Fat Chance

Shout, shout, let it all out
These are the things I can do without
Come on, I'm talking to you, come on
--Tears for Fears

I've seen various posts noting that this is National Childhood Obesity Month and that the President is taking an active role in this campaign. As this article suggests, one thing this administration could do is dismantle government policies that likely promote rather than disdain obesity.

The primary policies in question are subsidies that have promoted growing corn (which goes into high fructose corn syrup of HFCS) and tariffs/price floors that have raised the price of table sugar (sucrose). Studies indicate that ingestion of HFCS is a significant factor in obesity--perhaps more so that fatty foods.

Classic example of government intervention driving unintended consequences. Implement a policy to benefit a small group, but that policy hurts a larger group.