Thinking too much can make you ‘fat’ …
// September 7th, 2008 // Anti-Capitalism
I cannot believe that popular media still uses the word “fat” to denote “overweight” or “obese.” It is scientifically incorrect to use the word “fat” to describe a person whose Body Mass Index is much higher than average.
There is something else about this study that makes no sense to me–how many “fat” scientists, engineers, brain surgeons and geeks do you know? Somehow, my head visualizes ‘geniuses’ as thinner than average, which the article does concede as true at some point: “consuming fewer calories leads to sharper brains and longer life.” So the people with sharp brains–do they not ‘think’ and consume more calories? Or are the ’smart people’ of the world actually couch potatoes who never use their brains? The entire study sounds like a disaster in circular reasoning waiting to happen.
I think what continues to amuse me is how capitalism works to create profits from one phenomenon only to turn around and profit from the ‘opposite’ of that phenomenon. For example, first, it was the ‘fast food’ industry with high calorie and convenient (unhealthy) foods that has contributed to ‘obesity’ in most developed and developing countries. Now the very people who have been consuming these ‘foods’ for so long are sold gym memberships, diets, supplements, organic and healthier foods to ‘lose weight’ and keep fit. I am not going to be shocked when the powers of profit-making co-opt the ’slow-food’ movement either.
The same applies to fossil fuels and oil corporations. If you pay attention, you will notice that the giant oil corporations of today are buying out the patents to renewable energy. In the near future, expect these polluting powers to continue to exercise monopoly on our energy needs.
Excuse me, all this thinking has me hungry. Now where are those weight loss shakes…
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One Response to “Thinking too much can make you ‘fat’ …”
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Your very right, the media and capitalism is where it all has gone wrong. The force-fed shock headlines, which contradict and only highlight one aspect of the storey. Then the capitalism behind media funding the press advertising revenue. The media is one of the biggest monopolizations of them all and we get no choice but to listen to what is chosen by profit driven editors.
I honestly think our elected leaders should take responsibility for more than they do, its a free for all until someone dies, otherwise the madness continues.
A example: If manufactures of electrical goods were required by our elected leaders to ensure that their products are tested and guaranteed to work for 10 years. It would save on our environment, hassle and costs: for example: fuel to buy/fit replacement parts, energy required to make the replacement parts, and the energy required for new replacement products after three years.
Maybe less money would then be generated by electrical goods manufacturers, but really in our whole economy where would you like to see growth…probably not in the area of home white goods. Supply and demand, but without the built in poor quality products would be good.
But alas, the consumer is squashed and pinched to recycle and taxed heavily on fuel and energy consumption. Maybe it would cost more to make better products that last longer, but give manufacturers tax breaks and grants to serve us all better.
Its a little like smoking, it was OK to allow every shop to sell tobacco and for the product to be advertised as wished. Now many people are hooked, the health service shows a increase in smoking related illnesses and the consumer is penalised.
If only in the first place our elected leaders took responsibility for more than increasing taxes and reducing budgets. They could look at the bigger picture and we would not see the ridiculous knock on effects and hopefully a free state would exist, with more opportunity and less monopoly.