UK Weakens its Fight Against Childhood Obesity

A step backward in governments’ ongoing march to fight obesity: the UK just weakened its long-awaited strategy against childhood obesity by making the reduction in sugar in children’s foods a “suggestion” rather than mandatory. 

Must-Reads from the Wellness World (Week of September 20, 2016)

How the Sugar Industry Shifted Blame to FatThe New York Times, September 12, 2016

Just-released historical documents expose that the sugar industry paid scientists in the 1960s to play down the link between sugar and heart disease, and promote saturated fat as the culprit instead. An academic recently unearthed the sugar industry documents, suggesting that five decades of research into the role of nutrition and heart disease – including many of today’s dietary recommendations – may have been largely shaped by the sugar industry.

Study Estimates Cost of (the Global Epidemic of) Physical Inactivity

For the very first time, medical researchers have estimated the cost of physical inactivity – a conservative $54 billion worldwide a year. The fact that a number has now been placed on the pandemic of physical inactivity should spur policymakers to prioritize the promotion of regular physical activity – and that’s very bullish for the wellness industry!