Unlike the junk science that is "global warming" however, the science behind America's enormous rate of obesity is simple and believable: high-fructose corn syrup - cheap sugar - is now the second or third largest ingredient in most packaged foods.
Sugar makes you fat, and pretty much everything we eat has enormous amounts of sugar added to it.
If someone puts five packets of sugar in their coffee people say: "Hey, want some coffee with your sugar?"
But a 12oz can of Coke has 13 packets' worth of sugar in it, and most people drink the 20oz nowadays instead of the can. The 20oz has the equivalent of 21 packets of sugar.
It's painfully obvious what's going on - there's no need for laws, just common sense.
sure it is but no one pays attention to common sense, mostly because it's free.
Eating all that sugar would not be that bad if not for the fact that many people, including kids, live a more sedentary life now. I know kids that can't wait to get home from school or whatever to sit in front of a box to play video games. I sit in front in front of box all day, and spend at least two hours in a box to get to and from the box that I sit in front of all day.
Our "culture" (hate that word) now looks down upon physical labor and allows only sanction physical activities - I wonder what would happen if I'm ever found climbing a tree?
It was only within the last year or so that I discovered that high fructose corn syrup plays havoc with my system. I usually avoid it, but yesterday was my birthday, so I had ice cream and cake last night, even though a little voice was telling me I would be sorry.
Result: Restless night. Two hours of sleep followed by 5 hours of wakefulness. Followed by GI distress.
HFCS is horrible stuff. But, as you said, we need to exercise common sense and personal responsibility.
And if people stop buying products that contain HFCS, market forces will make that junk disappear,
The science behind America's rate of obesity says that our rate of obesity is caused by the fact that we're consuming more energy than we burn. It can't be blamed on a macronutrient, a micronutrient, some food ingredient, or a chemical. Americans are consuming too much food and beverage while living a sedentary lifestyle.
Sugar makes you fat
Consuming more calories than you burn makes you fat. It's the amount of calories that matters, not the source of those calories.