Sweetgreen CEO Says Obesity Is Why COVID-19 Is Still Affecting Us

The Sweetgreen CEO noted that obesity is one of the primary reasons why COVID-19 is still among us. The sad truth is that he is not wrong. The fact that these comments are coming from the CEO of Sweetgreens is far from surprising. His whole brand is about living a healthy lifestyle. If you are not aware of Sweetgreen, it is an American fast casual restaurant chain that offers a menu of salads to its patrons. The brand was founded in late 2007 by Neman, Ru, and Jammet a few months after they graduated with their bachelor’s degrees.

While you would think that this statement was far from controversial, it was.

Neman, noted that “no vaccine nor mask will save us” and noted that the higher rate of obese Americans is what keeps COVID-19 going. Is he right? The CDC reports that the short answer is, yes.

“78% of hospitalizations due to COVID are obese and overweight people,” Neman noted in his now deleted LinkedIn post. “Is there an underlying problem that perhaps we have not given enough attention to? Is there another way to think about how we tackle ‘healthcare’ by addressing the root cause?”

Popular Culture

Obesity is a problem in America. You are likely to a Mcdonald’s within about ten fifteen minutes in most places in the United States. Of course, we all know that regularly eating Mcdonald’s or other fast food chains will not contribute to overall health. PETA notes hHigh-calorie, high-fat diets packed with cholesterol and animal fat like that found in greasy McDonald’s burgers and nuggets are linked to heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and other health problems.”

But Mcdonald’s is not the only form of fast food that many people find themselves eating on a regular basis. You have everything from Arby’s to Burger King, Popeye’s, and other establishments.

Now, if you call someone fat, it is fat phobic. But isn’t being fat phobic natural? Not that I’m advocating bullying or picking on those among us who are obese. But rather that normalizing being fat is far from healthy.

You do not feel as great if you are overweight. Your body must work harder to compensate and maintain itself. Those who are obese are at risk for chronic diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, and much more. Further, the issue is that being obese can be much more expensive due to the level of food intake, and the medicines that one would have to take due to diabetes, blood pressure, cholesterol, and other issues.

Fashion Is Now Inclusive

Capital adjusts and flows to where the value or demand is at the present moment. Before, Victoria’s Secret was about being aspirational. But the brand thinks that the strategy is dying and has pivoted to a more inclusive look. It seems as if aspiring to be toned, healthy, and attractive is out the window. What is in is packing on a few pounds and being as comfortable as possible. There’s more lingerie brands that are coming out with lines that cater to more weight sizes.

Again, it makes sense to do so. If you are finding that more individuals are trending in a different direction and you want to earn money by selling your goods, well, you must adjust.

There are still lingerie brands that cater to the conventional aesthetic in the lingerie category but it looks like they are going to be niche. Indeed, brands that are aspirational are usually niche and then enough people want to be that way over time. But it seems like the present era is all about embracing your weaknesses and falling in love with your weakness.

Don’t Solve the Systemic Issue Of Obesity Just Give Out Boosters

Doctors like Harvey Risch and others have noted the problems with the current approach to the pandemic. If more people are systemically affected by obesity, a condition that makes them more vulnerable to various sicknesses, then it follows that it is a severe problem to address. Instead, of solving more fundamental issues, we are focused on providing an endless array of boosters in different forms.

Yes, salads is a cure for COVID-19. No, that is not controversial.

It is about practicing better health habits and being fit to defend against diseases. These diseases can be novel, like coronavirus, or it can be the common cold or flu. Indeed, having better health contributes to a higher quality of life and adds value.

The government cares about your health so much so that obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, cholesterol, and other conditions are becoming more common. More people rely on regular medicines to manage their conditions and going to the hospital will cost you and arm and a leg. But according to certain people, if you don’t wear your mask or get vaccinated, you are key part of the problem. You are going to affect people and you are what is wrong with the United States.

Of course, we know that the current government response to the pandemic does not make any sense and that ignoring the underlying problems continue to cause a strain on the healthcare system.