This is a very heavy topic which I think is, to some extent, beyond the scope of economics to answer overall. Take for example the growth of Ozempic which acts by reducing the urge to eat. On the other hand, food companies are intentionally making food such that people want to buy it (I believe one executive on a call said they'll make their snacks even more addictive in response to Ozempic). How do we model this arms race for example is probably too difficult (side note: I had a similar concern about economic models of Covid, since we do not know how to model the creation of new Covid variants).
Ultimately, in my opinion, it boils down to education/knowledge. The benefits of healthy eating are not just not being sick but also functioning well.
I think overall this is an interesting and important broader question that should be discussed on an interdisciplinary basis. Thank you for bringing it up!
Do you think that obesity drugs will have something like a Jevons Paradox? Drug protection from obesity leading to even worse eating and even less exercise, resulting in little change in obesity? We may be about to find out.
RFK has some views I strongly disagree with but he has said he will not take away vaccines that people want. (There is plenty of room to question the USA's specific vaccine schedule, especially for children, since it differs from that of other countries.) But he has the right general approach to health. If he can be a positive influence and combine that with reform (preferably abolition) of the FDA and the idiots who tell us what foods to eat, he may have a salutary effect.
This is a very heavy topic which I think is, to some extent, beyond the scope of economics to answer overall. Take for example the growth of Ozempic which acts by reducing the urge to eat. On the other hand, food companies are intentionally making food such that people want to buy it (I believe one executive on a call said they'll make their snacks even more addictive in response to Ozempic). How do we model this arms race for example is probably too difficult (side note: I had a similar concern about economic models of Covid, since we do not know how to model the creation of new Covid variants).
Ultimately, in my opinion, it boils down to education/knowledge. The benefits of healthy eating are not just not being sick but also functioning well.
I think overall this is an interesting and important broader question that should be discussed on an interdisciplinary basis. Thank you for bringing it up!
Do you think that obesity drugs will have something like a Jevons Paradox? Drug protection from obesity leading to even worse eating and even less exercise, resulting in little change in obesity? We may be about to find out.
RFK has some views I strongly disagree with but he has said he will not take away vaccines that people want. (There is plenty of room to question the USA's specific vaccine schedule, especially for children, since it differs from that of other countries.) But he has the right general approach to health. If he can be a positive influence and combine that with reform (preferably abolition) of the FDA and the idiots who tell us what foods to eat, he may have a salutary effect.