1557: How Food Is Engineered to Make You Addicted & Fat with Michael Moss

Global Obesity

The global rise in obesity is closely linked to the spread of processed foods, mirroring the tactics once used by the tobacco industry. Michael Moss explains that as awareness of food quality grows in the U.S., companies are shifting their marketing efforts to other countries, leading to increased obesity rates worldwide 1. This trend is particularly evident in nations like Mexico, where processed foods have become more prevalent. The allure of sweetness plays a significant role, especially among children who have a higher "bliss point" for sugar, making them more susceptible to these foods 2.

Kids basically have a bliss point for sweetness. It's about double what adults have.

--- Michael Moss

This preference for sweetness is rooted in evolution, where sweet tastes were associated with safety and calories, further complicating the fight against obesity.

   

Economic Factors

Economic incentives and cultural shifts significantly contribute to the obesity epidemic. Michael Moss highlights how subsidies for crops like corn and soybeans make processed foods cheaper and more accessible than fresh produce 3. This economic disparity disproportionately affects lower-income families, who often opt for cost-effective processed options. Additionally, cultural habits and the convenience of processed foods reinforce their consumption.

The whole farm system...90% of the acres in this country are planted in field corn...and the rest 10% is all the vegetables and fruits and nuts and all that stuff we should be eating.

--- Michael Moss

Moss advocates for a balanced approach to food consumption, emphasizing awareness and responsibility rather than extreme dietary restrictions 4.