On a recent trip to Abu Dhabi, Prince Charles suggested that banning McDonald's restaurants was "key" to encouraging people to eat more healthy foods. The Prince has suggested an extremely simple but very misguided solution to the complex problem that is obesity.
Prince Charles' comment occurred during the launch of a public health awareness campaign at the Imperial College London Nutrition Centre in Abu Dhabi, aimed at increasing awareness of diabetes. At this event, children were tested on which foods to put in their lunches; the "good" foods (vegetables and water) or the "bad" foods (chocolate and chips). Under the watchful eyes of the Prince and the Centre's nutritionist, the kids packed the vegetables and water. Charles was delighted. Encouraging increased consumption of fruits and vegetables is certainly a good thing, but suggesting the ban of a certain type of restaurant and labeling foods as either "good" or "bad" is taking a far too simplistic approach to preventing obesity. The key is a balanced, varied diet with adequate exercise. There is room for chocolate and even a McDonald’s hamburger, as long as it's in moderation.
McDonald's is a large corporation that makes cheap, popular, and often calorically dense food. It is easy to see why it would be the target of politicians, activists, and now, royals who are concerned about increasing rates of obesity. What many fail to recognize is the fact that overweight and obesity are the result of consuming more calories than are expended over a period of time. These calories can come from food of any source, be it McDonald's, a five star restaurant, or your very own kitchen. (See also: "A Slow Burn on Fast Food.")
Restaurants are being held accountable for consumers' health on this side of the pond, too. Restaurants in New York City will have to find an alternative to cooking their food with trans fats. The health implications of consuming trans fats have been greatly exaggerated and are another example of employing a seemingly simple solution to a very complex problem, at the expense of restaurants and consumers. See our publication on trans fats. Of course, trans fats' effects on cholesterol should not be confused with calories and obesity, as they have been by some advocates.
Obesity is not just a problem in the United States, where 64% of adults are overweight and 30% are obese. The obesity rate in the United Kingdom is not far behind and rates are increasing globally as well. Prince Charles and others have good reason to be concerned. However, pointing the finger at fast food and ignoring all other factors that contribute to obesity, including lack of adequate exercise, is a disservice to the many who are trying to lose weight and improve their health. Again, the key is moderation. Hopefully, those kids in Abu Dhabi will continue to choose vegetables for lunch well into adulthood (even without the Prince watching), but a chocolate bar or a Big Mac as a treat every now and then won't hurt.
Molly Lee is the Earhart Foundation Research Associate at the American Council on Science and Health (ACSH.org, HealthFactsAndFears.com).
See ACSH's report on Trans Fatty Acids and Heart Disease.
