What Does the Obesity Society Serve For Lunch?

Posted By elissa on Oct 19, 2010 | 3 comments

Lotsa junk, according to Dr. Yoni Freedhoff of “Weighty Matters.”

When I wandered through the lunch offerings at this years Obesity Society’s Annual Scientific Assembly in San Diego (one of the world’s largest obesity conferences), what did I find?

Giant brownies, pretzels and full sugar soda – an interesting juxtaposition with the 2 abstracts and 2 complete symposia dedicated to sugared soda.

Sure could make one less hopeful about the world changing to de-normalize the ubiquitous provision of junk food when even the Obesity Society feels comfortable ordering it up for its members.

In fairness to the Obesity Society, this is a trend I’ve noticed elsewhere. While I don’t typically attend medical conferences, I do attend fitness/nutrition industry events. There isn’t much healthy food served at these gatherings, either. Now, I certainly don’t expect event organizers to be dishing up oat bran and organic alfalfa sprouts, but it’s passing strange to see hot dogs, tacos, “balloon bread” sandwiches, chips, cookies and sodas served up… and eagerly lapped up, at these affairs.

Ironic, no? While I’m certainly no advocate of relentless food restriction, it strikes me as hypocritical when “experts” don’t practice what they preach when they’re in the public eye.