In an effort to prove that the fast food industry is responsible for the growing obesity rate in the United States, independent filmmaker Morgan Spurlock followed a 30-day diet modification program that consisted only consuming only food from the McDonalds menu. His goal was to showcase the fast food industry’s efforts to promote an unhealthy diet for it’s own financial gain. The movie, Super Size Me, was an Academy Award nominee in 2004 in the documentary film category. This movie focused on proving fast food and obesity worked together to create the epidemic health and weight concerns that are becoming such a global problem.
Obesity And Fast Food Provide Ground Rules For Documentary Film
Spurlock’s dietary requirement for the film included 5,000 calories per day of McDonald’s menu items. He was required to eat at the restaurant three times per day, consuming every item on the menu at least once in the thirty-day period. Prior to beginning his experiment, Spurlock was a thirty-two year old, healthy man that stood 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighed 185 pounds. He gained 24.5 pounds in 30 days. His Body Mass Index (BMI) went from 23.2 to 27. When reviewing body mass index requirements, a healthy range for a man of his size and age should have a BMI of 19-25. At the level of 27, Spurlock went from healthy to overweight in just thirty days while eating at the fast food restaurant, appearing to many people to substantiate his claim that fast food and obesity really are related. In the first five days of Spurlock’s experiment, he gained almost ten pounds.
Results of Fast Food And Obesity Experiment
Spurlock’s movie made a very big impression on America and other countries that support the McDonalds fast food industry. McDonalds soon phased out the “supersize” menu option and though they denied that it was due to the impact of the movie, the action was taken shortly after the movie was released. In addition, McDonalds began offering “healthy” choice menu items such as salads. It is interesting to note that while the salads are offered as a healthy option, when combined with fried chicken breasts and fat laden salad dressings, many of the salads contain more calories and fat grams than the burgers and fries. McDonalds never agreed that fast food and obesity were related nor did they admit that their menu items were a cause for obesity.
While McDonalds does provide a fast food fat-filled meal for its customers, they do provide healthy alternatives. However, you cannot force a customer to eat healthy just because the option exists. The McDonalds menu can be modified by personal ordering preferences to be lower in fat; most customers do not make these modifications.
With this in mind, it should be noted that training the consumer in more important that pointing a finger at big business. Subway has made every effort to advertise their low fat options and practices, McDonalds simply chooses to ignore health guidelines and continue to sell what made them famous. It is the responsibility of the consumer to make the right choice.
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