I'd like to start this entry off by giving some context to the opinions about to be expressed. In such academic situations as this, I prefer to keep my written work at an arm's length — meaning that I very rarely blatantly affiliate my personal opinion with the information I am trying to express. However, the topic about to be discussed holds great significance in terms of my personal life choices. I am a vegetarian who has spent the last year educating myself (and others who are interested) on the terrifying effects of processed and genetically modified foods. My diet consists of 60-70% pure produce, with a goal of reaching a 100% pure, raw, vegan lifestyle in mind and heart. I am deeply emotionally invested in the topic of healthy eating, but I digress...
It is often discussed how the problem with wide-spread obesity is most prominent in the United States, with $4 billion dollars being spent annually on fast-food advertising, however, as Canadians, it is important to realize that this problem exists much closer to home than we'd like to think. Fifty-nine percent of Canadian adults are currently overweight or obese, making it clear there exists a problem somewhere in the communication between the food industry and the public.
The advertising industry has been pinned as the source of all evil in this situation, however I honestly think the anger is completely misplaced. In my opinion, it doesn't make sense to shoot the messenger, per say. The advertising industry exists as a means of communicating product knowledge and availability to the masses — they literally exist as a middle-man. The companies that feed the fantastical idea that garbage food will make you happier, healthier, and more vital are essentially paid to tell you these things by ginormous fast-food industry leaders, such as McDonald's, Subway, & Burger King. I understand where the frustration comes from as these advertising gurus use their knowledge and understanding of the human psyche to convince and often manipulate people, but it is their job. The advertising industry exists to solely do this.
Despite the advertising industry's lack of responsibility for preventing and reversing mass-obesity, in my opinion, it cannot be argued that they do play a major role in (literally and figuratively) feeding the obesity epidemic. By creating this deceptive imagery and blasting it out to the masses, they fuel the fire that is wide-spread obesity. It is no secret that they have perfected the art of manipulation and smart communication (for example, by ensuring that 50% of all fast-food advertisements are played during children's television programs) and I feel they definitely take advantage of this complex understanding of how the human mind and emotion works.
Seeing as these monster fast-food companies are the source of the problem and will pay billions of dollars annually to upkeep the fast-food facade (in 2007, $7billion was spent on fast-food advertising in the United States) and the advertising industry cannot be held responsible for doing its job exceptionally well, the social responsibility lies entirely on the higher power — the government. Where has the government been in the midsts of all of this? Why have they allowed such blatantly destructive information be fed to the masses, especially young children. The worst part is that children are most easily impacted by the fast-food industry & it has been widely understood that childhood obesity is rarely outgrown. Essentially, the government is allowing the disgusting, destructive fast-food industry kill our future generations. Why has the government not stepped in to stop the slow mass-murder of the North American society? I understand political lobbying holds a strong hold on the laws that are passed in terms of fast-food advertising, but there needs to be a time when the government takes off their blind-fold and realizes that they are murdering their children and their countries — not the fast-food industry. There is such a lack of social responsibility that deeply upsets and hurts me.
And part of me entertains the possibility that maybe the government is purposely lulling the masses to a state of complete government dependance (with fried food & carcinogenic chemicals) in order to prevent anyone from questioning their true intent — making money from the lobbyists (CocaCola spent $5,890,000 on government lobbying in 2011). I don't doubt that many involved in the government are fully aware of the problem at hand and continue to enable it.
This also brings me to my final point, which seems to remain consistent with other topics discussed on my blog — the responsibility has to lie on the individual. I understand it can be impossible to see through the greasy fog and beyond to the truth about health and food, but it needs to be done. Individuals in society who have come to a higher understanding of what real food and vitality looks like have to share their knowledge and spread the truth. As a society, we cannot rely on people in power and with money to protect us, we have to protect and educate ourselves. Once the mind has been opened to the harsh reality, it becomes to obvious that the fast-food industry is just one of many industries fuelled by lies, hate, and worst of all, money. By not buying into the lies these monster companies are feeding us, we slowly stop fuelling the fire and the obesity epidemic will cease. Social awareness is critical. We have to educate ourselves, ask uncomfortably confrontational questions about what really happens to our food, and be willing to find the truth.
Once we stop giving our money to these industries, they will either change their ways to suit the societal demand for healthier, natural products, or they will cease to thrive & eventually disappear. We have to stop blaming others, and assess our own personal morals and habits in order to better ourselves as well as future generations.
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