50% of American children are fat. That’s a problem………….
By Dutch Rojas
Food has become poison.
Personal responsibility.
It’s a noble idea.
A cornerstone of society.
The bedrock of success.
But what happens when the game is rigged?
Welcome to the food industry.
Where personal responsibility meets corporate ingenuity.
And loses.
50% childhood obesity in the US.
Let that sink in.
Half of our children.
You are carrying more than just backpacks.
Carrying a lifetime of health issues.
Now, look at Japan, 3% obesity.
Look at Europe, 11%
The difference?
It’s not willpower.
It’s not genetics.
It’s not “personal responsibility.”
It’s food.
The food industry isn’t just selling calories.
They’re selling addiction.
Engineered. Marketed. Supersized.
It’s not a meal.
It’s an arms race.
An arms race where our children are the casualties.
We say: “Just eat less.”
They say: “Would you like to upsize that?”
We preach moderation.
They preach “extreme” flavors.
We talk nutrition.
They talk about “mouth feel” and “bliss point.”
It’s not a fair fight.
It never was.
Personal responsibility?
Absolutely.
But responsibility goes both ways.
What’s the industry’s responsibility?
To shareholders?
Or to the health of a nation?
It’s time to ask hard questions:
Why is the “healthy option” always more expensive?
Why is junk food cheaper than real food?
Why are we subsidizing corn syrup instead of vegetables?
This isn’t about banning choices.
It’s about making the healthy choice.
The easy choice.
The affordable choice.
The obvious choice.
To the food industry:
You’ve shown us you can engineer addiction.
You’ve shown us you can make children sick.
Now, show us you can engineer health.
To the Doctors:
It is time to learn nutrition.
Let’s transition from sick care to healthcare.
Lead the way.
To policymakers:
It’s time to level the playing field.
Because our children’s health
It shouldn’t be a game of chance.
To everyone else:
Yes, take personal responsibility.
But also demand corporate responsibility.
The obesity crisis isn’t just a health issue.
It’s a national security issue.
An economic issue.
A moral issue.
50% of childhood obesity isn’t a statistic.
It’s a call to action.
Are we ready to answer?
Or will we keep supersizing our way to a smaller future?
The choice is ours.
But the consequences?
They belong to our children.
It’s time to put down the fork.
And pick up the gauntlet.
Who’s hungry for real change?
When I was a kid back in the day there were no fat kids. Well…………Ok there was one in the neighborhood. We made fun of him. We played outdoors all the time, didn’t have television or internet or anything like that. Mom made us breakfast, lunch and dinner and we never ate out unless it was a very special occasion like graduation from 6th grade or my sister’s wedding or coming back from Vietnam. No one had health insurance. Tattoos were for criminals and boys were boys and girls were girls. Democrats were Republicans and Republicans were closet Democrats while loudly proclaimed otherwise. Ahhhh……the good ole days!
