One possible contributor to the obesity epidemic is… corn. Corn, and things derived from corn, and things related to things derived from corn. Things such as:
High fructose corn syrup.
Artificial sweeteners.
Increased fat consumption.
Increased salt intake.
Pounds-per-capita usage of high fructose corn syrup tracks closely with the obesity chart. The technology to convert corn starches into fructose, and then into high-fructose corn syrup, came on-line in the early 1970s. Prior to 1975, consumption of this product was virtually nil. Beginning in about 1975, however, per capita usage accelerated rapidly to roughly 1985, continued to rise albeit at a slower pace until 1999, then leveled off and even dropped somewhat.
Use of corn crops for production of high fructose corn syrup showed a similar profile, rising until 2000, then remaining level or actually decreasing slightly through 2015. Likewise, grain consumption (for which read “corn”) followed the same pattern, fed into the maw of HFCS production.
High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is a likely culprit because fructose metabolizes differently than glucose (regular sugar) does. Yes, it eventually breaks down into glucose, but along the way interferes with the brain’s response to leptin, a chemical which signals the brain that the body has sufficient fat stores. The brain becomes insensitive to leptin, and the normal feedback loop that would prevent overeating is broken.
So the timing is right for implication of HFCS as the culprit, and the biochemistry would seem to bear that out. However, like many villains HFCS runs with a gang of evil-doers that could be major contributors to the epidemic as well.
As weight gain began to be a major issue, use of artificial sweeteners increased to placate the sweet tooth sugar/HFCS had stimulated. Salt (Leading to water retention) and fat (leading to… well, fat) were also added to foods to compensation for the decrease in flavor caused by reduced sugar. The end result was food that was tastier but also potentially contributing to the obesity epidemic.
So HFCS and its co-conspirators are likely culprits, perhaps. But are they the only ones? Or even the most likely ones?
We need to explore further….