Kathy Freston Links Chicken Consumption to Obesity

Best-selling vegan author Kathy Freston has taken to The Huffington Post to warn meat-lovers that chicken may be contributing to the country’s obesity epidemic, in spite of its image as a leaner, more health-conscious protein. In a new essay, Freston argues that factory-farm chickens possess a gene selected to boost weight gain and speed up production. The presence of this “obesity gene,” coupled with the chickens’ lack of exercise and high-calorie diet, has led to a tenfold increase in the birds’ fat content. In order to adhere to a heart-healthy and low-fat diet, Freston recommends getting protein from plant-based sources such as beans, tofu, and whole grains.