The Trump Era has illuminated the pervasive corruption within many of the institutions that Americans once held in high regard, including the FBI, CIA, and the judiciary. Many of us were already aware of the moral failings of the media and academia, but during this time, we have come to understand the depths of their corruption as possibly irredeemable. Institutions like the NIH and CDC, previously obscure for most, have also revealed significant shortcomings, shaking the trust that society once placed in them. This awakening, termed a “gift” of the era, extends to the realms of medicine and health, where the emerging realization of corrupt practices has manifested a broader disillusionment with so-called “Big Science,” healthcare systems, and even the food industry.
Two individuals at the forefront of this revelation are Casey Means and Calley Means, siblings who have both turned their backs on prestigious careers after uncovering the alarming truths about dietary practices. Casey, a Stanford-trained surgeon, and Calley, who boasts an MBA from Harvard, discovered that the relationship between food production and public health is fraught with systemic failures. They outline a grim reality in which individuals unknowingly ingest a concerning amount of plastic weekly, contributing to an alarming surge in chronic health issues among the American populace. Statistics reveal that the prevalence of obesity is at its highest, with nearly 74% of adults classified as overweight alongside a striking 50% of children. Such figures correlate directly with the dietary norms that have evolved over recent decades.
The Means siblings further highlight the staggering rates of prediabetes, diabetes, and other chronic ailments that have emerged in the U.S. population over the last 50 years. The revelation is piercing: conditions like type 2 diabetes, previously rare in children, are now affecting approximately 30% of teenagers. There is an equally troubling rise in fatty liver disease among youth, traditionally associated with alcoholism. These rapid changes in health metrics are accompanied by soaring cancer rates and rising instances of mental health disorders among teens. These alarming statistics indicate a drastic deterioration in public health, especially concerning maternal and infant mortality rates, which lead the developed world despite the U.S. spending exorbitantly on healthcare.
Central to this health crisis, the Means siblings argue, is the behind-the-scenes orchestrations of Big Tobacco, which once faced significant backlash over the dangers of secondhand smoke in the 1980s. In an effort to survive, tobacco companies diversified into the food industry, leveraging their vast financial resources to acquire major food firms. Their impact was monumental, as these giants used their scientific acumen to create addictive food products, mirroring the addictive qualities of cigarettes. The introduction of ultra-processed foods and harmful seed oils, laden with sugar and preservatives, set the stage for a public health epidemic by making harmful foods not just prevalent but alluring.
In a shocking twist of evolution, Big Food has essentially taken the playbook used by Big Tobacco, including lobbying and influencing governmental agencies intended to safeguard public health. This lobbying became so effective that it altered nutritional guidelines, falsely promoting carbohydrates while obscuring the harmful effects of refined diets. Their influence has seeped into academia, generating a flood of research that purportedly supports the accepted dietary recommendations, all while neglecting the growing evidence against their health impacts.
As sick individuals flock to healthcare providers trained to prioritize quick fixes over holistic solutions, a vicious cycle unfolds. Patients often exit clinics with prescriptions for pharmaceuticals without receiving proper nutrition counseling, highlighting the systemic negligence of an ill-informed medical community—80% of U.S. medical schools reportedly lack a nutrition class. This system not only perpetuates the reliance on medication but does so with a focus on profit rather than patient well-being. The Means add that the alarming trend in childhood obesity and related diseases is not only distressing but profitable for Big Food and Big Pharma, as they aim to sustain a cycle of chronic illness that necessitates lifelong medication, drawing attention to a deeply problematic intersection of health and industry. Such revelations from the Means siblings, along with the observations of others like Bobby Kennedy, merit serious reflection and a call to action for a healthier and more transparent society.
