A million years ago back in Cleveland my grandmother lovingly called me, in her somewhat broken English, "lilla fatty". I protested until my mother wisely told me this was a compliment. In the 1950's, when prosperity for the middle class rose and infant mortality rates fell, fatty was the new healthy. Everything is relative, however, and I never would have made the grade by today's standards.
So what happened? In my humble opinion advertising and creating wants from needs happened. I particularly remember one early morning in the 70's before my daughter started to school. She had been watching Captain Kangaroo when she suddenly hopped up, walked into the kitchen as if hypnotized, and said "I want a Hershey bar".
Now with so many of our snacks, beverages, and meals coming out of restaurants, fast food joints, and colorful boxes competing on grocers' shelves we have a responsibility to regulate the advertising industry and the food industry. Limited government has its merits, but it also has its limits.
"Americans spend more money on fast food than on higher education, personal computers, computer software or new cars. Every month more than 90 percent of American children eat at McDonald's; the average American eats three hamburgers and four orders of french fries every week." Fast Food Nation Trans fats are the new porn. And, yes, Burger King deserves a lawsuit.
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