Watch Now: "The Obesity Epidemic in America: Corporate Wealth vs. Public Health"

Robert Lustig, M.D., a neuroendocrinologist and professor of pediatrics at the University of California, San Francisco, kicked off Baptist Health South Florida’s Speaker Series: Thought Leaders in Medicine. Calling himself a “flame thrower” in the fight against America’s expanding waistline, Dr. Lustig presented “The Obesity Epidemic in America: Corporate Wealth vs. Public Health,” in which he singled out sugar as the culprit for a host of related ailments including diabetes and hypertension. He went on to classify sugar as an “addictive poison” that is damaging public health in the United States to dangerous levels requiring societal and government action.

Dr. Lustig is a world-renowned expert on obesity and diabetes and is the author of many academic works and the popular books: “Fat Chance: Beating The Odds Against Sugar, Processed Food, Obesity and Disease,” and the “Fat Chance Cookbook.”

Brian E. Keeley, president and chief executive Officer of Baptist Health South Florida said he hopes The Speaker Series “sparks important dialogue that we hope will help propel our industry forward and make a lasting, positive impact on the community.” The series was made possible through the generosity of Al & Jane Nahmad.

The Baptist Health South Florida News Team was there. Watch it now.

Want to learn more about the dangers of sugar?

Watch Sweet Revenge: Turning the Tables on Processed Food

In 1980, very few kids in the U.S. had type 2 diabetes. Today 30 million children and adults — 9.3 percent of the U.S. population — have diabetes.

Get the facts by watching Sweet Revenge: Turning the Tables on Processed Food on PBS Channel 2, presented by Baptist Health South Florida.  In the documentary,  Robert Lustig, M.D., addresses the health problems associated with the average American diet and how poor food choices affect children and adults in the U.S. and worldwide.

The program, presented by Baptist Health, will air on WPBT- Channel 2:

• Saturday,  Dec. 20, 4-5 P.M.
• Friday,  Jan.  23, 10-11 P.M.

Tags: Baptist Health South Florida, community health, diabetes, eating healthy, Nutritional tips, obesity