The Sugar Epidemic: Policy versus Politics

Dr. Robert Lustig, Professor of Pediatric Endocrinology at the University of California, San Francisco, argues that it is time for a paradigm shift in obesity science and policy, away from personal responsibility and toward public health. His presentation elaborates on his contention that sugar, like alcohol, should not be treated as an ordinary commodity on the open market.

Recently featured in the New York Times Magazine, Dr. Lustig has become a leading pubic health authority on the impact sugar has on fueling the diabetes, obesity and metabolic syndrome epidemics, and on addressing changes in the food environment to reverse these chronic diseases.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• health
• diet

[TheVeroniqueL]

Particularly love the "non-pizza lunch" notice on the blackboard :)

[GabsVonTresckow]

So, big food trashing our health is just like the big banks trashing our economy. The government wont do anything because it is owned by the big money, and we take it up the tailpipe.

Like the MD says, 'it works for them, but it doesn't work for us'.

[Serimoya]

Ok I had to listen to the questions of the participants and the lady at 1:37 said it well. Real Food is the answer! Public Awareness that butter and grassfed meat, and responsibly handled whole raw milk is what leads to good health! Stop subsidies of processed foods and if you are going to sub anything, it should be small farms but our $ shouldn't go to poisoning people with processed food ag subsidies, then paying their healthcare costs!

[Serimoya]

Other than that, great science. Lawyers are NOT the only answer. He said himself that people go by taste. Fat tastes good! If masai and inuit people thrive on fat only diets, why not look for foods where people can feel satiated and be nourished? You can't limit fat AND sugar without starving a person! I dare you to fry a potato in beef tallow (like McD's used to) and supersize it or turn down fresh veggies fried in butter. Portion sizes go down when you eat more fat and whole grain/fiber

[Serimoya]

Except that he contradicts himself. He starts out saying that all food energy comes from fat or sugar, but keeps talking about SKIM milk, and fake sugar as an alternative!? He does NOT mention the iron, magnesium and calcium found in Grade B maple syrup, molasses, or real chocolate powder. If people actually ate REAL food, like full fat milk, cheese, peanuts, avocados, eggs, lard and tallow, they wouldn't crave sugar, would eat less and have the benefit of those nutrients stolen in processing

[TheVeroniqueL]

This was excellent- thank you so much for sharing it.