The left’s obsession with protecting emotions has reached absurd heights, manifesting itself in dangerous movements such as those against “body positivity” and “fat shaming.”

These slogans may seem harmless on the surface, but their consequences are devastating. Behind the façade of inclusion and empowerment lie chronic illness, dependence on Big Pharma, and the erosion of personal responsibility—a calculated push toward values ​​that once formed the foundations of strong, prosperous societies. I am.

Obesity is not just a matter of appearance. It’s a full-blown public health crisis. It is the second most common cause. chronic disease In America, only smoking exceeds it. Numbers don’t lie. promote obesity heart disease, diabetes, stroke and cancer Just to name a few of the countless health hazards associated with metabolic syndrome. (Related: David Blackmon: President Trump could end Biden’s offshore wind farm project)

But rather than face this truth, the left has chosen to romanticize it.body positivity” What comes next: “cancer positivity” or “diabetes acceptance”? In the meantime, should we embrace “stroke pride”? The absurdity of these ideas speaks for itself.

Conservatives value hard work, discipline, and responsibility, qualities that are continually undermined by the left’s insistence on normalizing destructive lifestyles. Overeating is just as dangerous as smoking or alcoholism, but calling it out loud will earn you a scarlet letter from the “woke” crowd. Instead of encouraging people to regain their health, these ideologues impose a victim mentality, turning individuals into pawns in ideological games and trapping them in cycles of poor health and dependence.

Let’s take a closer look at who will benefit from the normalization of obesity. If you follow the money, you’ll find that it’s the same companies that sell cheap, addictive junk food to the unsuspecting public.

While Big Food profits from every bag of processed snacks and every sugary drink consumed, Big Pharma profits from the inevitable health consequences of diabetes, heart disease, and weight loss drugs. It’s raking in billions of dollars. It is a lucrative system of disease and profit, and suffering is just collateral damage.

America’s declining life expectancy isn’t just a statistic, it’s a clear red flag. In 2023, this country’s average life expectancy has decreased In a non-pandemic year. It wasn’t because of smoking, which continues to decline, or even the lingering effects of COVID-19. The culprit is obvious: obesity. Over 40% of Americans I’m obeseand childhood obesity rates rapidly increasing. This is not a failure of individual willpower. It is the result of systematic lies perpetuated by those who profit from keeping people sick and dependent.

Consider broader cultural influences. In the past few decades, physical fitness and health have been aspirational values. Today, they are labeled as “elitist” or “far-right.” Healthy, disciplined people who pursue health are now caricatured as narcissists or fanatics. Leaders like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and fitness advocates like Max Lugavere are demonized for promoting personal responsibility; Nutrition awareness.

President-elect Donald Trump’s Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) initiative framed as a xenophobic act by leftist elites. But these numbers point to a path forward, a return to the values ​​of self-discipline, resilience and responsibility that made America great in the first place.

Cultural change is not just an abstract issue. It is impacting lives in tangible ways. Imagine the life of an obese person, with all the risks associated with obesity: cancer, heart disease, diabetes, chronic fatigue, social isolation, and high medical costs. These are not just inconveniences, but devastating realities that rob people of their futures.

Who among us would want to live like this, where we couldn’t enjoy a quick game of soccer with our kids or go on a scenic hike with friends? And who in their right mind would promote this misery as “positive”?

This is where conservatives must intervene. The solution is not another government program, a lecture on sensitivity, or a new marketing campaign. It’s a return to timeless conservative principles: personal responsibility, hard work, and the courage to face uncomfortable truths.

America doesn’t need a feel-good exercise that coddles people to premature death. I need a wake up call. We need leaders who are willing to tell us hard truths, even if it ruffles feathers.

That’s why fat shaming isn’t cruel. That’s mercy. We condemn destructive behavior not for ridicule, but to save lives. The greatest act of kindness is helping people regain health, dignity, and independence. Conservatives understand that tough love is real love. Sometimes the most compassionate thing you can do is tell them the hard truth, even if it hurts at first.

The left’s sugar-coated lies won’t save lives, but the conservative commitment to truth, accountability, and hard work will. It’s time to reject the culture of complacency and dependence. The time has come to empower individuals to take control of their health and future. The world’s greatest nation deserves the best health and the best standard of living.

As a European, I support your efforts to not only make America great again, but to make America healthy again. Maha!

George Kharizanov is the CEO of Bulgaria’s Right-Wing Policy Institute and a Harvard Medical School-certified healthy lifestyle advocate. He can be found at @georgeharizanov on X.

The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not reflect the official position of the Daily Caller News Foundation.

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