Comments on: How much of the diabetes epidemic is directly associated with diet? http://asweetlife.org/a-sweet-life-staff/ask-an-expert/how-much-of-the-diabetes-epidemic-is-directly-associated-to-diet/3251/ the source for the healthy diabetic Wed, 08 Sep 2010 17:51:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Dr. Zachary Bloomgarden http://asweetlife.org/a-sweet-life-staff/ask-an-expert/how-much-of-the-diabetes-epidemic-is-directly-associated-to-diet/3251/comment-page-1/#comment-345 Dr. Zachary Bloomgarden Sun, 06 Dec 2009 21:04:00 +0000 http://asweetlife.org/?p=3251#comment-345 It's a bit simplistic to say, "Fast and processed foods need to come with a health warning!" Human beings (and all living creatures) have evolved a myriad of redundant systems to encourage eating, and high calorie foods have survival value from the evolutionary perspective.  Our basic biology, then encourages us to eat, and the foods we consider tasty are, indeed, those which lead to weight gain.  Of course, in evolution, energy expenditure through physical activity balances caloric intake. What is missing in our current environment is the balance between consuming foods (whether we use the appelation of "fast food" or refer to the most delicious products of great chefs!) and common-sense adherence to appropriate levels of dietary intake and physical activity.  This, one must realize is the responsibility of the individual, and should be taught and made available by the society in which we live.  Such an approach should indeed include appropriate education as to food content, but there is so much more required. It’s a bit simplistic to say, “Fast and processed foods need to come with a health warning!”

Human beings (and all living creatures) have evolved a myriad of redundant systems to encourage eating, and high calorie foods have survival value from the evolutionary perspective.  Our basic biology, then encourages us to eat, and the foods we consider tasty are, indeed, those which lead to weight gain.  Of course, in evolution, energy expenditure through physical activity balances caloric intake.

What is missing in our current environment is the balance between consuming foods (whether we use the appelation of “fast food” or refer to the most delicious products of great chefs!) and common-sense adherence to appropriate levels of dietary intake and physical activity.  This, one must realize is the responsibility of the individual, and should be taught and made available by the society in which we live.  Such an approach should indeed include appropriate education as to food content, but there is so much more required.

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