To be authentic, according to most authorities on authenticity, is to be true to one's own self, to one's own nature. I suppose Paula Deen, while instructing viewers to add butter, sugar, and more butter and sugar (and then deep frying everything in more butter) to her recipes -- allegedly based on her "Grandmama Paul's Southern cooking" -- was being authentic even as she was, perhaps not knowingly, helping to lead millions of Americans on the path towards obesity.
Of course, there is such a thing as free will. We could watch -- as many of us do -- Ms. Deen on TV having a grand old time whipping up these calorie-laden, high-fat content foods purely for the entertainment value. She's charming, funny and a real (shall I say authentic?) down-home gal. So, let me set the record straight right up front about this: I have no issue with what she has been touting all these years to millions. But I'm feeling strangely uncomfortable with the fact that she didn't talk about her type 2 diabetes until three years after her diagnosis, and now she's going to make even more money by promoting a drug to treat the illness.
I believe in privacy. Everyone is entitled to it. But if you're in the public eye -- as Ms. Deen is -- and your television show and cookbooks offer recipes that when prepared according to instruction, and consumed regularly, could contribute to weight gain -- resulting in a whole host of related health issues including diabetes -- one might expect the celebrity to share the information with her fans a little sooner. It's not a privacy issue. It's all about being real.
Studies have shown that obesity contributes to many illnesses and diseases including diabetes, which is running rampant in this country. Often referred to as the "lifestyle illness," contributing factors of type 2 diabetes include too much weight and too little exercise. Ms. Deen, being an authentic woman, ate her own cooking while urging others to follow suit, even in the face of an alarming rate of obesity among young children, who conventional wisdom suggests, get their meals cooked for them by parents. These parents might very well be influenced by the authentic cooking of Ms. Deen and other chefs who believe in a style of food preparation we can only describe as indulgent.
For sure, we don't usually develop diabetes from food alone. Heredity and lack of exercise certainly play a role. In an interview for the New York Times article about Ms. Deen's announcement, however, a spokesperson for the American Diabetes Association said:
You can't just eat your way to Type 2 diabetes. But, there's no denying that Paula's food has a lot of what we call the deadly triangle: fat, sugar and salt.
Diabetes is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke and is the number one cause of kidney failure, blindness and lower limb amputations in America. Diagnosing and controlling diabetes is especially important for women, because cardiovascular disease is actually "more deadly" in diabetic women than in diabetic men.
Ms. Deen, still being true to herself, announced her diabetes on the "Today Show" and along with her two sons, is embarking on a nationwide tour promoting new, improved, healthier recipes and the importance of exercise to keep diabetes at bay. All good.
I wonder, however, how her legions of fans will feel about Ms. Deen's recent revelation that she will be a spokesperson for Victoza, a diabetes medication from Norvo Nordick, which costs about $500 a month. No question there are followers who are understandably supportive and forgiving, but there are many who are not. The posts on social media have been fast, furious and ferocious. One tweeter noted,
@BradWalsh
Paula Deen has a golden opportunity to send a very important message to this country, if she wants to join the fight against diabetes in a truly authentic way: eat less, eat healthier, move your body ... and do all these things BEFORE you develop diabetes. Then, maybe you won't need to take the drug to treat it.
Her authentic self will be standing ... and we'll be listening.
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According to the American Diabetes Association: "Most overweight people never develop type 2 diabetes, and many people with type 2 diabetes are at a normal weight or only moderately overweight." This is backed up by a lot of research, which only shows a moderate correlation between weight and type II. When two things are correlated, it means that they don't know which causes which. The type II diabetes could cause weight gain. The two could also both be caused by a third factor. No long term study has shown that reducing weight reduces diabetes risk, which would make sense if the weight was a symptom, not a cause. Other major factors that are often ignored include stress and inactivity. Rather than blaming fat people for an illness that could affect anyone, maybe we should explore real ways to improve health? Google "HAES", or "Health at Every Size" concept for thorough research and effective models for improving health without obsessing about weight.
When your a child no one ever dreams of becoming fat, diabetic, an alcoholic, drug addict, have a bad heart it just happens with our human frailness.
If you don't like her cooking, don't cook the recipes, don't buy her books, or watch her shows. It is absurd to assume she is responsibility for the medical problems for ALL people with obesity. You can't force people to make good health decisions for themselves and that's why they fail. I see this as her providing a face of people who turned in the wrong direction toward actively taking care of themselves and now she is making a change for the better. If promoting the drug is her platform, then why not let her do it? If anything the people like herself who are in the same health crisis will have someone to look up to. That's what they need. Not a lecture.
She doesn't. All she wants to do is hawk one more branded product. I have to wonder whether prescription containers with this new drug will sport the Food Network logo, and if so what their cut is.
Food Network used to be entertaining and somewhat informative. No more.
I became a type 2 Diabetes when I was pregnant. After I had my baby, the Diabetes left, until I was treated with Prednisone for Rheumatoid Arthritis. This time it is here to stay though I am off that drug and onto IV Biologics. I intend to get rid of Diabetes. but am thwarted by my other illnesses.
Maybe it's because I am a retired RN, but I can't imagine not telling my viewers about my having Diabetes immediately especially in view of the foods and menus she presented daily to her viewers.
I am managed by my PMD, with a generic type 2 drug, which is working well. I remain incensed with what Paula told the co-hosts on "The Chew" last week. She siad that she didn't come forth 3 years ago because she didn't have Anything to bring to the table.
She was wrong.
She could and should have brought herself to the table. She would have had an excellent reception from her fans, not the betrayed hurt feelings...yes hurt feelings, she's engendered with her latest fiasco.
Make no mistake if we all wanted better diets KRAFT would be out of business. Just say no to her recipes.