Liberal journo Zaid Jilani has a long thread that’s going viral where he suggests it’s time for an open discussion on the obesity crisis in the U.S. and how it’s linked to negative COVID-19 outcomes:
Has any government engaged in a renewed anti obesity campaign in light of covid 19?
— Zaid Jilani (@ZaidJilani) August 11, 2021
I looked up South Korean obesity rates prior to all this and I would be surprised if their general physical health isn't helping them weather the storm.
— Zaid Jilani (@ZaidJilani) August 11, 2021
The UK did do something like he’s suggesting:
The UK did something like this, although I'm not sure what the impact or effectiveness washttps://t.co/7x1pCyayF0
— Icaru (@koko8971) August 11, 2021
And China:
of course China.https://t.co/MyMmQ2sYp5
— Rowen (@SCBasenji) August 11, 2021
Jilani wants to be clear that he’s not “supportive of any kind of shaming” but he also “not into pretending something unhealthy is healthy when lives are on the line”:
Oh I'm not supportive of any kind of shaming, but I'm also not into pretending something unhealthy is healthy when lives are on the line…https://t.co/ZNvqSKje26
— Zaid Jilani (@ZaidJilani) August 11, 2021
He suggested something along the lines of the government’s anti-smoking programs:
US and other govts were pretty successful in using education and some nudges (public smoking bans, taxes) to push Americans and other people in the world to give up smoking. I doubt there is *nothing* they could do as successful anti-obesity intervention in light of covid.
— Zaid Jilani (@ZaidJilani) August 12, 2021
And like the tobacco industry, there are entrenched corporate players:
It's true, YUM foods is probably more powerful than Altria. Still… https://t.co/SfilIJqTfg
— Zaid Jilani (@ZaidJilani) August 12, 2021
The numbers are pretty staggering:
America barely fits on the dang page pic.twitter.com/PquKBjBgk2
— Zaid Jilani (@ZaidJilani) August 12, 2021
And:
— Zaid Jilani (@ZaidJilani) August 12, 2021
More here:
Well, there is such a thing as norming. American culture promotes a bunch of foods through social/cultural channels and through public policy that are really unhealthy in both substance and size. Most Asian cultures eat less and eat better. https://t.co/pRDzvOPv7G
— Zaid Jilani (@ZaidJilani) August 12, 2021
Like if we really wanted to protect people against covid the vaccines are probably the best step. Second best step is introducing people to vegetables and the fact they can actually be made tasty like they are overseas.
— Zaid Jilani (@ZaidJilani) August 12, 2021
I am not exempting myself from this, I grew up in the South. Fried food, BBQ, butter was what the region lives by. But you know those things can change over time. America itself wasn't so obese just a few generations back. Processed food, HFCS, etc. are relatively new.
— Zaid Jilani (@ZaidJilani) August 12, 2021
Like let's take all that energy about putting kids in masks forever and maybe devote 1/2 of that to making sure the kids are eating less mcdonalds and more good fresh stuff
— Zaid Jilani (@ZaidJilani) August 12, 2021
I know it's Michael Moore and he goes over the top on everything, but he still makes a good point about the quality of food overseas https://t.co/ijILE149J6
— Zaid Jilani (@ZaidJilani) August 12, 2021
Even if you go to the exact same chains in other countries, the quality of the food is better and it's healthier. McDonald's in India serves potato patties for burgers, everything's more fresh, less processed.
— Zaid Jilani (@ZaidJilani) August 12, 2021
— Zaid Jilani (@ZaidJilani) August 12, 2021
I strongly disagree that American culture is inherently tied to bad diets and poor exercise. America wasn't this obese forever: pic.twitter.com/hiSzn2gIBT
— Zaid Jilani (@ZaidJilani) August 12, 2021
A few people have chimed in saying there is no obesity/covid link. Sorry, no. It's the Internet and I support your right to say whatever you want, but: https://t.co/kfQYlkG08J
— Zaid Jilani (@ZaidJilani) August 12, 2021
I don't wanna ban people who are dead wrong but I am gonna point out they're dead wrong
— Zaid Jilani (@ZaidJilani) August 12, 2021
And surely people would have some intellectual curiosity about why certain rich countries had a worse time in COVID than certain poor countries — obesity is a big factor https://t.co/5iPfrn26H0
— Zaid Jilani (@ZaidJilani) August 12, 2021
Some, um, “food” for thought.
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