It's the non-soaked lentils? Seriously? Besides, people in the past were poorer and weren't fat. And they didn't soak their lentils.
Mann goes on: "Once you are obese it also feeds socio-economic disadvantage because you are too exhausted to work, getting jobs is more difficult, people are prejudiced against obese people and people are less likely to employ you - this is the vicious cycle."
So you are poor and get a little fat. Once a little fat you get poorer and consequently fatter. On and on it goes.
But how does the professor square the lack of work with the lack of time? The unemployed have all day to soak their lentils, et cetera.
And how does he know being poor makes you fat? It could be being fat makes you poor.
Or it could be something else entirely making you both fat and poor.
It could be being on welfare. Maybe the benefit should come with a health warning: "Studies show accepting this benefit makes you poor and fat." Or maybe there's yet another variable making it more likely you will be welfare-dependent, poor and fat.
Here's a thought: it could be a lack of personal responsibility. That could explain the not working, the failure to eat properly and the willingness to live on a Government cheque while not providing anything in return.
Nope. That can't be right. That would make Mann the problem. His entire argument is it's not our fault.
We are poor because we are economically disadvantaged. Being poor makes us fat. And being fat means we can't get work. That makes us poorer. And fatter. And welfare dependent. It's all being done to us.
We have no time to soak lentils. And fast food companies make us eat their food.
We are powerless. We are victims. But we are lucky, indeed, to have the professor explaining that our predicament is not our fault or responsibility.
Debate on this article is now closed.
