It's reasonable to me that it's in the interest of big corporations to keep its consumers as fat lazy and entertained as possible.  I would hesitate to assert that it's an intentional coordinated effort over simply being  one of the the most likely end results of capitalism.  Also our civilization is now so relatively safe and easy for everyone that some disturbed individuals have discovered they can make some money without doing much work but by making up nonsense and getting gullible weak minded people to believe their cons, buy their books and ointments and healing rocks.