The Social Drive for Obesity.

From a biological stance, humans are hard-wired to seek out food. (Lawrence, 2024) Our natural systems have become 'hijacked' by modern-day food production by 'addictive food-like substances' being marketed to us. (Gearhardt et al., 2023, Potvin Kent et al., 2018) In the last century, Western society has become 'brainwashed' by marketing (Tan et al., 2018) into thinking that these 'food-like products' (Pollan, 2008) are good for us or provide nutritional value - they do not.

The creation of the 'bliss point' (Moskowitz, 1971) 'perfect crunch' (Spence & Zampini, 2004) and other 'addiction-causing methods' have been used to create addictive tendencies when ingesting Ultra Processed Foods (UPF). (Gearhardt et al., 2023) UPFs lack micro-nutritional value and are dense with macronutrients, like fat and sugar. They are often made with chemicals that the body does not recognise or have a mechanism to process. (Lomer, 2015) The 'Yale Food Addiction Scale', found that food addiction is like addiction levels for substances like alcohol and tobacco. (Gearhardt et al., 2023)

Many societal rituals revolve around food, and overeating has become a 'tradition' for households in the West. Fasting, a protocol exercised by most cultures for centuries, has also been reduced in Western society, compounding issues that come with overeating.

The Effects of UPF

Many obese people are nutritionally deficient, causing hunger and food-seeking behaviours. (Garcia, 2009, Damms-Machado & Bischoff, 2012) Eating UPF has been seen to raise the rates of cancer (Abebe et al. 2025), 24% higher likelihood of ADHD symptoms among those consuming more UPF (Khazdouz et al. 2024), behavioural and cognitive deficits (Reichelt, 2016. Attuquayefio, 2017)) and a 16% increase in the likelihood of developing mental health issues. (Ejtahed, 2024)

The Fat Acceptance Movement

One social driver of obesity, morbid obesity and eating UPF is the 'Fat Acceptance Movement', a social acceptance movement that purports ideas such as 'health at any size' and that being fat is only undesirable because of modern-day ‘beauty standards’. The movement began to end stigma and discrimination towards fat people in the 1970s. (Schoenfelder & Wieser 1983) In modern times, it has morphed into something more detrimental. Advocating for unhealthy diets and encouraging self-abusive behaviours. (Stanford, 2022) The radicalisation of this movement in the third wave has led to a problematic view of morbid obesity that disconnects from biological facts. Allowing the societal 'set point' for morbid obesity to continue to increase could encourage more people to become obese. (Festigner, 1954)

How Do We Manage This Crisis?

Education is a place to start. Parents and adults need to take back their power when making food choices. Consumers who buy these foods ensure that the companies continue their production and marketing. Mass production makes the foods cheaper and informs the market of consumer desire. Market trends should follow if individuals can take personal responsibility for their food choices. Learning to cook plant-based, fresh and healthy food is vital to our society. Without good health, there can be nothing else. We must also educate that obesity is a form of self-harm - through self-esteem education, stress management and making changes to society, we can encourage change for us as individuals.

"There are a great many food-like items in the supermarket your ancestors would not recognize as food... stay away from these." (Pollan, 2008)

References:

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