Letter: Celebrities are undermining the work of anti-obesity campaigners
America's love affair with food has led to obesity in over one-third of the adult population of the United States.
The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported that 35.7 per cent of adults and 17 per cent of children were obese in 2010 and this figure has undoubtedly grown over the past three years.
Despite being officially the most obese nation in the world, America is still resisting the 'nanny states' approach to tackling the obesity problem.
Michelle Obama received strong criticism from the likes of Fox News for agreeing that obesity is "absolutely" a national security risk. The facts favour the First Lady with high levels of obesity among both the young and old certainly posing a serious threat to the lives of millions of Americans.
The nation will struggle to cope with the needs placed upon its healthcare provision as the obesity epidemic takes hold of a large proportion of the population that will need serious and expensive treatment.
A huge rise in demand for healthcare will still see services strained to breaking point, unless something drastic is done to change America's course. This comes at a time when singer Beyonce Knowles has just signed a $50 million deal with Pepsi to become a brand ambassador. It is hypocritical of the American right-wing to refer to any work done by the government to change people's eating habits as an infringement on their rights when stars are flogging such food and drink to their fan base.
Stars such as Beyonce are undermining all the work anti-obesity campaigners are doing to encourage people to eat healthier and enjoy a longer, better quality of life.
Obesity is incompatible with "Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness".
Andrew Lovatt
Market Drayton
