Absolutely. From what I'm hearing from Obesity Medicine Docs and patients these conversations are just not happening! Regardless of whether a patient is considering using these drugs or not, every American is affected by the cost and outcome of our health policy surrounding their use. Tax dollars and wages are greatly affected by health policy decisions/costs and I hope that context helps people see why it matters and prompts them to get more involved!
1) Do you think there is a good comparison between Portugal’s findings that led to decriminalizing drug use (specifically around the social components) and some causes of obesity?
2) Do you think societal solutions are more effective than “personal responsibility” pushes? And what do those look like when balancing personal choices?
Wow. No comment on #1 because it never even occurred to me until about 1 min ago when I read your comment! Thank you for sharing!
#2 - I really do. Especially when you consider it from the population level (IDK from an individual level but suspect also more effective). Primarily bc it's not just SNAP benefits and school lunches, it's things like subsidizing soy/wheat/corn industries making all of the 'garbage' inflammatory foods that disrupt hormonal responses to make you need and want to eat more cheaper and more available than real foods. There's room for both approaches, but making obesity-promoting foods cheap and freely available (especially to kiddos) just bc it's popular or bc a lobbyist likes it seems predatory and just wrong. Making being healthy easier than being obese seems like the place to start. there's a discussion about green spaces and walkable cities that could be included but I ran out of room on the page. Anything that makes it easier for individuals to not have to work so hard to not fall into the trap.
This is such a pervasive problem in our country, and I think it’s really disgusting that we allow companies with large financial interests to influence policies that continue to make matters worse, such as continuing to allow SNAP benefits to be used to purchase sugary drinks. And don’t get me started on the school lunch programs and what they consider to be healthy lunches and breakfasts. It was really good to read such a well thought out analysis of these drugs that are not the solution to our problems
Thank you for your kind words and thoughtful response! I criticized the policy of including soda as a part of SNAP benefits yesterday on X and a physician replied with... "Limiting people's choices is unpopular." While that may be true, so should allowing corporate interests to hurt the segments of society that we know are most susceptible to poor health outcomes. Regarding school lunches, they've never been perfect, but the fact that Lunchables are now being served is abhorrent. Many children rely on school lunches for nutrition. It can't continue. It's time to stand up and say 'no.' Thanks again for reading and sharing!
I understand that limiting people‘s choices is not popular. However, food stamps were started initially to help prop up our agricultural segment of the economy. It was not simply because the government felt sorry for poor people and wanted to make sure they had food. Allowing people to use food stamps, or SNAP benefits, to purchase food and drinks that is compounding their health problems should not be a goal of our government. Unfortunately, the people who produce these very unhealthy products have a huge lobby, and they’ve managed to keep these products a part of those benefits so that they can profit from them.
Couldn't agree more. It's coercive and predatory. We should be ashamed that we aren't stopping corporate interests from taking advantage of the most vulnerable among us. It's easy to say 'eat healthier' but when food that makes you sick is cheap and easily available, people do what they have to do. Policy makers designing the system including when and how we will spend taxpayer dollars on subsidies/SNAP/lunches... whatever, should be mindful and held accountable for their choices.
Great write up! Thinking material for many to consider.
Absolutely. From what I'm hearing from Obesity Medicine Docs and patients these conversations are just not happening! Regardless of whether a patient is considering using these drugs or not, every American is affected by the cost and outcome of our health policy surrounding their use. Tax dollars and wages are greatly affected by health policy decisions/costs and I hope that context helps people see why it matters and prompts them to get more involved!
It scares the bajeebies out of me when I see so much press about GLP-1s being a “miracle.”
Seems reasonable to me!
A couple questions:
1) Do you think there is a good comparison between Portugal’s findings that led to decriminalizing drug use (specifically around the social components) and some causes of obesity?
2) Do you think societal solutions are more effective than “personal responsibility” pushes? And what do those look like when balancing personal choices?
Wow. No comment on #1 because it never even occurred to me until about 1 min ago when I read your comment! Thank you for sharing!
#2 - I really do. Especially when you consider it from the population level (IDK from an individual level but suspect also more effective). Primarily bc it's not just SNAP benefits and school lunches, it's things like subsidizing soy/wheat/corn industries making all of the 'garbage' inflammatory foods that disrupt hormonal responses to make you need and want to eat more cheaper and more available than real foods. There's room for both approaches, but making obesity-promoting foods cheap and freely available (especially to kiddos) just bc it's popular or bc a lobbyist likes it seems predatory and just wrong. Making being healthy easier than being obese seems like the place to start. there's a discussion about green spaces and walkable cities that could be included but I ran out of room on the page. Anything that makes it easier for individuals to not have to work so hard to not fall into the trap.
This is such a pervasive problem in our country, and I think it’s really disgusting that we allow companies with large financial interests to influence policies that continue to make matters worse, such as continuing to allow SNAP benefits to be used to purchase sugary drinks. And don’t get me started on the school lunch programs and what they consider to be healthy lunches and breakfasts. It was really good to read such a well thought out analysis of these drugs that are not the solution to our problems
Thank you for your kind words and thoughtful response! I criticized the policy of including soda as a part of SNAP benefits yesterday on X and a physician replied with... "Limiting people's choices is unpopular." While that may be true, so should allowing corporate interests to hurt the segments of society that we know are most susceptible to poor health outcomes. Regarding school lunches, they've never been perfect, but the fact that Lunchables are now being served is abhorrent. Many children rely on school lunches for nutrition. It can't continue. It's time to stand up and say 'no.' Thanks again for reading and sharing!
I understand that limiting people‘s choices is not popular. However, food stamps were started initially to help prop up our agricultural segment of the economy. It was not simply because the government felt sorry for poor people and wanted to make sure they had food. Allowing people to use food stamps, or SNAP benefits, to purchase food and drinks that is compounding their health problems should not be a goal of our government. Unfortunately, the people who produce these very unhealthy products have a huge lobby, and they’ve managed to keep these products a part of those benefits so that they can profit from them.
Couldn't agree more. It's coercive and predatory. We should be ashamed that we aren't stopping corporate interests from taking advantage of the most vulnerable among us. It's easy to say 'eat healthier' but when food that makes you sick is cheap and easily available, people do what they have to do. Policy makers designing the system including when and how we will spend taxpayer dollars on subsidies/SNAP/lunches... whatever, should be mindful and held accountable for their choices.