The goddamn Trump Administration (Part 2)

The regime’s focus on physical fitness seems to be a toxic stew of grift / quackery, controlling / policing people’s bodies, and providing a false sense of security / superiority:

When I listen to people who follow diet and fitness influencers, the thing that disturbs me the most is their attitudes about fitness being a guarantee of good health. Maybe it gives them the illusion of control to believe that if they just eat and do all the right things, they’ll never get old or sick. One downside is when they use that logic to shame and blame people with illnesses or medical conditions. The other is that is makes them an easy target for folks marketing fad diets or exercise routines/equipment, sketchy supplements, and other “woo” that will supposedly fix whatever they think is wrong with themselves.

In the '90s I met a doctor who gave lectures to groups about fitness and a healthy lifestyle. He was in great shape, ran marathons in his spare time, and died young because of cancer. I share his story with folks who prioritize following wellness gurus over getting regular checkups from a doctor. I also have family members who claim processed foods, HFCS, and lack of exercise are the reasons why so many people are overweight (so strict diet and exercise will prevent / eliminate that problem). In response, I show them photos of our ancestors who had farms, grew their own food, did a lot of physical labor on a daily basis, had no exposure to “evil” foods…and none of them were thin. :woman_shrugging:t5:

They want to believe there is a simple solution that works for everyone all the time, but refuse to acknowledge people are unique so it’s not always possible to predict or control how the body responds to change. I really hope they’ll recognize the danger in the health and fitness policies the regime is promoting.

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