Who's making America so fat?

Detroit News ^ | 9/22/02 | Lynn Waldsmith

[Jean S]

It's the kind of food for thought that Jay Leno's writers salivate over. In the first case of its kind in the United States, 56-year-old Caesar Barber is suing McDonald's, Burger King, KFC and Wendy's. He blames the four fast food giants for making him obese and causing his obesity-related problems, which include two heart attacks, diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure.

[JediGirl]

"People get the fillet of fish, for example, not knowing that it has 26 grams of fat in it," she points out. "Even well-educated people think they're making healthier choices when they're not." (The daily government-recommended amount of fat, based on a 2,000-calorie diet, is 65 grams.)

That's absolute schlock. I have religiously studied nutrition information for almost every major fast food chain in the country. I either got the information from a chart at the restaurant, their site online, or a book. People know that a grilled chicken sandwich is healthy at about 300 calories and 6 grams of fat. However, a grilled chicken sandwich with mayo adds (if i can remember correctly) about 11 grams of fat to make it 17 grams at least. It says so on the charts in the restaurant. There is saturated fat, calories, fat, and sodium very clearly listed in McDonalds and Burger King.

[JediGirl]

We have choices. I've never heard McDonald's claim that the serve diet foods.

You can actually get a chicken salad shaker at mcdonalds for 100 calories and 2.5 grams of fat topped with fat free viniagrette dressing for about another 35 calories.

[tortoise]

Bottom line, carbohydrates stimulate overproduction of insulin that causes conversion of the carb to sugar (glucose) for use by the body.

It is worth pointing out that once you reach the age of around 50-60, secondary effects of insulin damage become a leading cause of death. A large percentage of cardiovascular disease in older folks is linked to insulin damage, particularly things like strokes. People who load up on carbs when they are young will suffer severe CV problems and other organ degenerative diseases starting when they get into their 40s or 50s.

Since insulin damage is cumulative over the life of a person, I expect in a decade or two we will have a bubble of people who, due to years of buying into the low-fat high-carb diet, will start showing the symptoms of unusually high levels of insulin damage.

[FITZ]

Yes that too ---the previous weight charts had people too thin, the fatter people were actually healthier than those considered at ideal weights according to some charts. Hispanics are generally fatter but they live longer anyhow so maybe they have the right weight.

Also people used to choose to eat at home more often I think before. We still had those food pyramid ideas that there were certain ratios of food types we should eat.

[McGavin999]

Usual lines here are less then 5 minutes. Everyone I know says "I'm exhausted, think I'll swing through XXXX and pick up hamburgers on the way home."

I take my lunch too, but I just started that recently. I used to run to the closest fast food joint just because it was faster then going to a sit down place. And cheaper.

We've all gotten away from taking and fixing our own foods. Now I spend most of Sunday fixing enough food for the week ahead, it's actually easier then it was before and you're right, the food is better.

[BulletBrasDotNet]

Why anyone would eat this crap is beyond me. I'll take a roast beef sandwich on buttered rye bread with lettuce, tomatoe, salt and pepper, prepared in my own kitchen anytime over the McSh!t.

[nofriendofbills]

"We are in the position to decide what we want to do in our lives and what we don't want to do," Mark says.

What's this guy spouting? Personal responsibility?...Sure it's an interesting concept but I really can't see it catching on.

Though one can hope.

[Zon]

"I never underestimate the ability of judges to come up with curious rulings," says Gifford of the Michigan Restaurant Association. "But clearly, if you sat around and listened to the average citizen talk about this (Barber) lawsuit, they realize it for being the frivolous shot at big money that it is and we're hopeful that judges and juries will treat it accordingly."

Here, I'll help.

Hamburgers, french-fries and soft drinks; don't they sell those in grocery stores as well as in restaurants? There are many companies that manufacture those products. Just as there are many companies that manufactured tobacco products. Lawyers attacked the tobacco manufacturers, not the retail sellers of tobacco products. Why suddenly have the fat-police going after the retail sellers/prepare rather than the manufactures? Because even the lawyers know they would be trounced by the food manufacturers. Archer Daniels Midland alone could crush all the lawyers.

Bottom line, carbohydrates stimulate overproduction of insulin that causes conversion of the carb to sugar (glucose) for use by the body. If the body does not need it immediately, it goes to fat. The body cannot make this same conversion with animal or plant fats and proteins.

Agree. The lawyers would never attack the government -- the hand that feeds them -- for advocating a bogus food pyramid.

[BulletBrasDotNet]

Exactly. If you eat like a pig, you're gonna look like a pig.

Sounds pretty logical to me. What's the problem? I don't eat like a pig because I don't want to look like a pig. DUH!

[Donald Stone]

TV

[T-Bird45]

After just a month on this high-protein, low-carb regimen, I can absolutely attest to the health improvement. My total cholesterol dropped like a stone to 140 and my doctor took me off Lipitor. I am now working on the exercise side so I can get off the blood pressure meds, too.

The age thing you mention is part of my concern. I am 47 and watching my father-in-law suffer through the follow-on diseases associated with diabetes. I will not put my children through that. Even more importantly, my energy is up and the fog of depression is gone. I just can't say enough good about this diet.

[ATOMIC_PUNK]

We've all gotten away from taking and fixing our own foods. Now I spend most of Sunday fixing enough food for the week ahead, it's actually easier then it was before and you're right, the food is better

You sound like me on sunday it's spent resting and preping for the next weeks work plenty of leftovers after supper during the week makes for great lunches at work and the ocasional bologna sandwich never hurt anyone ! as for the family stuff we order a pizza once a month [maybe] my wife and i enjoy cooking and dont see it as a burden but i do realize some people just dont take the time to enjoy it .

[Great Dane]

claims he was unaware of the fast food's high-fat, high-calorie content.

Gaining a lot of weight, should have given him a clue.

[nothingnew]

I take my lunch too, but I just started that recently. I used to run to the closest fast food joint just because it was faster then going to a sit down place. And cheaper.

We've all gotten away from taking and fixing our own foods. Now I spend most of Sunday fixing enough food for the week ahead, it's actually easier then it was before and you're right, the food is better.

YOU GOT IT!...The wife and I prepare our working-week food on Sunday, and it is superior to anything you could get at a "fat food" joint.

It's become a joint and fun effort to eat right.

We used to dine out a lot years ago, but now would rather buy a few "special" dinners and cook at home, perhaps with a little company.

Besides, most restaraunts that are anyway near affordable...suck....(and you can't smoke!)

FMCDH

[Conservative til I die]

I take my lunch too, but I just started that recently. I used to run to the closest fast food joint just because it was faster then going to a sit down place. And cheaper.

Bull. Do what I do and brown bag your lunch everyday. $5 for a lb. of turkey, the good deli cut kind, $3 for a package of swiss cheese, a bottle of mustard you've alreday got on hand, $2 for a loaf of wheat bread and $4 for a six-pack of coke = $14 a week, or $2.80 per day for quick, healthy food.

[Conservative til I die]

Sorry. My "Bull" comment was meant in general, for anyone thinking fast food is cheaper or quicker.

Since I now commute by car to work instead of train and subway, I've taken to eating breakfast at home and find I'm still saving money and eating healthier. Eating a couple pieces of toast with butter, one cup of coffee is better than my old two buttered rolls or onion bagel with cream cheese and large coffee, with a donut on Thursday or Friday.

[Conservative til I die]

I hit the mall food court with my cousin, and left my brown bag lunch for the next day. I wound up spending $9.50 for a 12-inch sub, some bacon-cheese fries, and a coke. ANd I didn't feel too good afterewards.

[altura]

Perhaps I'm too optimistic, but I don't think this kind of lawsuit stands a chance.

The tobacco lawsuits were bullstuff too, but there are a lot of people who have a pathological hatred of cigarettes and tobacco companies. They have no ability to reason and the thought of getting Revenge on the tobacco companies was irresistible to them.

People don't hate food in the same way. A lot of people on this thread are claiming they don't eat fast food, and may show a bit of mild contempt for those who do. However, it doesn't amount to the same loathing that I see for tobacco.

As far as the healthy restaurants go, forget about it. Most of the fast food chains have tried offering lower calorie stuff and healthier stuff and it bombs. People like the burgers and fries. Bottom line (and that's where it goes.)

But what could be more ridiculous than a big fat slob saying, duh, I didn't know all those burgers and fries would make you fat. If that had occurred to me, I would never have ordered three at a time.

[nothingnew]

ANd I didn't feel too good afterewards.

ARRGGGHHandUGGHHS!...I remember that feeling. (and I usually had to run to the toilet about 1 hour after eating that stuff...not a pretty pcture!)

FMCDH