A new government report on cancer addresses not only the tobacco industry, but also the food industry and the federal government. The report calls on the federal government to "cease being a purveyor of unhealthy foods."According to the report, federal, state and local policies have made healthful food more expensive and less available while cutting back on physical education classes in schools.
The report recommends encouraging doctors and insurance companies to offer more programs regarding nutrition, smoking cessation and exercise. The report also urged Congress to authorize the FDA to regulate tobacco and to increase the cigarette tax. President Bush currently opposes such an increase in the cigarette tax.
Our government's agricultural policies were also addressed. From the report, "We heavily subsidize the growth of foods (e.g., corn, soy) that in their processed forms (e.g., high fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated corn and soybean oils, grain-fed cattle) are known contributors to obesity and associated chronic diseases, including cancer." Fresh fruits and vegetables have not been subsidized in the same way.
It's easy to blame individuals for making not-so-wise choices regarding diet and exercise and smoking and certainly these individual choices play a role. This report reminds us that our society also plays a large role in encouraging or enabling our "choices" too. On the bright side, we can take steps as a nation to help remedy this situation.
