The article discusses a recent event where Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. made comments about obesity, particularly targeting West Virginia's governor. Kennedy's nostalgic remarks about obesity rates during his uncle's presidency are shown to be misleading. While he claims obesity was virtually nonexistent then, historical data reveals that a significant percentage of Americans were already overweight. The article highlights the long history of anxiety surrounding America's obesity crisis dating back to the mid-20th century, emphasizing that concerns about obesity were recognized much earlier than Kennedy implies.
"When my uncle was president, 3 percent of Americans were obese, and today, 74 percent of Americans are obese or overweight," Kennedy stated during his confirmation hearing, yet this claim is misleading as obesity rates were historically higher than he suggests.
"Anxiety over American obesity dates back to at least the mid-20th century. In 1948, the founder of Harvard's nutrition department warned that obesity was a risk factor for several health conditions," highlighting the long-standing awareness of obesity's health risks.
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