Sometimes propagandists relay materials from Western “colleagues” to the Ukrainian information space that align with their narratives. This is how we learned that allegedly “scientist” Simon Goddek claims that people used to not follow diets, count calories, or engage in trendy fitness and, at the same time, did not become overweight. Thus, issues with obesity are all part of a secret government plan for population control. We explain what is wrong with this conspiratorial notion.
With the support of the USAID Health Reform Support project, VoxCheck analyzes and refutes public health narratives spread in the information space of Ukraine, Belarus, and russia on a weekly basis.
Information is spreading online, suggesting that problems with obesity are the result of a government plan to oppress the population. As evidence, they cite the words of “science journalist” Simon Goddek: “Before 1970, most people were in good physical shape! No keto, vegan, or paleo diets. No home aerobics or gyms. No trendy fitness technologies and wellness activists. They also didn’t drink protein shakes and didn’t count calories.”
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What’s the reality?
According to the World Health Organization, the problem of obesity is indeed growing worldwide. Obesity is a complex condition that arises when a person’s weight exceeds the healthy range for their height. Body Mass Index (BMI) is used to assess weight.
Source: Ministry of Health of Ukraine
Currently, the main factors believed to contribute to excessive weight gain include:
- Inadequate sleep and lack of physical activity.
- Unbalanced diet: exceeding calorie norms through excessive consumption of fast food, alcohol, sugary drinks, “emotional eating” (seeking comfort in food), etc.
- Environmental factors: lack of access to healthy food, family eating habits, societal influence, and marketing, smoking.
- Genetic characteristics and diseases.
- Conditions such as hypothyroidism (malfunction of the thyroid gland) or Cushing’s syndrome (excessive production of steroid hormones).
- Use of certain medications (steroids, epilepsy and diabetes medications, antidepressants).
The 1970s are indeed considered a period of sharp increase in the number of people with obesity, and regular monitoring of indicators began since then. The increase is associated with post-war availability of cheap, highly processed, high-calorie food, larger portion sizes, and the prevalence of sedentary lifestyles.
However, Simon Goddek’s conclusions are based on confused cause-and-effect relationships: the emergence of new diets and the popularization of new physical activities are the result of the growing problem of obesity among the population, not the cause. If keto and paleo diets were indeed developed during the second half of the 20th century, veganism as a phenomenon existed long before 1970.
Furthermore, research by Danish scientists analyzing retrospective weight data from a sample of children and adults in Denmark from 1930 to 1976 showed that the trend of increasing average body mass index (BMI) among the population started long before 1970. This may indicate that the problem of obesity is hidden not only in post-war changes in consumption and lifestyle.
Simon Goddek is an American scientist known for his absurd statements regarding COVID-19. During the pandemic, he actively promoted medical misinformation, leveraging his status as a doctor of biotechnology. He claimed, among other things, that he developed myocarditis after meeting a friend who had recently been vaccinated. In reality, the man’s scientific interests lie in aquaponics, an innovative agricultural technology that combines fish farming and soilless plant cultivation. He was dismissed from his position at the independent research organization SINTEF for spreading COVID-19 misinformation, and in 2021, his Twitter account was blocked.
Arguments against such conspiracy theories are also presented by Forbes. In reality, obesity is “economically disadvantageous” for a country. The more people are overweight, the more the state has to spend on their medical care. Additionally, there are losses in GDP due to decreased labor productivity, sick leave due to diseases caused by obesity, and early retirement. According to researchers from the World Obesity Federation, by 2060, Ukraine is projected to lose $21 billion, equivalent to 5.69% of its GDP, due to obesity.
Therefore, governments, on the contrary, are trying to counteract the spread of obesity. A common tool is the implementation of a tax on sugary beverages. In Amsterdam, for example, since 2012, the “Healthy Weight Approach” program has been in effect, which includes:
- Prohibition of fruit juices in schools.
- Investments in the installation of drinking water fountains throughout the city.
- Prohibition for fast-food companies to sponsor city events.
- Membership in sports centers and subsidized activities for low-income families.
- Conducting culinary courses to acquire healthy cooking skills (chicken instead of pork, dates instead of white sugar, etc.).
- Encouraging families to have meals together and teaching parents to teach children to ride balance bikes.
According to the data from the State Statistics Service of Ukraine, in 2022, nearly 16% of Ukrainians had obesity based on the body mass index indicator. The World Obesity Federation predicts that by 2035, this figure will increase to 34%. In the spring of 2023, the Ministry of Health of Ukraine supported the submission of draft laws No. 9032-1 and No. 9033-1 regarding the introduction of a tax rate on sugary soft drinks and directing the funds received to the implementation of programs to prevent non-communicable diseases and their treatment, as well as to support the school nutrition program initiated by the First Lady Olena Zelenska.
“Ukraine suffers from the burden of non-communicable diseases. They remain the main cause of productivity loss and health problems. At the same time, most of these diseases can be prevented by changing daily habits and choosing a healthier lifestyle. Taxes on added sugar consumption or various restrictions are in place in 107 countries worldwide. This is a global practice supported comprehensively by the WHO. The Ministry of Health also supports it. Because we should care about the most valuable thing — the health of our citizens,” said Chief State Sanitary Doctor Ihor Kuzin.
This information piece was produced with the assistance of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), provided on behalf of the people of the United States of America. This article’s content, which does not necessarily reflect the views of USAID, the United States Government, is the sole responsibility of Deloitte Consulting under contract #72012118C00001.
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