The publication of the first edition of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans in 1980 marked the beginning of an aggressive public health campaign by the federal government to combat growing obesity concerns. Puzzlingly, in the thirty years since the publication of the first set of Guidelines, obesity rates for adults have more than doubled; and rates have more than tripled among children. Through the lens of Virginia Political Economy, I examine how industry interests influence the regulatory process of creating the guidelines. Even if the policymakers responsible for constructing the guidelines were completely public-spirited, they lack the knowledge necessary to provide nutrition information relevant for all Americans. Because the bureaucrats at the USDA and DHHS lack both knowledge and incentives to create a comprehensive set of nutritional guidelines, it is unsurprising that they have been unable to curb the trend of rising obesity rates.
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Graham
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