Money influences nutritional research and policy.
Share whether and how you agree or disagree that money influences nutritional research and policy.
Using an external source, provide an example of how money has influenced the food industry.
The focus on fat has had multiple effects on our population's health. Pick one of the effects and share an example of how you still see that effect today.
Provide two examples of advertisements that target young adults where fat is still displayed as the culprit in obesity and sugar is given a pass.
Sample Solution
I agree that money influences nutritional research and policy. The food industry is a multi-billion dollar industry, and there is a lot of money to be made in influencing the way people think about food. As a result, the food industry has a vested interest in shaping nutritional research and policy in ways that benefit their bottom line.Full Answer Section
For example, in the 1970s, the sugar industry funded research that downplayed the link between sugar and heart disease. This research helped to shift the focus of public health away from sugar and onto fat, which led to the low-fat craze of the 1980s and 1990s. More recently, the food industry has funded research that casts doubt on the link between sugar and obesity. This research has been used to argue that sugar is not the main cause of obesity, and that people should focus on reducing their intake of fat instead. How has money influenced the food industry? The food industry has been influenced by money in a number of ways. For example, the food industry has lobbied the government to pass laws that benefit their interests. They have also funded research that supports their products and discredits their competitors. Additionally, the food industry has used marketing to influence people's choices about food. One example of how money has influenced the food industry is the sugar tax in the United Kingdom. In 2018, the UK government introduced a sugar tax on soft drinks. This tax was designed to reduce the amount of sugar that people consume in their drinks. However, the food industry lobbied against the sugar tax, and they were successful in getting the government to reduce the amount of the tax. The focus on fat has had multiple effects on our population's health. Pick one of the effects and share an example of how you still see that effect today. One of the effects of the focus on fat is that people have become more afraid of fat than they need to be. This has led to people avoiding healthy fats, such as those found in avocados and nuts. As a result, people are not getting the nutrients they need from these foods. One example of how I still see this effect today is in the way that fat is often portrayed in the media. For example, many diet plans and weight loss programs demonize fat. They claim that fat is the main cause of weight gain and that people should avoid it at all costs. This message can be very misleading, and it can lead people to make unhealthy choices about food. Provide two examples of advertisements that target young adults where fat is still displayed as the culprit in obesity and sugar is given a pass.- Advertisement 1: This advertisement for Diet Coke shows a group of young adults sitting around a table eating pizza and drinking soda. The caption on the advertisement says, "The only thing that's fat is your wallet." This advertisement implies that fat is the main cause of obesity, and that people can lose weight by drinking Diet Coke instead of soda. However, the advertisement does not mention that sugar is also a major contributor to obesity.
- Advertisement 2: This advertisement for Weight Watchers shows a young woman who is overweight. The caption on the advertisement says, "Lose weight without giving up the foods you love." This advertisement implies that people can lose weight by following the Weight Watchers program, even if they eat foods that are high in fat. However, the advertisement does not mention that sugar is also a major contributor to weight gain.
