The Large Turn Out for Abortion Rights Gives Me Hope For Our Health

The fact that so many people came out to vote in support of abortion rights, especially in Republican strongholds, tells me that when it comes to matters affecting one’s body and is deeply personal, it’s easy to get people motivated. Lack of abortion rights is viewed (in part) as a lack of healthcare. Then why is it that when it comes to matters of health more broadly, we seem stuck in the mud, repeating the same things over and over again?

Nearly 50 million people (17 million households) reported being food insecure in 2022. Millions more would report as food insecure (lacking access to adequate and healthy food necessary to maintain an active life) if they truly understood what healthy food and a balanced meal is. Food insecurity leads to an overconsumption of ultra processed foods and sugary (high calorie) drinks, which has direct links to obesity and chronic disease.

As of 2017 42% of the adult population was obese. Likewise, childhood obesity (nearly 20% as of 2020) is on the rise resulting in diseases such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease that had never before been seen in children now being diagnosed in children as young as 2 at an alarming rate.

Chronic disease are becoming more prevalent with the top five causes of death steadily increasing each year. In recent years life expectancy has plateaued and subsequently decreased to its lowest level in decades. Last year infant mortality rose by a statistically significant 3% for the first time in decades (we now lag behind countries like Russia and China).

The opioid epidemic continues to wreak havoc on people and communities throughout the country (you can’t visit any major city without seeing its effects). At least 150,000 people now die each year from drug overdoses. Yet OxyContin and Fentanyl remain legal and frequently prescribed/administered despite the known destruction they have caused (I have multiple friends/family who recently went in for surgery and were given, sometimes forcefully, these drugs).

This is all in spite of spending trillions of dollars each year on healthcare. So what gives? Obviously we’re doing something drastically wrong.

Congress’ answer to all of this is the recently proposed Food Label Modernization Act. Their attempt to update food labels that have not been updated since the 80s / 90s. But what is it really? It’s an attempt to placate and quiet the public and those who are standing up and shouting for change, while protecting the companies responsible for the country’s declining health.

And for the first time (yes, the first time) the departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services are considering the impact of ultra processed foods on disease and rates of obesity. It could impact guidelines and the meals served to children in their school lunch programs. Another category where we lag behind other countries, including Mexico. This is work that has already been done, multiple times over, and yet the government agencies want us to believe that this is some novel their doing for us.

Guidelines, recommendations and warning labels only work if people have access to the healthy alternative.

I read an article a couple of weeks ago profiling children diagnosed with non alcoholic fatty liver disease. One of the children recalls regularly consuming a large Slurpee (134 grams of sugar) and a large bag of Cheetos (1,440 calories, 90 grams of fat) every time her aunt brought her to 7-Eleven for some “snacks” when her parents were struggling to put food on the table.

I’d like for someone to explain so I can understand how the Food Label Modernization Act and new guidelines is going to do anything to help this child. It is no coincidence that the rates of obesity amongst the lowest income children versus the highest income children is double. It’s not a choice.

There needs to be limits on the amount of drugs (sugar) that producers are allowed to put into their food. It’s not enough to put it on a label. Ultra processed foods (i.e. Cheetos) are designed to be highly palatable and addictive, encouraging consumers to eat more and more, as the combination of sugar and salt is manufactured to hit that dopamine bliss point.

So the circle goes: family can’t afford or doesn’t have access to healthy foods (aka food deserts) and turns to easily accessible and affordable ultra processed food. Ultra processed food is addictive, affordable and available, so they consume more. And more. Eventually disease ensues. And round it goes.

Powerful opioids such as OxyContin and Fentanyl need to be removed from circulation. Doctors and hospitals should not be allowed to push these drugs on any patient.

It brings me back to my original point (I guess). If we are able to come out in such great numbers (as we should) for abortion rights, then what is it going to take to get us to come out in support of changing food policy, the food system and the healthcare system more generally in this country, to one that actually promotes health instead of undermining it.

We know the food, agriculture, beverage and healthcare industries control the market, but we are the market and therefore we can demand change. Somehow we’ve forgotten that. Without our dollars, they have no dollars and will need to conform to our demands.