...being told what to do and convinced that all we need is a magic solution in pills or food. That’s why we’re fat as heck!
Obesity: A Choice For Many
One of the primary reasons for obesity goes back to people not being motivated to do something. Essentially, it a choice.
With that said, some individual are genetically predisposed to being over weight. While those individual can improve their situation, they will always be over weight to some degree, no matter what they do.
The Magic Solution
Many of the less motivated would rather find a quick, easy solution to their issues than do something that takes effort, like my sister.
That makes these individual prime targets for companies selling weight loss products.
The problem is a system in which health care has become a major business model. Instead of telling people to get outside and eat some veggies they get told to take pills, because a person who isn't in need to go to the doctor or the pharmacy doesn't generate profit.
Health Care A Major Business
There is definitely money to be made off sick people.
As I noted above on diabetes, this market ensures guaranteed, constant growth for the next 30 years. Data shows that wisely investing in this market can provide a good return on your investment. Sad but true.
Physicians
Overall, I have a low opinion of he majority of physicians for a variety of reason.
One of the few future physicians that I believe and trust is one of our posters, Snowman.
With that in mind, I believe the majority of physicians recommend eating less, eating less junk foods and moving more.
However, as statistic show, the majority of individual are not going to do that.
To offset a patient doing nothing, a physician then may prescribe something. My sister is a testimonial to that.
In cases like this, the majority of the time it's the patient that is the issue, not the physician.
For everyone outside it's somewhere between weird and disturbing to see how much advertisement for meds and pills you got over there in the US...
Advertising and Propaganda
Great point.
I worked in advertising for 15 years. As I would tell clients, the difference between Advertising and Propaganda is that it's Advertising in American and Propaganda in Russian.
The same principle applies to both, "If you scream something loud enough and long enough, people believe it."
In the US on the other hand there are all of those "You got X? Y can help you with that! Go ask your doctor about Y!"-advertisements for prescription meds. You are actually encouraged to approach your physician for pills...that is insane.
Med Education
Initially, advertising medications was looked at as a way for educating the public.
As you noted, it jumped the tracks and the pharmaceutical companies are now legalized "Drug Pushers".
As you basically stated, the medical companies advertise to go see your local dealer and get your fix; without getting busted and having your insurance cover all or most of it.
That is definitely insane.
...we even have advertisements for medications to take if you are suffering the side effects of other medications...
Side Effects
That is another part of the insanity. There are side effects to most medications.
You end up solving one problem, only to create another.