Public Employee Press

"Super Size Me" shows dangers of fast food

Like time-lapse photography, filmmaker Morgan Spurlock’s experiment with fast food sped up the ill effects of consuming a steady diet of McDonald’s food. “Super Size Me,” his much acclaimed documentary, was featured at the DC 37 Health and Nutrition Committee’s movie night May 19. The film showed just how detrimental a steady dose of fast food can be.

Spurlock started his experiment as a human guinea pig with just a few simple rules. He set off on a 30-day, 20-city cross-country trip with the goal of consuming three meals a day at the nation’s premier fast-food giant. At the counter, he would only agree to be “supersized” if it was offered.

At the outset, three doctors, a primary care physician, a cardiologist, and agastroenterologist, checked him out. Each pronounced him in peak physical condition. As the days passed and Spurlockgot deeper and deeper into his everyday regime of ingesting sodas, burgers, french fries, and other treats, his waistline grew and his health deteriorated. Toward the end of his experiment, Spurlock’s doctors were pleading with him to stop.

The national obesity rate in America has doubled since 1980, as chains like McDonald’s have proliferated. The health epidemic has put tens of millions of young people at risk for diabetes and related illnesses and even premature death unless the country makes a commitment to reversing this trend. The Journal ofthe American Medical Association recently reported that a whopping 32 percent of young people ages 2 through 19 are overweight or obese. Their excess weight increases their risk of developing diabetes, heart disease and other ailments.

Committee Chair Michelle Keller of Local 375 and DC 37 Program Director Frances M. Curtis led a lively post-movie discussion with attendees. “The next time you belly up to the counter at McDonald’s with one of their give-away money-saving coupons, think about Morgan Spurlock,” Keller said.

“His experiment raised his cholesterol levels way up. It turned his liver into a fatty mess, plus he gained 25 to 30 pounds,” Curtis added.

While Mickie Dee’s accounts for 43 percent of fast-food sales, the “Golden Arches” have plenty of company. Burger King, KFC, and Pizza Hut are a few of the many fast-food vendors peddling food with low nutrition value but high fat and sodium content. McDonald’s slogan is, “I’m lovin’ it.” Next time you’re “lovin’ it,” ask yourself the same question Morgan Spulock did: Is it worth making yourself sick?