Alarmism and the propaganda goal of getting the young: side effects

Raising the alarm is a popular way to create a call for action. The Wall Street Journal item where a number of scientists put the call on climate alarmism illustrates how one case is being exposed. Another is the alarm about childhood obesity. Anti-Obesity Program Horrors: They May Cause Eating Disorders describes one effect of ‘good intentions’ that are really just a part and parcel of a propaganda effort using fear to spread it’s dishonesties.

A new poll says 30% of parents have seen at least one worrisome behavior in their children that could be associated with an eating disorder—and they’re blaming it on school-based anti-obesity programs.
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According to a new report from the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital, their national poll on children’s health examined the possible association between obesity prevention programs at the schools and an increase in eating disorders among young children and teens. What they discovered was many of the parents were worried about these programs actually back-firing and having the opposite effect that they were intended to.

The ‘self esteem’ movement is also being called into question and this ‘anti-obesity’ movement seems to be correlated. The problem is that much of the attack on obesity is also an attack on self esteem. Such contradictions are symptomatic of ideologically driven positions not based by solid reasoning.