Don’t ‘Super Size’ me

Super size meals. Venti lattes. Big burritos.

Americans are consuming Texas-size portions everyday.

While it may be easy to blame big fast food chains, the eatersare also at fault. It is about time they step up to the plate andcontrol what they put in it.

This is not to say fast food chains are innocent.

Their products may not be the epitome of healthy living butevery adult and most minors should know that by now. They choose tospend their money on these items, so they need to be ready for theeffects.

Super Size Me Director Morgan Spurlock knew he would hurt hisbody but he decided to cash in on the blame game. The film hasreceived critical acclaim exceeding box office expectations for alow-budget documentary.

Spurlock documented his 30-day diet of solely McDonald’sitems averaging a 5,000 daily calorie intake.

In the end his cholesterol skyrocketed and he gained 24.5pounds. He super-sized his meal anytime he was asked to anddidn’t do any exercise to symbolize his identification of thetypical American.

Protecting himself from a libel suit, Spurlock told ABCcorrespondent John Stossel that he did not blame McDonald’sfor the American obesity problem.

However, it was iconic of the problem according to Spurlock andhe that’s why he picked the chain.

Intentional or not Spurlock made McDonald’s anotherscapegoat. Viewers saw him visit various doctors. He tells one thatwhen he doesn’t eat he gets headaches. She suggests that hemay be addicted to the food.

Some moviegoers left theaters blaming McDonald’s for usingaddicting products and misleading advertising.

At press time a report wasn’t found claimingMcDonald’s products were addictive.

A doctor doesn’t have to tell a typical American that ifthere is too much time between meals, headaches could occur. Thosemeals could include either a Big Mac or a tuna fish sandwich onwheat bread.

Then, the purpose of advertising is to sell you a feeling not aproduct.

It is easy to be swayed by an ad, so consumers need to be on thelook out.

They need to understand that advertisements are consistentlytrying to sway their emotions. Parents need to also enlighten theirchildren.

Some complain that this fast food chain in particular sucks inchildren at a young age through brand loyalty.

Parents decide what they buy for their kids. If they become thebad guy for not buying them a happy meal or even going to theirlocal Mickey Dees, that is the price they pay for keeping theirchild healthier.

For children who are food purchase independent, parents shouldsit down and talk about which foods are healthy and which ones arenot.

Rather than uncovering the next Watergate, Spurlock fueled theAmerican myth that citizens are helpless pawns in a ploy to makethis country the United States of Obesity.

Yes, corporations like McDonald’s want to make money. Yes,they will find ways to influence the average citizen. No, they donot stick their hands in each individual’s wallet and stealtheir money.

The consumer makes the purchasing decision while sellers try toinfluence them. Consumers have to control the amount of influence.Americans choose what they put in their body and what they do withtheir bodies.

For his story on Spurlock, Stossel also interviewed two otheradults on 30-day McDonald’s diets.

One woman was on a 2,000 daily calorie intake and exercisedthree days a week. She lost 10 pounds and her cholesteroldecreased. Another man had a 5,000 daily calorie intake, continuedto exercise and lost 8 pounds. His cholesterol also went down.

So, Americans can eat high fat foods in moderation, take care oftheir body through exercise and still be at least somewhat healthy.They don’t have to exercise to lose weight or be buff.Activity gets the blood flowing and muscles moving.

Another argument is that the average American doesn’t havethe money or the time to join a health club. They don’t haveto. Walking, something most people learned around the age of 1, isprobably the simplest form of exercise.

Dallas is not really a pedestrian city, most citiesaren’t. However, you can provide chances to walk.

If you have to drive everywhere try to get to your locationsearlier enough with time for a distant but safe parking space.

Maybe the only good aspect of the parking situation at SMU isthat students have to walk long distances to their classes in someinstances.

Americans have to watch what they eat. No one else will, unlessthey are stalkers and that’s another subject. Each individualis provided with one body, they must take care of it.