Exposing Big Food & Pharma: Advertising Tactics, Ozempic Controversy, Healthcare Corruption & How To Create Change w/ Calley Means

Calley Means draws attention to the concerning reality that the healthcare industry profits from chronic illnesses and explains how this leads to a lack of focus on preventative health measures.

The healthcare industry is structured to profit from people being chronically ill rather than healthy

Means reflects on the healthcare system's reliance on treating illnesses with drugs and medical interventions instead of holistic approaches. He suggests that there is a profit motive from the prevalence of chronic diseases induced by food. Means critiques the healthcare guidance which encourages medication over dietary changes, implying that this keeps people reliant on drugs. He also notes that the birth control pill, as the first long-term disease treatment, marked the start of an industry based on prolonged drug usage.

Further, Means points out the high c-section rate of 30 to 35 percent, implying this might be driven by profit rather than best practices for health. He questions the profitability of commonplace interventions in the birth and reproductive processes.

The healthcare industry wields significant influence over research, policy, and media to maintain this profitable analysis

Means discusses the influence of the healthcare industry over research, policy, and how it shapes the scientific narrative. For instance, the standing ovation at the JP Morgan Healthcare Conference following the projection that 80% of American adults would be overweight or obese illustrates the perverse incentives at play.

He emphasizes that institutions benefit financially from prolonged illness and notes that treatments for chronic diseases have not succeeded in reducing the prevalence of the diseases they aim to treat. This is exemplified by the case of PCOS, where invasive drugs and procedures are often prescribed instead of diet and lifestyle changes that could tackle the root cause.

Means also highlights the negative effects of pharmaceutical products on the immune system and hormones, despite being advertised as safe. He signals out the cascade of interventions in the birth process as indicative of profit-driven healthcare rather than being in the patient's best interest.

Influence over media and research

The pharmaceutical industry, as the largest funder of political campaigns and medical research, impacts the focus of research, which o ...

Calley Means and other commentators raise alarms about how the food and pharmaceutical industries manipulate research, policy, and media, creating a cycle of unhealthy eating and reliance on medication.

The food industry has created an addictive and unhealthy food environment, fueling chronic disease

Means notes that a majority of food consumed in the U.S is ultra-processed and highly addictive, aligning with the food industry's profits but harming public health. He illustrates the food industry's lobbying efforts to shape policies that subsidize unhealthy foods and marginalize healthier options. The result of agricultural subsidies and exploitative marketing practices means that a percentage of food stamp benefits are spent on soda, contributing to poor metabolic health.

The processed food industry, created by the cigarette industry in the 1990s, has made food more addictive. Hormone-disrupting chemicals such as glyphosate are still prevalent in the US food supply, despite being phased out in Europe. Such chemicals contribute to reproductive issues and an increasingly early onset of puberty.

Means criticizes the USDA's recommendation for children to consume diets with 10% added sugar, and he asserts that the massive childhood chronic disease statistics reflect the significant role the food system plays in setting up an unhealthy environment for kids.

The pharmaceutical industry works in tandem with the food industry to profit off the resulting chronic diseases

Further examining this unhealthy cycle, Means reveals how the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries profit from the chronic diseases that result from bad dietary habits. The American Diabetes Association, having taken money from Coca-Cola, exemplifies how medical organizations might be influenced by industry groups, possibly leading to compromised public health policies.

Instead of promoting lifestyle changes to address early signs of metabolic dysfunction, the system seems inclined towards increased dependency on medical interventions like pharmaceuticals. Conditions like PCOS are often not addressed through prevention, leading to a greater burden on the healthcare system and further profits for pharmaceutical companies.

Industry groups co-opt and influence medical organizations, whose recommendations then shape clinical practices and public health policies

Pharmaceutical companies like Novo Nordisk make payments to doctors and medical organizations to promote drugs that address symptoms rather than underlying problems, influencing care standards and public health recommendations. Novo Nordisk's funding of a 68-week trial on children and financial connections to the American Academy of Pediatrics are discussed, demonstrating how funded medical groups reco ...

Individuals and policies must work in tandem to create a sustainable change in the approach to healthcare. Calley Means and Llewellyn share their insights and strategies for both personal empowerment and systemic transformation.

Individuals can take steps to improve their own health and reduce dependence on the healthcare system

Embracing healthy lifestyles and alternative healthcare

Llewellyn emphasizes the benefits of learning about nutrition and exercise as a means of reclaiming health without relying on pharmaceutical interventions. Embracing curiosity about what we consume and how we live can lead to substantial health and environmental improvements. She shares how losing weight and understanding metabolic processes helped her improve her health.

Additionally, disconnecting from soil, food, and metabolic habits has led to a spiritual and health crisis, suggesting a lack of understanding and connection with what nourishes our bodies. Calley Means advocates for a diet high in protein and low in ultra-processed foods combined with regular strength training to combat metabolic issues. He also includes food interventions and supplementation as non-invasive approaches to conditions like PCOS.

For chronic conditions, individuals are encouraged to experiment with lifestyle changes away from pharmaceuticals, favoring whole, unprocessed foods and root cause interventions. With the correct information, patients can opt for less invasive treatments, acknowledging the value of alternative healthcare options.

Policy changes are required to address the healthcare system's flaws.

Incentivizing healthy food production and consumption

Means insists on using funds to inspire curiosity and promote lifelong health practices. This contrasts with a system that concentrates on symptom medication and supports the unhealthy food industry. A shift is suggested away from policies that perpetuate the market for addictive, ultra-processed foods toward ones that advocate for fresh, nutritious options.

He points to a rigged system where unhealthy food is subsidized, creating a price disparity with healthier choices. By aligning monetary incentives with healthy behaviors, such as making nutritious options more affordable than unhealthy ones, policies can promote better eating habits.

Enhancing transparency and reducing conflicts of interest

Moreover, the lack of conflict of interest rules at universities and the NIH is alarming, allowing direct financial influences by pharmaceutical companies on researchers. Academics and NIH scientists have received substantial undisclosed payments during the pandemic, indicating a breach of trust and the need fo ...