Beginning with agricultural policy and continuing through corporate greed and the American quest for instant gratification this book explores the historical, political and societal causes of the obesity epidemic in the United States. Not that these should be excuses for our collective behavior, but seeing the research and understanding the (financial) reasons behind our current way of life might just be enough to galvanize some social change.
Rather than supporting small farms with multiple income crops, we have subsidized massive farm corporations that support the growth of cheap corn to produce cheap corn products (high fructose corn syrup) rather than food with real nutritional value.
Our schools are underfunded and physical education and health/nutrition programs are bare-bones in the areas that need them most. School lunch programs and product placement (Pepsi machines) undermine the message provided by educators.
Fast food corporations and junk food manufactures encourage the purchase of foods that our bodies crave, developing a cycle of non-nutritive consumption. Corn subsidies allow for these products to be inexpensive and preservatives allow for long shelf live and universal availability. Even in the most extreme food deserts, chips and candy are readily available.
Rather than provide preventative care and health counseling our for profit health care system encourages ignorance and emergency care followed by expensive hospital stays, surgery and prescription medications. By allowing health care and the prescription drug industry to support each other in their quest for profits we have taken our collective wellness to the brink of disaster.
How can we overcome this monster of obesity with all these systemic supports working against us? The author provides us with examples of grass-roots efforts that are making healthful change one community at at time. Community gardens, school nutrition programs, and family farms are beginning to push back. Overcoming the addiction to unending empty calories isn't simple, but small changes can lead to larger systemic change. Maybe we can begin to reverse the trend, one apple at a time!
http://www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com/booksellers/press_release/fatland/
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