by Carlson Montour

Created on: October 27, 2009   Last Updated: October 29, 2009

Playing the blame game has become an American past time. The current President blames the past President, who in turn blames Congress and, don't you know, the Congress blames the media and the media blames greedy capitalists.. The blame game has only one outcome: nothing changes because no one is responsible for the situation and therefore everyone is equally free of responsibility for finding a solution.

The rush to blame is played to the point of being absurd. Fine, let's hold the diet and weight loss industry fiscally responsible for eating disorders. Should the International Olympic Committee be held financially responsible for the role it may play in this problem by showcasing gymnasts who may have eating disorders? Let's sue the health insurance companies that are encouraging their members to lose weight to lower health care costs. Did you ever see how skinny those Boston Marathon runners are? Is it too late to get money from Greece for this marathon nonsense?

While we're at it, let's sue the companies that make hand soap because it is their fault that so many people who suffer with Obsessive Compulsive Disease can't stop washing their hands! There's more! Shouldn't the Professional Golf Association establish a fund for golf widows.

There is no intention here to make light of the devastating effects of an eating disorder. But the diet and weight loss industry is not to blame for all eating disorders, if any. One could argue that they provide a valuable service in helping combat America's national trend toward obesity. Frankly, one could argue that proponents of holding the industry responsible for eating disorders reveal, by this stance, their superficial understanding of these disorders. If only it were so simple!

It is very easy to assume that because two things occur at the same time that there is a causal relationship. This is a convenient but dangerous assumption. One cannot assume that because an increase in eating disorders and rising profits obtained by the diet industry are happening at the same time, that one causes the other. But there are other variables that may be at play here. The world is becoming more aware of the dangers and associated costs of being overweight. In America, baby boomers are at an age where the extra weight doesn't drop off as quickly as it once did. There are myriad other possible and plausible explanations for the success of the diet and weight loss industry.

Some readers may recall the faux presidential campaigns launched in the 1970's by the comedian Pat Paulsen. In one of his speeches Mr. Paulsen declared that he had found the cause of all forest fires: Trees! He defended his finding by challenging the viewers to show him a forest fire with no trees in it. The obvious, and only, way to prevent forest fires is to get rid of trees. Sound like an irrational conclusion? Proponents of blaming the diet and weight loss industry and holding them fiscally responsible for eating disorders may be dangerously close to cutting down the trees.

Learn more about this author, Carlson Montour.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.