Junk Food Companies Want You to Lose Weight

The abundance of readily-available junk food is believed to be the cause of this obesity epidemic we're in the midst of, but the makers of many infamous brands, like Mars Bars, Pepsi, Froot Loops and Häagen-Dazs, want to be part of the solution. And they've committed $20 million -- granted, barely pocket change to an organization like PepsiCo -- to shaping our nation (literally) by forming The Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation alongside several non-profit organizations.

A case of extreme irony? They don't think so -- according to the recent press release, they're "united in an unprecedented, collaborative and focused effort to help children and adults achieve better energy balance between calories in and calories out." In other words? They want you to know that you can eat as many Oreos as you like as long as you exercise like crazy to work them off.

The HWC is focused on promoting healthy habits in three areas -- the marketplace, the workplace and schools -- and they're committed to helping reduce obesity, particularly in children, by 2015. Though by how much they intend to reduce it they haven't said. And as for what specifically they intend to do? Well, that's not clear either -- their press release details a few changes they "may" make, but nothing's concrete.

The program and its efforts will be closely monitored by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Dr. Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, president of the foundation, says in a statement they will "support an independent group of scientists who will define the measure that will be used to track progress and determine whether the program is making a significant difference in our nation's children." But they're not worried. "I know that the dedicated organizations involved in this effort, combined with the tremendous resources at their disposal, will make a significant impact in this critical area," says Ric Jurgens, vice president and chairman of the board of the board.

They're obviously pretty confident, but do you think they're really as committed as they claim to be, or will commercial interests win out in the end?

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