3 ms·

Those are all good reasons but they are not the root cause per se. The attraction to such foods starts with the normalizing of them (and their eventual result)

Those are all good reasons but they are not the root cause per se. The attraction to such foods starts with the normalizing of them (and their eventual result). Human behaviour is very much a function of environment / nature. Our evolution and survival came from observing our neighbors and following suit. When everyone at the supermarket has soda in their carts we naturally assume - without even thinking - it's ok for us too. Put another way...Availablity is a problem. But acceptability The Problem. Along the same lines, previous social friction / deterrents are no longer fashionable. Call someone "chubby" and your labeled a bully and instantly marginalized or cancelled. On the other hand it goes unnoticed how calebrities (e.g., Oprah) spent years promoting "love your body"* and now push their own diets / meals. For all intents and purposes for a health perspective sugar is the new cigarettes. Unfortunately, social norms aren't interested in the dangers. The food is a problem. But people refusing to come to terms with the truth about those foods is ultimately the root problem. * Promoting love your body is fine. Unfortunately, the health implications are rarely mentioned. That type of deception needs to be denormalizes.

paulpauper 4y ago
supermarket has soda in their carts we naturally assume - without even thinking - it's ok for us too. But everyone is aware of the obesity problem or that soda is bad, no? It's in the media a lot. Popular reality TV shows not uncommonly feature weight loss challenges. I think it's more of an addiction and tastiness problem than a groupthink or cultural problem. Modern food is not satiating and digests too easily. Those huge Starbucks Frappes are not much different from protein shakes bodybuilders drink to add weight but tastier.
- chiefalchemist 4y ago
  Aware? Yes. Unfortunately, once you get to the supermarket - i.e., the place of purchase - you see a butt-load of signals that say otherwise. You don't get to the addiction and tastiness without social acceptance first. Think about it...there is more pain, suffering and death from obesity (and conditions triggered by it) than say cocaine. Why? Because sugar is socially ok and cocaine is not. Give sugar the same stigma and the appeal is greatly reduced. We are social animals. We want to be accepted. We are wired to conform to the norms around us. The bottom line: We've normalized the abnormal, and have made saying so socially unacceptable.
  - paulpauper 4y ago
    You don't get to the addiction and tastiness without social acceptance first. Hmm...the size of the dieting, weight loss, and fitness industry would seem to suggest people are aware it is bad. Few fat people want to be fat.
    - chiefalchemist 4y ago
      Step 1 - Recognize and accept the behaviour of others around us Step 2 - Parrot the behaviour. Just because few people say they don't want to be fat doesn't mean zillions of years of evolution (and their subconscious) isn't working against them. When nearly everything around you says your decisions + behaviour is ok it is - being human - very hard to change. This is why users who try to quit relapse, they continue to surround themselves in the same environment. If you want an easy on ramp, try any of the Jonah Berger books. That should get you started. As it is, you're not recognizing how being wired to be social can backfire when unhealthy becomes the norm. When it comes to such things, the norm is far more powerful than your recognizing. https://jonahberger.com/ https://jonahberger.com/

paulpauper 4y ago

supermarket has soda in their carts we naturally assume - without even thinking - it's ok for us too. But everyone is aware of the obesity problem or that soda is bad, no? It's in the media a lot. Popular reality TV shows not uncommonly feature weight loss challenges. I think it's more of an addiction and tastiness problem than a groupthink or cultural problem. Modern food is not satiating and digests too easily. Those huge Starbucks Frappes are not much different from protein shakes bodybuilders drink to add weight but tastier.

chiefalchemist 4y ago
Aware? Yes. Unfortunately, once you get to the supermarket - i.e., the place of purchase - you see a butt-load of signals that say otherwise. You don't get to the addiction and tastiness without social acceptance first. Think about it...there is more pain, suffering and death from obesity (and conditions triggered by it) than say cocaine. Why? Because sugar is socially ok and cocaine is not. Give sugar the same stigma and the appeal is greatly reduced. We are social animals. We want to be accepted. We are wired to conform to the norms around us. The bottom line: We've normalized the abnormal, and have made saying so socially unacceptable.
- paulpauper 4y ago
  You don't get to the addiction and tastiness without social acceptance first. Hmm...the size of the dieting, weight loss, and fitness industry would seem to suggest people are aware it is bad. Few fat people want to be fat.
  - chiefalchemist 4y ago
    Step 1 - Recognize and accept the behaviour of others around us Step 2 - Parrot the behaviour. Just because few people say they don't want to be fat doesn't mean zillions of years of evolution (and their subconscious) isn't working against them. When nearly everything around you says your decisions + behaviour is ok it is - being human - very hard to change. This is why users who try to quit relapse, they continue to surround themselves in the same environment. If you want an easy on ramp, try any of the Jonah Berger books. That should get you started. As it is, you're not recognizing how being wired to be social can backfire when unhealthy becomes the norm. When it comes to such things, the norm is far more powerful than your recognizing. https://jonahberger.com/ https://jonahberger.com/