Publicité
The dangers of fast food
On learning from a McDonald’s spokesman on television that nobody can link their food to sickness and obesity and that their food is nutritious and “good for you”, Morgan Spurlock sat up. If the food is really so good, he told himself, then, he should be eating it for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, desserts, and still be fine. This challenged him to use himself as a guinea pig just to see the results if he overate and under-exercised for 30 days. And to film the process, and bring out a book.
“Don’t eat this book” by Morgan Spurlock (Penguin Books, London 2005) details his singular experience of living on fast food for a month and proving that it is indeed harmful for, from 185.5 pounds, his weight went up to an astonishing 210 pounds.
Effects </B>
Spurlock got himself specialists from various medical branches to follow him closely on his journey to obesity. The effects ranged from mood swings, buzzing pulsation in the sexual organ, forgetfulness, liver disease, a feeling of monotony, pimples, sleepiness, lethargy, to becoming a “whiny, grumpy, moody bitch” and craving for more. Had be continued eating junk food, he would have died, doctors said.
The food industry found his attempt a mere stunt though it was clear to many other people that fast food is responsible to a large extent for creating havoc in their lives. It is true that in trying to go modern and keep up with the times, we are endangering our lives by contracting all sorts of diseases while the manufacturers are fattening their pockets.
<B>Stunning statistics</B>
For those having a romantic, idealistic view of America, this book comes as a shock. Consider this:
65% of American adults are overweight
9 million American kids between 6 and 18 were obese in 2004
Illnesses related to obesity were expected to kill around 400,000 Americans in 2004
The US spends about $ 117 billion yearly on the treatment of obesity-related diseases
In 1970, there were 70,000 fast food establishments in America; in 2000, there were 186,000
In 1968, McDonald’s had about 1,000 restaurants. In 2004 it had 31,000 in the world, almost 14,000 in America
In 1970 Americans spent $ 6.2 billion in fast-food joints. In 2004 it rose to $ 124 billion
Sponsors and advertisers</B>
The author takes a dig at sponsors and advertisers of fast food who leave no stone unturned to indoctrinate kids through various means – promotional messages, campaigns, sponsoring of sports activities, textbooks, gymnasiums, videos, educational software, football teams and “just about anything the schools will let them slap their logos on”.
Stars and celebrities who are ever so eager to associate themselves with fast-food campaigns are equally lambasted for exerting a nefarious influence on kids. The author contends that pop-stars are “role models to hundreds of millions of young people and they need to act like this. They’re imitated and emulated and they have a responsibility to live up to”. Certainly there’s no quarrelling with this.
If you thought of America as a macho, very healthy nation, trust Morgan Spurlock to reverse this image: it is a nation eating itself to death; a nation victim of its affluence. It is “the fattest nation in the world”. This is a meticulously-researched book, with the author drawing us right into the very corridors of the fast-food industry and exposing certain bitter truths like the massive brainwashing that goes on everyday in one way or another to urge people to “eat more and more and more”. At our own risks, of course.
Addiction</B>
The book is informative about one lesser-known aspect of fast-food: its addictive power. In fact, once you get started on it, like on soft drinks, smoking or alcohol, you feel you just can’t do without it till you become a compulsive eater. It’s a point where, I suppose, you develop the feeling that homemade food is no good.
Americans spend $ 40 billion yearly on diets and diet fads though 95% eventually regain their lost weight. Spurlock wryly comments: “Nobody’s tried out as many wacky diet-plans as Americans have.” Well, draw your own conclusions.
Today whatever is available is stuffed down the throat. The title of the book itself is a wake-up call to sensible eating. And, interestingly enough, it does not concern Americans alone.
<B>Suresh RAMPHUL</B>
Publicité
Publicité
Les plus récents
