Crusade of the Fatophobes

A terrific tongue-in-cheek Op-Ed piece published in Saturday's New York Times pokes well-meaning fun at perfect bodies everywhere. The author, John Tierney, also pokes fun at another group - anti-food activists. He discusses the absurd irony inherent in the arguments of those he calls "fatophobes." He describes these fatophobes as people who routinely preach that the obesity epidemic is upon us, and who use this idea to attack those of the flabbier persuasion. However, as Tierney points out, these junk-food fighters are the same people that are the first to scream and moan when food companies reduce their products' calorie or fat content by using additives like Olestra or aspartame. He notes:

"... The crusade against fat was never just about science. The activists fighting the evil junk-food industry always had a streak of neo-puritanism in them. They cited scientific research to justify their battle against fatty foods, but then campaigned hysterically against Olestra, the calorie-free fat subsitute. Despite the research showing Olestra to be generally safe, the prospect of Americans enjoying fat-free junk food was too sinful to allow. So was the prospect of calorie-free colas. When soft-drink companies replaced sugar with aspartame, the food police again ignored the research and kept IMAGINING dangers."

Tierney accurately points out the oxymoronic-ness (or just plain moronic-ness) of many of these activists' arguments. The same people who are saying we eat too many calories are the same people who pitch a fit when we use safe science to consume less. I just want to look at them and say, "Give me a diet break, buddy."

Just some food for thought... organically-grown, free-range, no artificial preservatives, colors, flavors or ingredients food for thought that is.