Reply #168: High fructose corn syrup is not a good thing

[skepticscott]

but in its most insidious manifestation, sweetened soft drinks, it's just a substitute for what used to be there, which is plain old sugar, just as high in calories and low in nutrition. Over-processed grains preceded our current obesity epidemic by at least 10-20 years. And it is not genetics that makes people order a 32 ounce regular soda instead of a 16 ounce diet, or two Whoppers instead of one...it's a choice. So is not exercising.

And certainly there were fat people 70 years ago, but not a whole generation that was chronically overweight. It simply wasn't anything like the problem it is now, and people pleading primarily a genetic excuse, as opposed to overindulgent lifestyle and diet choices, need to explain that.