the ology of charm

'Anti-obesity vaccine' developed

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/5232150.stm

31st July 2006

This bit of news brings a lot more skepticism than it does hope. After all, such things seem too good to be true, what with the slew of 'magical' slimming or diet 'solutions' available on the market. Reading further would prove this to be true; taking this vaccine may cause detrimental effects upon the volunteer's brain. What's more, things like these are risky and cannot be undone. Say it with me: Only in America. Of course nothing beats a healthy lifestyle and correct diet to maintain a healthy weight. Haven't people learned from the Slim 10 incidents and all those stories about women who die needlessly from dodgy plastic surgery?

Looking around, we see this isn't true, not even by a long shot. You still can see advertisements for physical enhancement everywhere, claiming to be the perfect, fast-acting way out of a socially unacceptable physical appearance. The media is mostly to blame, being one of the most accessible and effective influences. Those people who subscribe to the idea that whatever our government gives us is propaganda, yet conform to whatever the media says is fashionable or acceptable are terrible hypocrites. If people were just happy with being healthy and how they were born to be, irregularities such as these weight loss pills etc. would never be a threat, and scientists would never be looking into things that aren't natural and tinkering with the system.

We all know that America has a very high percentage of obese people. This can be attributed to affluence and (again!) consumerism: the amount of foods with empty calories available in their local supermarkets are astounding. Vast numbers of candy and snack or 'instant' food that taste better and are more convenient than cooking a proper meal- or biting into a fresh fruit for that matter. Then there's the booming trade in fast food. (Ironic to think that this is the country that advocates the idea that stick-thin is beautiful.)

It all boils down to one question: Do we really need this vaccine? Humans have lived perfectly well without it for hundreds of years and they haven't complained yet. Scientists should invest their government's money in something more constructive that would benefit a large majority of citizens, both American and global.

posted by Charmaine @ 11:19 PM