolutely necessary for one’s health, is not an effective way to overcome obesity. Exercise requires many more hours of effort than is practical for most individuals and those who think that exercise alone will cure obesity will be disappointed. As many weight loss experts put it, “You can’t outrun a bad diet.”
Marketing’s manipulation of your thoughts on obesity
So why do so many Americans mistakenly believe in the oversized role of exercise in weight loss? Blame a new marketing technique called ”leanwashing.” Many large food companies produce high fat/high calorie foods, yet want to appear concerned about their consumers’ health, so they look for another culprit. One example: Nestlé has rebranded itself as the “World’s leading nutrition, health and wellness company,” yet markets more than 100 different brands of candy and many ultra-processed foods. They are “leanwashing” by supporting a program that encourages kid’s involvement in sports. Pepsico is even more obvious about shifting blame for obesity on lack of exercise, while seeming to care about customer’s health. When Pepsico’s CEO states, “If all consumers exercised, obesity wouldn’t exist,” he’s leanwashing and contributing to Americans’ mistaken views about obesity.
So what does science say about the cause of the obesity epidemic? The consensus is the Standard American diet, loaded with fat, sugar, and calories. Perhaps the title of this article from The Journal of Clinical Nutrition best summarizes accurate thinking about what causes obesity: “Increased food energy supply (as in calories) is more than sufficient to explain the US epidemic of obesity.”
Indeed, your thoughts matter when it comes to obesity.
For follow-up on this topic, Dr. Greger of NutritionFacts.org has produced some short, well-sourced videos and blogs explaining the causes of the US obesity epidemic with correction strategies:
– nutritionfacts.org/blog/what-is-the-role-of-our-genes-in-the-obesity-epidemic/
– nutritionfacts.org/blog/the-roles-diet-and-exercise-play-in-the-obesity-epidemic/
– nutritionfacts.org/video/the-role-of-processed-foods-in-the-obesity-epidemic/
