The Obesity Code: Unlocking the Secrets of Weight Loss

Chapter 11 focuses on the role of large corporations in fueling the obesity epidemic. In the closing decades of the 20th century, big food companies began promoting snacks as a new category of food. Keen to increase their earnings, they embarked on advertisement campaigns and paid the AHA to place its Heart Check symbol on their products. According to the Center for Science in the Public Interest, the AHA received more than $2 million this purpose in 2002, placing its seal of approval on nutritionally dubious foods, such as Cocoa Puffs and Frosted Mini Wheats (127). Corporations also influenced healthcare professionals, who began endorsing artificial meal replacements, as well as weight loss drugs and surgical procedures. Fung strongly disapproves of these practices: “Shills for Big Food had been allowed to infiltrate the hallowed halls of medicine. Push fructose? No problem. Push obesity drugs? No problem. Push artificial meal replacement shakes? No problem.” (128). He is also critical of researchers who accept money from food companies to conduct studies, which increases the likelihood of results that favor the food companies by almost 700% (128).

Fung debunks several popular food myths, asserting that 1) Caloric reduction does not lead to weight-loss, 2) Dietary supplements and snacking have more to do with corporate profits than health, 3) Breakfast is not the most important meal of the day, and 4) Eating fruits and vegetables can help weight loss.