I'm not entirely sure of the mechanisms whereby so many of us get addicted to ultra-processed food, but there is an undeniable negative feedback loop between getting into the stuff and then craving more of it. The result: obesity and then the rest...
And we've tried a lot of things to break this cycle: from public health campaigns to sugar taxes and rebranded food packaging, but nothing has managed to break the mass-craving...
But now we have DRUGS!
Evidence from the United States shows that GLP-1 drugs – appetite suppressants like Wegovy and Ozempic – are not only helping individuals lose weight, but also bringing about HUGE societal level changes.
The typical patient on these drugs loses 15% of their body weight, and there's an additional ripple-effect.... households who typically consume UPFs are now spending 8% less on them.
I mean I was and still am sceptical about these drugs - a high tech solution to a capitalist engineered problem. I'd rather cut out the problem at source, but then the tax solution is pretty statist for my liking....
This drug-solution is quite nice as it offers choice without crudely penalising companies producing UPFs.
The economic downside...?
Of course this is very BAD NEWS for the massive UPF companies, and some people think the reason it's so hard to get hold of these drugs in the UK is because the government isn't providing the support to produce them rapidly, fearing declining profits.
Final thoughts.... common sense.....
I'm not comfortable with a tech solution to obesity, I'd rather people just developed some self-discipline, but maybe there is a role for these drugs... if they can help change habits after a relatively short course of them, then that's good news.
And stuff the profits of the UPF companies, we'll make that back with a healthier society more able to chip-in!
Rather than chips-in