Is the nation's fast-food frenzy to blame for the obesity problem?
By Patrick Jones | April 23, 2004Reports of an "epidemic of childhood obesity" in America recently have been in the news. And with the tobacco industry being taken to court for its alleged responsibility in the deaths of millions from lung cancer and other smoking related illnesses, a similar move is being made to take the snack food industry, or "Big Food" as some have labeled them, to court. Whether or not the industry is responsible for our nation's increasing average BMI is an interesting topic that I leave for others to discuss -- however, it does raise an interesting question for those who will be providing health care for children in the future. A lawsuit or the threat of a lawsuit such as the one being discussed against Big Food rests on the idea that childhood obesity is causing long-term mental and physical harms. If the courts establish that these harms are serious enough to seek damages from those who make products that contribute to obesity, an interesting dilemma could arise for the everyday practitioner. For example, if a mother comes in with her 11 month old girl and it is discovered that not only does the daughter smoke, but her mother provides the cigarettes and even taught the child how to smoke, there is a good chance that Child Protective Services would become involved. Imagining this scenario with other substances that allegedly cause harm (drugs, pornography, alcohol) and the result would also most likely be a call to CPS.
