SACRAMENTO, Calif.) — Governments could slow — and even reverse — the growing epidemic of obesity by taking measures to counter fast food consumption, according to a study published today in the Bulletin of the World Health Organization.
Led by Roberto De Vogli of UC Davis, the study showed that fast food purchases were independent predictors of increases in the average body mass index (BMI) in the U.S. and 24 other wealthy nations from 1999 to 2008. Nations with stronger government regulations — such as producer protection, price controls, and stronger intervention on competition and taxes — experienced slower increases in fast food purchases and average BMIs.
Got that? The free market is making us fat. Down with economic freedom, up with healthy eating!
I sometimes wonder if these "the sheep don't know what's good for them" geniuses have emergency meetings.
"Oh, no! People have stopped buying our climate change scares! Obama's health-care takeover is falling apart! We have to find something new to scare them into line like the good little statists we know them to be! I know -- obesity! It may be a stretch, but they'll buy anything."
Alas, too many do. Every dingle time.
