Super Size Me

[hucifer]

DH and I saw Super Size Me this weekend. It's the documentary about the guy who ate nothing but McDonald's meals for 30 days straight.

As someone who has studied health and nutrition as a side passion for many, many years, there was not a great deal of new information for me. However, to see this man's body actually begin to break down within the first 10 days and get ready to die...that was a pretty powerful message on the fast food industry. Midway through his experiment his doctors, girlfriend, and mother were urging him to stop because his eating habits were killing him. (An interesting side note...his girlfriend is a vegan chef.)

This film was a hit at the Sundance Film Festival, and as a result (although McDonald's urges that there was no correlation), McDonald's are discontinuing their super size value meals.

DH, a self-entitled fast-food and Coke junkie, has sworn off all of it since watching this film. I strongly encourage people to see this film. It is disturbing. But it is also very educational and actually pretty funny. And it makes you really think about the substance that we put into our bodies and the effect it has on our health. And especially our children's health.

And no, I do not have any financial interest in this film. It was just that good. Go see the flick and judge for yourself.

 

[theSurlyMermaid]

I really want to see this film...its been many years since I've had any fast food, but I remain fascinated/repulsed by McDonald's neverending empire. Even their new health salads are something like 550 calories a salad.

 

[Robinrs]

Man, am I glad someone did this!

I have to admit that McD's is desparately trying to straighten up their act. They are offering some healthier choices.

But they do know that as long as there are people with their own finances who believe they will live forever like I did some years ago, they will always make a profit.

 

[kpgclark]

It sounds like a great movie. I wish it was playing around here. I'm wondering why he didn't elect to have only healthier choices from the menu such as soups or salads though. Can you tell me how his meal choices were made?

 

[hucifer]

Originally posted by kpgclark
It sounds like a great movie. I wish it was playing around here. I'm wondering why he didn't elect to have only healthier choices from the menu such as soups or salads though. Can you tell me how his meal choices were made?

The film's creator (Spurlock) said he had to order everything off of the menu at least once, and he MUST super-size it if asked. So while he did eat the salads and yogurt parfaits, he also had his share of burgers and fries.

Taken from a film review by the Tribune Movie review:
Spurlock, a former MTV stunt-show host, decided to eat 30 days of nothing but McDonald's meals after the fast-food chain contended that its fare could be part of a nutritious diet. McDonald's had made the claim after two women filed suit claiming that the company's food led to their obesity.

 

[Winka]

When Fast Food Nation came out I couldn't put it down ...and I can't wait to see this. Thanks for the link.

I have McDs once in a while too, though.

kpg..from the website:

During the journey, Spurlock also put his own body on the line, living on nothing but McDonald's for an entire month with three simple rules:

1) No options: he could only eat what was available over the counter (water included!)
2) No supersizing unless offered
3) No excuses: he had to eat every item on the menu at least once

 

[kpgclark]

Seems like the message should be that moderation is the key to maintaining your health. For example our family eats fast food just two or three times a year. I think that is fine. I would also say that it would probably be fine to eat there a couple of times a week if you enjoy the food, make good choices and eat in moderation the other days. Obviously if you eat nothing but greasy super sized fries and burgers you will not maintain good health. I don't think McD ever said that you could live a healthy life on their food alone but I think if you always made good choices there you just might be able to.

This reminds me of animal studies where animals are fed or injected with massive, massive quantities of X. Then they get cancer and it is stated that X causes cancer. The truth is that MASSIVE QUANTITIES of X cause cancer. For example, if force an animal to injest too much water the animal can die. Does water cause death? No.

The movie does sound interesting, don't get me wrong. I'd really like to see it.

 

[hucifer]

Originally posted by kpgclark
Seems like the message should be that moderation is the key to maintaining your health. For example our family eats fast food just two or three times a year. I think that is fine. I would also say that it would probably be fine to eat there a couple of times a week if you enjoy the food, make good choices and eat in moderation the other days. Obviously if you eat nothing but greasy super sized fries and burgers you will not maintain good health. I don't think McD ever said that you could live a healthy life on their food alone but I think if you always made good choices there you just might be able to.

This reminds me of animal studies where animals are fed or injected with massive, massive quantities of X. Then they get cancer and it is stated that X causes cancer. The truth is that MASSIVE QUANTITIES of X cause cancer. For example, if force an animal to injest too much water the animal can die. Does water cause death? No.

The movie does sound interesting, don't get me wrong. I'd really like to see it.

The creator says the same thing...he went extreme, and no one is arguing that EVERY meal should be a fast-food one. However, the disturbing part of this experiment was how quickly his body was shutting down, and how detrimental good food choices are to your health.

I also agree that taking your family to McD 3-4 times a year will hardly affect one's health at all. Moderation is key. And given anything in large quantities (even broccoli) will mean the body isn't getting its full nutritional needs from a variety of foods.

To reiterate...the surprising part of this film was the rate at which this man's body was shutting down. And how his bad food choices were affecting almost every element of his well-being...from heart to depression to libido. Amazing stuff. And, as the creator points out, many many families eat out every day of the week and wonder why they are overweight and unhealthy.

 

[Alice28]

I read about this in the paper this week. Sounds interesting. While me and my family probably only indulge in fast food once or twice a week, there are people out there who eat it daily and think nothing of it----and I don't think those people out there who eat it daily are balancing it out with salads and steamed veggies with fish at home- at least not the kind of folks I know of who eat FF all the time. With not only the amount of fat, but SODIUM that is in most FF, it's no surprise to me that his body started shutting down so quickly.

 

[Stepharoonie!]

Did you see that McD's is offering an "adult happy meal" now? It's a salad with water and a stepometer.

 

[alberto]

Ah Ms. Hucifer, what a fantastico movie that is! I myself have experienced the pleasure of viewing it and found so much information to relate to. I myself am overweight and I use to be a frequent diner of quickie food~ I now have turned away from that and am feeling oh much fantastico of my self. What I must say is, BRAVO!

 

[hucifer]

Originally posted by Stepharoonie!
Did you see that McD's is offering an "adult happy meal" now? It's a salad with water and a stepometer.

Yes, I did hear about that. I wonder if the pedometer is yellow and red and smells like fries.

 

[kild]

I read about this and about a woman that did the same thing to prove that you can eat McD's for a month and remain healthy.
I think she lost 10lbs during this month. I will try and find that article.

I do hope more people see this movie and realize just how bad this stuff is though.

 

[alberto]

Ah Ms. Morisi, I so hungry today at mid day meal and I almost stop at quickie food, then I thought... Oh no, no, no, I must not!

 

[DemonLlama]

Their salads are NOT 500 calories, by the way.

I had the grilled chicken bacon cheddar salad today (the Adult Happy Meal) and all of the nutritional information is on the box. The salad was 250 calories, and the Newman's Own Vinigarette was 40 calories. I've got my step-o-meter on now!

This was my first time to try the salads there, and it was food but it can't hold a candle to the Jack in the Box Southwest Chicken Salad (no dressing -- that'll kill you!)

Personal responsibility is still the number one factor why people gain weight, not evil corporations. I say this as a self-confessed former Quarter Pounder junkie

I'm looking forward to the film, and I hope it will change the way people think about their reliance on junk food.