The Global Obesity Time Bomb
Global obesity is an underestimated threat, and not just in developed countries. Difficult to take seriously, when all you hear about is destitution in famine strict nations and the difficult weather patterns that's been causing crop prices to spike recently. In addition, distribution of food around the globe is clearly inefficient; many consume too much while others are surviving on less than a dollar a day.
In recent news, Mayor Bloomberg's attempt at banning large sized soft drinks may seem trivial to some, but there's a legitimate concern when you look at the whole picture. According to an article by Bloomberg Businessweek:
From 1980 to 2008, according to the World Health Organization, worldwide obesity rates almost doubled. A recent study in the Lancet medical journal concluded that in 2008, about 146 million adults globally were overweight and 502 million were obese. Around half of the adult population in Brazil, Russia, and South Africa are overweight and about 8 percent of all African adults are obese. According to the Lancet study, the worldwide health cost attributable to obesity and its consequences added up to 36 million disability-adjusted life-years (a measure of healthy years of life lost to a disease).
The investment community is increasingly aware and opportunistic of this global epidemic. The key industries that would profit are food, pharmaceuticals and healthcare, commercial weight loss, and sports equipment. In another article by Businessweek:
The report by the BofA Merrill Lynch ESG (Environment, Social, and Governance) and Sustainability team identifies that efforts to reduce obesity is a “megatrend” with a shelf-life of 25 to 50 years. It charts the rise of obesity globally and the ballooning costs. BofA Merrill Lynch analysts across several sectors have collaborated to identify the sectors and companies developing long-term solutions.
Can these companies tackle obesity, or is it more of a cultural problem? Are any of these industries on your investment radar? Can the government make effective regulations, or does ANY type of regulation on our food choices deemed inappropriate?
Comments
It's against my personal
It's against my personal philosophy for something like the soft drink size ban to ever go into effect. I believe that the government should have a hands off approach to most things in our lives, and they certainly should not be allowed to impose limits on our freedoms. It's completely up to a person if they want to kill themselves by eating too much food. I do, however, think that it's ridiculous that someone deciding to take such a path is allowed to affect others negatively because of it (ie: something along the lines of taking a spot in a hospital that could have gone to someone with an issue they could not have prevented). So it's really a double-edged sword. I simply can't support most imposed limits set by the government, but at the same time, if some fatass rolls into a hospital with clogged arteries and they receive service before someone that was hit by a careless driver, that's not much better.
BVMadden: It's against my
It's against my personal philosophy for something like the soft drink size ban to ever go into effect. I believe that the government should have a hands off approach to most things in our lives, and they certainly should not be allowed to impose limits on our freedoms.
You really believe the soft drink ban imposes upon our freedom? You can drink as much soda as you want; the ban simply restricts the size that can be sold. The government is somewhat responsible for the health of its citizens.
Isn't the fact that you can't buy beer unless you are 21 imposing upon our freedom too then?
Personally, I think places like McDonalds should not even be allowed to sell that stuff they call food. That is one of the primary reasons for the obesity epidemic in America. Obviously, you can't completely ban all fast food places, so you need to do SOMETHING to move in the right direction.
Yes.
[quote=qweretyq]
Isn't the fact that you can't buy beer unless you are 21 imposing upon our freedom too then?
Yes.
I was just at an obesity
I was just at an obesity panel two months ago. Really the preventative measures, which scientists and epidemiologists both agreed upon, in this particular panel, we're ones which educate the family within the home.
Looking at the VC space right now, I've seen a lot of investments being pushed into more 'preventative' modes of care. These companies we've been backing, have been leaning more on preventative measures that adapt to cultural models.
A recent study and example of obesity in America, has been seen in children's upbringing within the family. The diet of a child had a strong correlation of the same diet, as the mother. These same mothers reported that they wanted to be healthier, but didn't know 'how', or believed they had the resources to do so (they believe healthy food was more expensive than regular, processed, or 'fast food').
If we can aim at providing more education on the costs for a healthy vs 'regular' meal (which mostly cost the same), the long-term benefits and the payout of pocket for health insurance which costs them to sustain their particular lifestyle, then I believe we can achieve a regulated, more balanced culture.
As someone who also invests in biotechnology companies, I was glad I made big bets on Arena Pharma and Orexigen. If I had to choose, Orexigen may come out as the competitive winner, if they can achieve proper commercialization/less costly post-approval studies. PM me if you're more interested as to why.
"Live as if you were to die tomorrow, learn as if you were to live forever."
qweretyq: BVMadden: It's
It's against my personal philosophy for something like the soft drink size ban to ever go into effect. I believe that the government should have a hands off approach to most things in our lives, and they certainly should not be allowed to impose limits on our freedoms.
You really believe the soft drink ban imposes upon our freedom? You can drink as much soda as you want; the ban simply restricts the size that can be sold. The government is somewhat responsible for the health of its citizens.
Isn't the fact that you can't buy beer unless you are 21 imposing upon our freedom too then?
Personally, I think places like McDonalds should not even be allowed to sell that stuff they call food. That is one of the primary reasons for the obesity epidemic in America. Obviously, you can't completely ban all fast food places, so you need to do SOMETHING to move in the right direction.
The soft drink ban is a very good example of something that people find to be a somewhat unimportant aspect of their lives. I don't know about you, but I haven't ever had a soft drink that falls into the category that would be banned. That's absolutely not the point though. It is a personal choice issue. If we allow the government to make legislation on something as menial as the size of a soft drink, we are creating the catalyst for totalitarianism. I know it may seem ridiculous with something as simple as a soft drink, but that's the point, it's something so simple.
Think about it. There's no way some fat guy rolls into McDonald's to buy is super size soda and burger without knowing that it is a cause of his obesity. It's not like McDonald's advertises it's soda and burgers as a healthy option on their menu. Additionally, if our fat guy has ever used the internet he is capable of checking to see if he's eating something healthy. That scenario does not and should not involve the government imposing a limitation to make it impossible for him to buy a super size soda. It's absolutely shocking to me that anyone would support the government's ability to get that far into our lives.
The whole point of this
The whole point of this country is if you want to eat garbage, balloon up to 600 pounds, and die of a heart attack at 43, you can. You are free to do so. To me, that's beautiful. - Ron Swanson
"So who lost the hundy?"
The only reason this annoys
The only reason this annoys me is because these people not only eat themselves within an inch of death, they then get free health care to nurse them back to life. Free quadruple bypass ftw
"WSO is like the 300 for anti spamage. None shall pass." -happypantsmcgee
"You stop being an asshole when it sucks to be you." -IlliniProgrammer
I will tell you the secret
I will tell you the secret even though most will insult.... follow a vegan wheat free diet. No processed foods, no soda, no fried food. You will thank me. I've been a vegan for three years and feel better than ever. People are brainwashed since they are small to think that for example milk is healthy, but it doesn't even make sense. Milk is produced by the cow to feed calves, after the calves grow their teeth, they stop drinking milk. The food pyramid is pure bs. Most of those allergies and symptoms you get come from what you consume. Of course, economic interests won't show you that and their intention is to have sick people they can benefit from. Its not about being a hippie,ect. I just care about my health. By the way, when has someone ever being diagnosed: protein deficiency? Same thing happens with religion. What the masses do, most of the time is incorrect. Sorry for my spelling, im from PR.
I disagree with people that
I disagree with people that look at obesity inthe same light that we view disease. Becoming obese is a lifestyle choice and as an individual you understand what will result. You will be "that fat guy", you won't be able to get with girls as easily, and you will face the well-known health risks head-on. In today's world we know very well the social as well as the physical risks of obesity - if multiple individuals choose to "let themselves go", let them pay for their actions. There is no reason why the rest of us should be punished as well.