How incredibly stupid, on the face of it.

A conspiracy minded type would say: Wreck people's health with processed food for profit, then make more profit getting them dependant on drugs to ameliorate the symptoms

Myself, I think it is a type of collective insanity

Which they’d have to take for the rest of their lives.

Or… and hear me out here. They could exercise more and eat less. Gaining permanent improvements in their health and longevity.