Posted on 10/02/2004 1:40:55 PM PDT by Joe Republc
Anyone see the movie "SuperSize Me"?
While no doubt FReepers would have lots of qualms about the political and cultural views stuffed, er, down our throats while watching this movie, there's no doubt that there's an important message the movie does hammer home.
America is getting a lot fatter. And it's going to kill more and more of us.
As someone in his mid-forties, there's absolutely no doubt in my mind that I see a LOT more obese people now than twenty years ago. The movies brings the growing elephant in the living room to our attention very well.
Some obvious stuff we all should know anyway:
- We eat too much fast food.
- We don't eat enough 'good' food.
- We drink way too much soda.
- Our food portions are getting much bigger.
- The notion of a balanced meal is out the window for many kids.
- Most of us don't exercise nearly enough.
- Many of us drive everywhere, not walking.
- Many, many more kids are fat than there used to be.
What's not obvious, and will unfortunately be more clear over time...
- More of us will die earlier from obesity.
- Kids' life expectancy is less now that when we grew up because of obesity.
Now, the movie wants to blame MacDonald's, of course. And it paints them as bad guys, though not as grotesquely as Michael Moore would have done. (I wonder if he likes Big Macs?) And these unmarried Gen X New Yorkers just have to matter-of-factly tell you about their sex lives, and espouse some leftish political views, but none of this gets in the way of the movie. Oh, and there's a surgery scene on someone's stomach that I couldn't stand to watch.
If you can live with the above caveats, the movie is worth seeing because it does deliver the obesity-warning in a overall entertaining fashion. I plan on watching it again with my wife, who indulges my kids way too much with garbage food when I'm not around. And I would LIKE to show the movie to my kids, but it has too much vulgarity. An edited version would be great.
One other thing.... look at my other posts, FReepers. I'm not a health nut. I'm not a troll. I'm not an anti-capitalist, anti-MacDonald's zealot. But I do see lots of folks around me getting heavier and unhealthier. This movie is an entertaining way to have more people get a serious message.
-- Joe
I try that but I'm too picky. I just don't like (most) leftovers. They just don't taste as good to me.
Ohhh!
You poor thing!
Chinese leftovers ALWAYS taste better the next day!
Even cold, right out of the take-out container!
( I know. I'm a savage! )
:-)
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