If Everyone is Obese, There Will Be No Obesity
America's Health Crisis and the Culture War: It's Time to Seriously Talk About Obesity
By Carl J Chan
Chapter 1
6,If Everyone is Obese, There Will Be No Obesity
While the increasing prevalence of obesity in society may lead to a degree of normalization in a social context, it doesn't change the fact that obesity is a medically recognized health risk factor.
Social normalization of obesity can have negative consequences:
It might delay individuals from seeking medical care or adhering to treatment for obesity-related health conditions.
It could inadvertently downplay the health risks associated with obesity, fostering a false sense of security.
It could potentially encourage unhealthy behaviors that contribute to weight gain.
Importance of Balance: While promoting inclusivity and challenging traditional beauty standards are important, it's crucial to strike a balance with raising awareness about the serious health risks associated with obesity.
In essence, while societal perceptions of body size may shift, the underlying biological and medical realities of obesity as a health risk factor remain unchanged.
The Chinese Communist Party’s mouthpieces once found a “philosophical” justification for the wealth gap: “If everyone has money, then no one has money.”
It’s absurd for politicians to argue, “If everyone is corrupt, nobody is corrupt.” However, let’s turn to America’s greatest public health crisis: obesity! If everyone is obese, there will be no obesity? So, do we need to see obesity as a fashion model? Do we need to normalize dysfunction? What are the dangers of this utopian “eliminating inequality”?
This notion—that universalizing a problem erases it—reflects a cultural sleight of hand, a perverse redefinition of reality to sidestep accountability. In America, obesity has ballooned into a public health catastrophe, with over 42% of adults classified as obese and another 30% overweight, according to recent data. The reflex to “normalize” this crisis, to reframe it as a new standard of beauty or a neutral lifestyle choice, risks papering over a grim reality: obesity is linked to heart disease, diabetes, joint issues, and a shortened lifespan. The CDC estimates obesity-related illnesses cost the healthcare system over $150 billion annually. If we declare “everyone is obese” and call it a day, we’re not solving inequality—we’re surrendering to a collective decline.
The push to normalize obesity often cloaks itself in compassion, championing body positivity and rejecting “fat-shaming.” But this movement, while well-intentioned, can veer into denialism. Celebrating dysfunction as diversity ignores the physical and psychological toll. For instance, studies show obesity correlates with higher rates of depression and anxiety, compounding social stigma with internal suffering. By pretending obesity is just “how we all are,” we dodge the harder conversation about systemic issues—processed food dominance, sedentary lifestyles, and a healthcare system that treats symptoms over prevention. It’s like saying, “If everyone has cancer, there’s no cancer.” The disease doesn’t vanish; it just becomes a shared misery.
This utopian fantasy of erasing obesity by universalizing it also mirrors a broader cultural war: the tension between personal responsibility and systemic blame. On one side, critics argue individuals must take charge—eat better, exercise, prioritize health. On the other, advocates point to food deserts, economic stress, and predatory marketing by Big Food. Both are true, but the “everyone’s obese” mindset sidesteps both accountability and reform. It’s a cop-out, absolving individuals and industries alike by pretending the problem doesn’t exist if it’s universal.
The danger of this approach is a slow-motion societal collapse. If obesity becomes the baseline, we normalize strained healthcare systems, reduced workforce productivity, and a generation facing chronic illness before middle age. The military already struggles to recruit physically fit candidates—over 25% of young adults are ineligible due to weight-related issues. Airlines redesign seats for larger bodies, and hospitals invest in bariatric equipment. These are not triumphs of inclusivity but concessions to a crisis we’re too polite to confront.
Worse, this normalization fuels a culture of complacency. If obesity is just “normal,” why bother addressing the fast-food chains pushing ultra-processed meals or the schools cutting physical education? Why challenge the sugar industry’s influence or the algorithms promoting mukbang videos? The “everyone’s obese” mantra risks entrenching a status quo where profit-driven systems thrive while public health erodes.
The culture war around obesity isn’t just about body image—it’s about truth versus denial. To say “there’s no obesity if everyone’s obese” is to embrace a dystopian equality where we all lose. True progress demands honesty: obesity is a crisis, not a lifestyle. It requires tackling personal habits and systemic failures without shame or excuses. Only then can we stop pretending shared suffering is the same as solving it.
Chapter 1
7,Telling the Truth About Obesity Isn’t ‘Fatphobia’
Just like living in a totalitarian state, you need strong self-awareness to resist brainwashing from the extreme right or the extreme left. When you speak the truth, especially when that “truth” makes some people uncomfortable, it’s difficult to escape misunderstanding and stigmatization. If the American obesity crisis isn’t addressed, it requires profound cultural and institutional reflection and action. Otherwise, in the near future, half of Americans will “evolve” into a new species without necks. This hyperbolic imagery underscores a grim reality: obesity is a public health crisis that demands honest discussion, not utopian ideologies that normalize it under the guise of acceptance. While empathy and inclusivity are vital, pretending obesity is harmless or inevitable risks lives and perpetuates a dangerous cultural delusion.
The Obesity Crisis: A Sobering Reality
The numbers speak for themselves. Over 42% of American adults are obese, with projections estimating that half will be by 2030 (Ward et al., 2019). Obesity is linked to a litany of health issues—diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and certain cancers—contributing to an estimated 300,000 premature deaths annually in the U.S. (CDC, 2024). These aren’t abstract statistics; they represent real people facing preventable suffering. Yet, a growing cultural narrative frames any critique of obesity as “fatphobia,” equating honest discussions about health with personal attacks. This mischaracterization stifles necessary conversations and ignores the biological and societal factors driving the crisis.
The Utopian Ideology of Normalization
At the heart of this issue lies a utopian ideology that seeks to normalize obesity as a neutral or even positive state of being. This perspective, often cloaked in the language of body positivity, asserts that all bodies are inherently healthy and that weight has no bearing on well-being. While the body positivity movement began with noble intentions—challenging unrealistic beauty standards and advocating for self-love—it has been co-opted into a dogma that dismisses medical evidence and vilifies dissent. This ideology assumes a world where health outcomes are divorced from lifestyle choices, creating a fantasy where consequences don’t exist.
From a psychological perspective, this normalization taps into cognitive dissonance. People want to feel good about themselves, and society’s increasing acceptance of obesity offers a comforting shield against the discomfort of addressing personal or systemic health challenges. However, this comes at a cost. By framing obesity as a benign trait, we risk downplaying its impact on longevity and quality of life. A 2017 study in The Lancet found that obesity reduces life expectancy by up to 7 years, with higher BMI correlating with greater risk (Bhaskaran et al., 2017). Denying this reality isn’t empowerment; it’s denialism.
The Mislabeling of Truth as “Fatphobia”
Critiquing obesity is not about shaming individuals but about confronting a public health emergency. The term “fatphobia” is often weaponized to silence those who raise concerns, equating evidence-based warnings with bigotry. This tactic mirrors the polarized dynamics of a totalitarian state, where dissent is branded as heresy. Honest discussions about obesity—its causes, consequences, and solutions—are not attacks on personal worth but calls to action for better health outcomes.
The roots of obesity are complex, intertwining biology, environment, and socio-economic factors. Ultra-processed foods, sedentary lifestyles, and systemic issues like food deserts and healthcare inequities all contribute (Hall et al., 2019). Acknowledging these factors requires nuance, not dismissal. For example, it’s not “fatphobic” to point out that the food industry’s aggressive marketing of high-calorie, low-nutrient products exploits vulnerabilities in human psychology, particularly in children (Swinburn et al., 2019). Nor is it discriminatory to advocate for policies that make healthy food more accessible or to encourage physical activity. These are pragmatic steps toward collective well-being, not judgments on individual character.
The Danger of Utopian Thinking
The normalization of obesity reflects a broader cultural trend toward utopian thinking, where uncomfortable truths are swept aside in favor of feel-good narratives. This ideology assumes that self-acceptance alone can override biological realities, ignoring the fact that humans are not immune to the consequences of their environment or choices. It’s akin to claiming that smoking is just a “lifestyle choice” with no health implications. While empathy for individuals is essential, endorsing a narrative that ignores medical evidence is neither compassionate nor sustainable.
This utopianism also undermines personal agency. By framing obesity as an unchangeable or inherently positive trait, it risks disempowering people from taking control of their health. Behavioral psychology shows that self-efficacy—the belief in one’s ability to effect change—is critical for adopting healthier habits (Bandura, 1997). When society normalizes obesity without addressing its risks, it implicitly tells individuals that change is unnecessary or impossible, trapping them in a cycle of inaction.
The “Cultural” Brainwash
The normalization of obesity didn’t happen by accident. It was engineered through decades of aggressive marketing by food corporations, and finally shielded by cultural movements that mistake indulgence for identity.
Children are raised on ultra-processed foods, sugary drinks, and screen-based entertainment. Schools teach less physical education. Families rarely cook. And corporations bombard consumers with messages like “you deserve it” and “treat yourself”—as if every meal were an emotional therapy session.
In such an environment, resisting obesity requires a level of awareness that borders on spiritual rebellion. You must question your own cravings. You must distrust the ads. You must refuse to accept that chronic illness is your “normal.”
A Call for Honest Reflection and Action
Addressing the obesity crisis requires cultural and institutional courage. First, we must reject the false dichotomy that pits compassion against truth. It’s possible to support people’s dignity while advocating for healthier lifestyles. Schools, workplaces, and communities can promote nutrition education and physical activity without stigmatizing individuals. Policymakers can tackle systemic issues, like regulating food marketing or subsidizing fresh produce in underserved areas. Families can model balanced eating habits, countering the allure of fast food and social media-driven consumption.
Individuals, too, have a role. While systemic factors are real, personal responsibility cannot be ignored. Small, sustainable changes—choosing whole foods, moving more, seeking support—can make a difference. The goal isn’t perfection but progress, grounded in the reality that health is a lifelong investment.
Telling the truth about obesity isn’t “fatphobia”; it’s a refusal to let utopian ideologies obscure a public health crisis. The normalization of obesity, while well-intentioned, dismisses medical evidence and disempowers individuals, perpetuating a cycle of preventable disease and suffering. By fostering honest conversations, rejecting polarized labels, and taking collective action, we can address obesity with empathy and pragmatism. The alternative—ignoring the crisis in the name of acceptance—risks a future where health disparities grow, and the promise of a healthier society remains a distant dream.
References
Bandura, A. (1997). Self-Efficacy: The Exercise of Control. W.H. Freeman.
Bhaskaran, K., et al. (2017). Association of BMI with overall and cause-specific mortality: A population-based cohort study of 3.6 million adults in the UK. The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, 5(12), 944-953.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2024). Obesity in the United States: Fast Facts. Retrieved from [CDC website].
Hall, K. D., et al. (2019). Ultra-processed diets cause excess calorie intake and weight gain: An inpatient randomized controlled trial of ad libitum food intake. Cell Metabolism, 30(1), 67-77.
Swinburn, B. A., et al. (2019). The global syndemic of obesity, undernutrition, and climate change: The Lancet Commission report. The Lancet, 393(10173), 791-846.
Ward, Z. J., et al. (2019). Projected U.S. state-level prevalence of adult obesity and severe obesity. New England Journal of Medicine, 381(25), 2440-2450.
2025 Noteworthy
America's Health Crisis and the Culture War: It's Time to Seriously Talk About Obesity
By Carl J Chan
ISBN-13:9798296796653
The book is now available on Amazon(US UK DE FR ES IT NL PL SE JP CA AU)