The science and politics of fat

Apropos of yesterday's post, the NYT has an op-ed by Marc Bittman exhorting the surgeon general of the US to step up and criticize the food processing industry.  Meanwhile, he had to look up her name.  It turns out to be Regina Benjamin, who as I recall from pictures at her swearing in is somewhat challenged in the weight department.  The point of Bittman's rant is the Surgeion General has a bully pulpit, but since the time of Everret Koop, who publicized the science behind Aids and was instrumental in pushing for a cure, the nation's chief doctor has been neutralized by the anti-science zealots in Congress and successive administrations.    The few pronouncements from Dr. Benjamin's office have been more of the "blame the victim" variety.  Too many calories and too little excercise is the gist of her argument.  Forget about the constant advertising of calorie laden soft drinks and processed crap, plus the ever lager TV and gaming screens which tempt the youth of the country to vegetate in comfort.  Michelle Obama's advocacy of healthy eating and participating in aerobic activity is great, but what we really need are incentives to eat right and excercise and penalties for doing the opposite.  Taxing soft drinks and junk food is a step in that direction.  Lower insurance premiums for lower BMI (body mass index) individuals is another.  In a post industrial world where strenuous exertion is the exception in most occupations, someone or something must step in to insure the physical fitness of future generations.