Well Somebody Hates Pollan

"Can't Stomach It" by Julie Guthman

Some people think that "the obesity epidemic is one of the greatest public health threats of our times, perhaps rivaling AIDS or avian flu." In her article "Can't Stomach It," Julie Guthman argues quite the contrary. She talks about how shows like The Biggest Loser gives society the perception that obesity is a disease that can be cured through dieting, exercising, and using pharmaceutical drugs. She also criticizes authors like J. Eric Oliver, Marion Nestle, Anna Lappe, Jane Goodall, and most of all Michael Pollan. Although Guthman does cede that Pollan is a great and enticing writer, she disagrees with most of his points. She refers to these authors talking about the rising obesity rates and the abundance of fast food in order to define real food. These points make her pose the question of why are these authors not fat if the junk food they speak of is so pervasive and irresistible. Guthman believes that these authors and people like the trainers in "The Biggest Loser" see themselves as superior to fat people and are full of wisdom and knowledge that they must teach to the obese population. Pollan, for instance, thinks if people eat like he does (perhaps only eating organic foods like those produced on Joel Salatin's farm) the obesity problem in the United States will be eliminated. Guthman satirically replies that Pollan's thesis and The Omnivore's Dilemma altogether makes her crave Cheetos.

I think all Guthman is doing is going on a radical rant opposing a topic that has been statistically researched and proven. I'm not sure what past Guthman has with Pollan or the other authors mentioned above, but she clearly is out to get them. In the article she says sarcastically, "Some people - in this case thin people - clearly must have seen the light that the rest are blind to. Even though she wants it to seem sarcastic, I think that is completely true. There is information out there against obesity and yet the numbers continue to increase year by year. Either people are simply ignoring the information or they don't want to change the way they currently are.

1. Why is Guthman so against what these authors propose when they have all done substantial research?

2. Why does the obesity rate continue to grow when more and more different types of information on the "disease" is released each year?