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Fast food and obesity
Replies
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fitforeternity493 wrote: »I never once blamed Fast Food places for me becoming technically obese but I also don't let them off the hook either... If anything I blamed my Significant Other and people around me for taking me to eat at these places and watching me grow to a size that is unsafe and unattractive... I had to take a look in the mirror and realize that if I wanted to be healthy I had to do it on my own accord and when I was ready. Becoming ready to change though was a process that didn't happen overnight , it took months.
On the blame list is McDonalds, your SO and your friends.
At some point, do you think you were partly culpable?
Depends if force feeding is involved or not1 -
Therealobi1 wrote: »fitforeternity493 wrote: »I never once blamed Fast Food places for me becoming technically obese but I also don't let them off the hook either... If anything I blamed my Significant Other and people around me for taking me to eat at these places and watching me grow to a size that is unsafe and unattractive... I had to take a look in the mirror and realize that if I wanted to be healthy I had to do it on my own accord and when I was ready. Becoming ready to change though was a process that didn't happen overnight , it took months.
On the blame list is McDonalds, your SO and your friends.
At some point, do you think you were partly culpable?
Depends if force feeding is involved or not
It's understandable.
Circumstances, social life, environmental factors all play part in our choices.
It seems like most people here just do not have a life.
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Ohh this could go on and on. Basically both camps have some degree of truth in them. If it was just down to CICO then the argument holds its the consumer that's to blame, but its so much more than that. Look at the money spent by big fast food companies on advertising, lobbying and promotions, there really isn't the same level fruit, vegetables and non fast food type food. So we need education, but even that is influenced by McD's Coca Cola - take your pick; get 'em early right enough eh? So are big companies totally to blame for the rise in obesity? Not entirely but they shoulder a lot of the blame by their promotion tactics and political lobbying.3
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Ohh this could go on and on. Basically both camps have some degree of truth in them. If it was just down to CICO then the argument holds its the consumer that's to blame, but its so much more than that. Look at the money spent by big fast food companies on advertising, lobbying and promotions, there really isn't the same level fruit, vegetables and non fast food type food. So we need education, but even that is influenced by McD's Coca Cola - take your pick; get 'em early right enough eh? So are big companies totally to blame for the rise in obesity? Not entirely but they shoulder a lot of the blame by their promotion tactics and political lobbying.fitforeternity493 wrote: »I never once blamed Fast Food places for me becoming technically obese but I also don't let them off the hook either... If anything I blamed my Significant Other and people around me for taking me to eat at these places and watching me grow to a size that is unsafe and unattractive... I had to take a look in the mirror and realize that if I wanted to be healthy I had to do it on my own accord and when I was ready. Becoming ready to change though was a process that didn't happen overnight , it took months.
On the blame list is McDonalds, your SO and your friends.
At some point, do you think you were partly culpable?
I'm not arguing and I see what you are saying, but it is a bit basic. Some people are weak willed and advertising must work or they wouldn't spend millions doing it. If you are getting hit with advertising for certain foods here, there and everywhere it will make you crave it a bit and then yeah, it is down to the person but these large food companies do know how to suck people in
Apparently it doesn't work all that well anymore.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/danielnewman/2015/04/28/research-shows-millennials-dont-respond-to-ads/#56c46405599e
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Therealobi1 wrote: »fitforeternity493 wrote: »I never once blamed Fast Food places for me becoming technically obese but I also don't let them off the hook either... If anything I blamed my Significant Other and people around me for taking me to eat at these places and watching me grow to a size that is unsafe and unattractive... I had to take a look in the mirror and realize that if I wanted to be healthy I had to do it on my own accord and when I was ready. Becoming ready to change though was a process that didn't happen overnight , it took months.
On the blame list is McDonalds, your SO and your friends.
At some point, do you think you were partly culpable?
Depends if force feeding is involved or not
It's understandable.
Circumstances, social life, environmental factors all play part in our choices.
It seems like most people here just do not have a life.
I have a life, a little one, but still a life. I don't let people dictate my food choices because I decide what I want. My ILs 50th wedding anniversary party had lots of food and about 25-30 people. I had plenty of people offering me food and drinks because that happens at parties. I only accepted a glass of diet soda pop out of guilt because the hosts has specifically bought it for me (no one else drinks pop unless it's Coke + booze). I didn't eat anything as I decided I didn't want to eat it.
You control what you eat.8 -
Therealobi1 wrote: »fitforeternity493 wrote: »I never once blamed Fast Food places for me becoming technically obese but I also don't let them off the hook either... If anything I blamed my Significant Other and people around me for taking me to eat at these places and watching me grow to a size that is unsafe and unattractive... I had to take a look in the mirror and realize that if I wanted to be healthy I had to do it on my own accord and when I was ready. Becoming ready to change though was a process that didn't happen overnight , it took months.
On the blame list is McDonalds, your SO and your friends.
At some point, do you think you were partly culpable?
Depends if force feeding is involved or not
It's understandable.
Circumstances, social life, environmental factors all play part in our choices.
It seems like most people here just do not have a life.
Of course life happens but at which point do we take control. I wasn't going to be the one they airlift from the window to get out my house9 -
Therealobi1 wrote: »Therealobi1 wrote: »fitforeternity493 wrote: »I never once blamed Fast Food places for me becoming technically obese but I also don't let them off the hook either... If anything I blamed my Significant Other and people around me for taking me to eat at these places and watching me grow to a size that is unsafe and unattractive... I had to take a look in the mirror and realize that if I wanted to be healthy I had to do it on my own accord and when I was ready. Becoming ready to change though was a process that didn't happen overnight , it took months.
On the blame list is McDonalds, your SO and your friends.
At some point, do you think you were partly culpable?
Depends if force feeding is involved or not
It's understandable.
Circumstances, social life, environmental factors all play part in our choices.
It seems like most people here just do not have a life.
Of course life happens but at which point do we take control. I wasn't going to be the one they airlift from the window to get out my house
Agreed wholeheartedly.0 -
Therealobi1 wrote: »fitforeternity493 wrote: »I never once blamed Fast Food places for me becoming technically obese but I also don't let them off the hook either... If anything I blamed my Significant Other and people around me for taking me to eat at these places and watching me grow to a size that is unsafe and unattractive... I had to take a look in the mirror and realize that if I wanted to be healthy I had to do it on my own accord and when I was ready. Becoming ready to change though was a process that didn't happen overnight , it took months.
On the blame list is McDonalds, your SO and your friends.
At some point, do you think you were partly culpable?
Depends if force feeding is involved or not
It's understandable.
Circumstances, social life, environmental factors all play part in our choices.
It seems like most people here just do not have a life.
You can have a life and make decisions on your own. Saying "no" is not that hard. Take responsibility.13 -
Therealobi1 wrote: »fitforeternity493 wrote: »I never once blamed Fast Food places for me becoming technically obese but I also don't let them off the hook either... If anything I blamed my Significant Other and people around me for taking me to eat at these places and watching me grow to a size that is unsafe and unattractive... I had to take a look in the mirror and realize that if I wanted to be healthy I had to do it on my own accord and when I was ready. Becoming ready to change though was a process that didn't happen overnight , it took months.
On the blame list is McDonalds, your SO and your friends.
At some point, do you think you were partly culpable?
Depends if force feeding is involved or not
It's understandable.
Circumstances, social life, environmental factors all play part in our choices.
It seems like most people here just do not have a life.
As an adult, the only factor is what and how much YOU choose to put in YOUR mouth. Unless the circumstances involve a health issue or a true lack of money they are just excuses.4 -
Therealobi1 wrote: »fitforeternity493 wrote: »I never once blamed Fast Food places for me becoming technically obese but I also don't let them off the hook either... If anything I blamed my Significant Other and people around me for taking me to eat at these places and watching me grow to a size that is unsafe and unattractive... I had to take a look in the mirror and realize that if I wanted to be healthy I had to do it on my own accord and when I was ready. Becoming ready to change though was a process that didn't happen overnight , it took months.
On the blame list is McDonalds, your SO and your friends.
At some point, do you think you were partly culpable?
Depends if force feeding is involved or not
It's understandable.
Circumstances, social life, environmental factors all play part in our choices.
It seems like most people here just do not have a life.
Can you clarify the last point? Are you suggesting the people saying that food choice comes down to personal responsibility don't have social pressures influencing their decision so it's easier for them?5 -
I would LOVE to see restaurants and fast food chains be required to have calories listed just like they are now requiring for food products. It would be so helpful to the average person who does not track calories to see, wow if I eat this meal I have already consumed 1,000 calories. Wishful thinking, I know.1
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I would LOVE to see restaurants and fast food chains be required to have calories listed just like they are now requiring for food products. It would be so helpful to the average person who does not track calories to see, wow if I eat this meal I have already consumed 1,000 calories. Wishful thinking, I know.
They have that here in NYC by law for a certain number of chains.1 -
Chef_Barbell wrote: »I would LOVE to see restaurants and fast food chains be required to have calories listed just like they are now requiring for food products. It would be so helpful to the average person who does not track calories to see, wow if I eat this meal I have already consumed 1,000 calories. Wishful thinking, I know.
They have that here in NYC by law for a certain number of chains.
Same in Canada.1 -
I would LOVE to see restaurants and fast food chains be required to have calories listed just like they are now requiring for food products. It would be so helpful to the average person who does not track calories to see, wow if I eat this meal I have already consumed 1,000 calories. Wishful thinking, I know.
They are (for chains above a certain number, which would include all fast food places). The law goes into effect in 2017, I think.
Around here (Chicago) it's a rare exception for a fast food or quick serve/chain place not to have calories available. Most of the ones that make it available online also have them posted (I noticed that Native Foods does not, and doesn't even make calories available online). It's been that way for a while. I think people who don't want to pay attention still don't, though, but I still like it. I take advantage when I get lunch from Pret or Protein Bar or Potbelly's (local chain) or the like.1 -
Carlos_421 wrote: »fitforeternity493 wrote: »No.. But you should watch a documentary called Forks Over Knives. It goes into great detail about obesity and fast food... It's all the chemicals they put into the food that makes me disgusted. At McDonalds in other countries such as in France they use chemicals but fewer than American McDonalds.. It's the chemicals in the food that make people addicted.. Personally I got sick the last time I ate at McDonalds.. Which is something that happens when you eat healthy and detox for a few months..
I'd say eat the homemade salad over the McChicken any day of the week. At least you know what's in your food.
At the end of the day it's all about choices.. If anyone is going to eat food at McDonalds, then order a small fry and burger but maybe drink water instead of soda..
I never once blamed Fast Food places for me becoming technically obese but I also don't let them off the hook either... If anything I blamed my Significant Other and people around me for taking me to eat at these places and watching me grow to a size that is unsafe and unattractive... I had to take a look in the mirror and realize that if I wanted to be healthy I had to do it on my own accord and when I was ready. Becoming ready to change though was a process that didn't happen overnight , it took months.
Forks over Knives is a bunch of propaganda doodoo.
Intelligent argument
Prove me wrong?
And yeah, simply calling it "doodoo" is indeed a more intelligent argument than claiming McD's uses addictive chemicals which can be overcome by detoxing.8 -
If you so desperatly need to eat Mc Do, go for a Happy meal and thake the milk and apple.
Not too bad for fastfood0 -
Carlos_421 wrote: »Carlos_421 wrote: »fitforeternity493 wrote: »No.. But you should watch a documentary called Forks Over Knives. It goes into great detail about obesity and fast food... It's all the chemicals they put into the food that makes me disgusted. At McDonalds in other countries such as in France they use chemicals but fewer than American McDonalds.. It's the chemicals in the food that make people addicted.. Personally I got sick the last time I ate at McDonalds.. Which is something that happens when you eat healthy and detox for a few months..
I'd say eat the homemade salad over the McChicken any day of the week. At least you know what's in your food.
At the end of the day it's all about choices.. If anyone is going to eat food at McDonalds, then order a small fry and burger but maybe drink water instead of soda..
I never once blamed Fast Food places for me becoming technically obese but I also don't let them off the hook either... If anything I blamed my Significant Other and people around me for taking me to eat at these places and watching me grow to a size that is unsafe and unattractive... I had to take a look in the mirror and realize that if I wanted to be healthy I had to do it on my own accord and when I was ready. Becoming ready to change though was a process that didn't happen overnight , it took months.
Forks over Knives is a bunch of propaganda doodoo.
Intelligent argument
Prove me wrong?
And yeah, simply calling it "doodoo" is indeed a more intelligent argument than claiming McD's uses addictive chemicals which can be overcome by detoxing.
Well you've got me on the detox bit, I don't believe in the detox, I'm old enough to know the truth
. I am curious as I liked Forks n Knives and before I have raised Forks Over Knives, Food Inc, Supersize me and Cowspiracy on these forums before and was advised that all those docs are biased? Would you agree mate?
Looking at them critically, it's fairly easy to see that they are indeed biased and based in faulty science/logic.7 -
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Carlos_421 wrote: »Carlos_421 wrote: »fitforeternity493 wrote: »No.. But you should watch a documentary called Forks Over Knives. It goes into great detail about obesity and fast food... It's all the chemicals they put into the food that makes me disgusted. At McDonalds in other countries such as in France they use chemicals but fewer than American McDonalds.. It's the chemicals in the food that make people addicted.. Personally I got sick the last time I ate at McDonalds.. Which is something that happens when you eat healthy and detox for a few months..
I'd say eat the homemade salad over the McChicken any day of the week. At least you know what's in your food.
At the end of the day it's all about choices.. If anyone is going to eat food at McDonalds, then order a small fry and burger but maybe drink water instead of soda..
I never once blamed Fast Food places for me becoming technically obese but I also don't let them off the hook either... If anything I blamed my Significant Other and people around me for taking me to eat at these places and watching me grow to a size that is unsafe and unattractive... I had to take a look in the mirror and realize that if I wanted to be healthy I had to do it on my own accord and when I was ready. Becoming ready to change though was a process that didn't happen overnight , it took months.
Forks over Knives is a bunch of propaganda doodoo.
Intelligent argument
Prove me wrong?
And yeah, simply calling it "doodoo" is indeed a more intelligent argument than claiming McD's uses addictive chemicals which can be overcome by detoxing.
Well you've got me on the detox bit, I don't believe in the detox, I'm old enough to know the truth . I am curious as I liked Forks n Knives and before I have raised Forks Over Knives, Food Inc, Supersize me and Cowspiracy on these forums before and was advised that all those docs are biased? Would you agree mate?
All documentaries of that sort are biased and the makers of those documentaries will freely admit that their purpose is to make a point and perhaps convince people to eat a certain way vs. others. That's what people mean when they say you should take into account bias and not just accept things that are one-sided as if there weren't other sides.
I've mentioned a podcast I sometimes enjoy, Bearded Vegans, and one reason I like them (and their occasional discussions of these kinds of docs) is that they admit that they are interested in figuring out the best ways to convince others. They don't pretend to be unbiased.
Even in reading a history book or of course watching/reading any media I'd hope that one would understand the particular bias or POV the author is taking and read it with that as a lens. From discussions on the internet, I am not so optimistic about this as I was once.
Anyway, I don't really recall McD's being a thing in FOK, but it's been a while since I watched it.1 -
lemurcat12 wrote: »Carlos_421 wrote: »Carlos_421 wrote: »fitforeternity493 wrote: »No.. But you should watch a documentary called Forks Over Knives. It goes into great detail about obesity and fast food... It's all the chemicals they put into the food that makes me disgusted. At McDonalds in other countries such as in France they use chemicals but fewer than American McDonalds.. It's the chemicals in the food that make people addicted.. Personally I got sick the last time I ate at McDonalds.. Which is something that happens when you eat healthy and detox for a few months..
I'd say eat the homemade salad over the McChicken any day of the week. At least you know what's in your food.
At the end of the day it's all about choices.. If anyone is going to eat food at McDonalds, then order a small fry and burger but maybe drink water instead of soda..
I never once blamed Fast Food places for me becoming technically obese but I also don't let them off the hook either... If anything I blamed my Significant Other and people around me for taking me to eat at these places and watching me grow to a size that is unsafe and unattractive... I had to take a look in the mirror and realize that if I wanted to be healthy I had to do it on my own accord and when I was ready. Becoming ready to change though was a process that didn't happen overnight , it took months.
Forks over Knives is a bunch of propaganda doodoo.
Intelligent argument
Prove me wrong?
And yeah, simply calling it "doodoo" is indeed a more intelligent argument than claiming McD's uses addictive chemicals which can be overcome by detoxing.
Well you've got me on the detox bit, I don't believe in the detox, I'm old enough to know the truth . I am curious as I liked Forks n Knives and before I have raised Forks Over Knives, Food Inc, Supersize me and Cowspiracy on these forums before and was advised that all those docs are biased? Would you agree mate?
All documentaries of that sort are biased and the makers of those documentaries will freely admit that their purpose is to make a point and perhaps convince people to eat a certain way vs. others. That's what people mean when they say you should take into account bias and not just accept things that are one-sided as if there weren't other sides.
I've mentioned a podcast I sometimes enjoy, Bearded Vegans, and one reason I like them (and their occasional discussions of these kinds of docs) is that they admit that they are interested in figuring out the best ways to convince others. They don't pretend to be unbiased.
Even in reading a history book or of course watching/reading any media I'd hope that one would understand the particular bias or POV the author is taking and read it with that as a lens. From discussions on the internet, I am not so optimistic about this as I was once.
Anyway, I don't really recall McD's being a thing in FOK, but it's been a while since I watched it.
The problem for us as well as you have mentioned is the communication. It is interesting to talk to Americans about these issues. For us in the UK we are advised by the media that the US has an obesity issue and we will end up the same if we don't watch what we eat. They have targeted saturated fats, salt, saturates and have food labels everywhere advising about these "dangers". We then also switch on Netflix and see US having pizza hut in schools, fast food advertising everywhere and we start to build this picture that fast food is "bad" for us. I get it must be frustrating for Americans when I make these points but I am just explaining where my views have come.
Of course when I say US has an obesity issue it gets challenged, if I say 'fast food' it gets queried what I'm referring to. I had a KFC at the weekend and I don't see anything wrong with these kind of foods every once in a while. It is just different cultures I guess, there is a big push here in the UK to get healthy and read food labels and know what you are eating. When I have raised salt to people on here they have rubbished it saying 'if you don't have high blood pressure, what's the problem'....
I like to look at a range of sources and even being on here and hearing what peoples thoughts are is interesting. McDonalds was more in Supersize me and Food Inc. Forks over Knives was more looking at plant based diets drastically reducing your blood cholesterol level. As I will be veggie all next month I will be able to see if that is true
Interesting to hear that UK media is using US and our eating habits and obesity as a scare tactic for British citizens. Do you have any links to these actual campaigns, where they have said if you don't change your ways you'll end up like us poor unfortunate slobs? I'd love to see, from a marketing perspective, how they manage to pull that off.
As others have said, any of those documentaries you've mentioned are biased. Forks Over Knives, Supersize Me, Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead, That Sugar Film, etc. That is why when you mention these as sources, or propaganda based ad campaigns - people challenge you for actual scientific studies from peer reviewed sources. The documentaries are all pushing an agenda, and you're right, they are believable for sure. They put just enough actual science in them (some accurate, some exaggerated or misrepresented) and then appeal to all kinds of emotional logical fallacies to make the average citizen believe the way they are representing the information. It's not that there is nothing factual in them, it is that it is so slanted to represent their bias, it is hard to sort through the actual science from the appeal to emotion.
You also repeatedly refer to warnings and labels in the UK - all the information you've described about calories, fat, sodium, etc are also on US food labels as well. Again, I would be interested in seeing a picture or an example of a food label that you feel is so prominently featuring this information. There are guidelines put forth by different agencies as well, warning about over consumption. This is not something that is exclusive to the UK, but for some reason you seem to think that we are all a bunch of cavalier junk food eaters who have no regard for our overall health and nutrition. Is that because of the ad campaigns you mentioned above?7 -
Therealobi1 wrote: »fitforeternity493 wrote: »I never once blamed Fast Food places for me becoming technically obese but I also don't let them off the hook either... If anything I blamed my Significant Other and people around me for taking me to eat at these places and watching me grow to a size that is unsafe and unattractive... I had to take a look in the mirror and realize that if I wanted to be healthy I had to do it on my own accord and when I was ready. Becoming ready to change though was a process that didn't happen overnight , it took months.
On the blame list is McDonalds, your SO and your friends.
At some point, do you think you were partly culpable?
Depends if force feeding is involved or not
It's understandable.
Circumstances, social life, environmental factors all play part in our choices.
It seems like most people here just do not have a life.
I'm not even sure what that means or what that has to do with anything...I have a life...a pretty awesome life...and somehow I manage to stay lean, healthy, and fit.12 -
WinoGelato wrote: »lemurcat12 wrote: »Carlos_421 wrote: »Carlos_421 wrote: »fitforeternity493 wrote: »No.. But you should watch a documentary called Forks Over Knives. It goes into great detail about obesity and fast food... It's all the chemicals they put into the food that makes me disgusted. At McDonalds in other countries such as in France they use chemicals but fewer than American McDonalds.. It's the chemicals in the food that make people addicted.. Personally I got sick the last time I ate at McDonalds.. Which is something that happens when you eat healthy and detox for a few months..
I'd say eat the homemade salad over the McChicken any day of the week. At least you know what's in your food.
At the end of the day it's all about choices.. If anyone is going to eat food at McDonalds, then order a small fry and burger but maybe drink water instead of soda..
I never once blamed Fast Food places for me becoming technically obese but I also don't let them off the hook either... If anything I blamed my Significant Other and people around me for taking me to eat at these places and watching me grow to a size that is unsafe and unattractive... I had to take a look in the mirror and realize that if I wanted to be healthy I had to do it on my own accord and when I was ready. Becoming ready to change though was a process that didn't happen overnight , it took months.
Forks over Knives is a bunch of propaganda doodoo.
Intelligent argument
Prove me wrong?
And yeah, simply calling it "doodoo" is indeed a more intelligent argument than claiming McD's uses addictive chemicals which can be overcome by detoxing.
Well you've got me on the detox bit, I don't believe in the detox, I'm old enough to know the truth . I am curious as I liked Forks n Knives and before I have raised Forks Over Knives, Food Inc, Supersize me and Cowspiracy on these forums before and was advised that all those docs are biased? Would you agree mate?
All documentaries of that sort are biased and the makers of those documentaries will freely admit that their purpose is to make a point and perhaps convince people to eat a certain way vs. others. That's what people mean when they say you should take into account bias and not just accept things that are one-sided as if there weren't other sides.
I've mentioned a podcast I sometimes enjoy, Bearded Vegans, and one reason I like them (and their occasional discussions of these kinds of docs) is that they admit that they are interested in figuring out the best ways to convince others. They don't pretend to be unbiased.
Even in reading a history book or of course watching/reading any media I'd hope that one would understand the particular bias or POV the author is taking and read it with that as a lens. From discussions on the internet, I am not so optimistic about this as I was once.
Anyway, I don't really recall McD's being a thing in FOK, but it's been a while since I watched it.
The problem for us as well as you have mentioned is the communication. It is interesting to talk to Americans about these issues. For us in the UK we are advised by the media that the US has an obesity issue and we will end up the same if we don't watch what we eat. They have targeted saturated fats, salt, saturates and have food labels everywhere advising about these "dangers". We then also switch on Netflix and see US having pizza hut in schools, fast food advertising everywhere and we start to build this picture that fast food is "bad" for us. I get it must be frustrating for Americans when I make these points but I am just explaining where my views have come.
Of course when I say US has an obesity issue it gets challenged, if I say 'fast food' it gets queried what I'm referring to. I had a KFC at the weekend and I don't see anything wrong with these kind of foods every once in a while. It is just different cultures I guess, there is a big push here in the UK to get healthy and read food labels and know what you are eating. When I have raised salt to people on here they have rubbished it saying 'if you don't have high blood pressure, what's the problem'....
I like to look at a range of sources and even being on here and hearing what peoples thoughts are is interesting. McDonalds was more in Supersize me and Food Inc. Forks over Knives was more looking at plant based diets drastically reducing your blood cholesterol level. As I will be veggie all next month I will be able to see if that is true
Interesting to hear that UK media is using US and our eating habits and obesity as a scare tactic for British citizens. Do you have any links to these actual campaigns, where they have said if you don't change your ways you'll end up like us poor unfortunate slobs? I'd love to see, from a marketing perspective, how they manage to pull that off.
As others have said, any of those documentaries you've mentioned are biased. Forks Over Knives, Supersize Me, Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead, That Sugar Film, etc. That is why when you mention these as sources, or propaganda based ad campaigns - people challenge you for actual scientific studies from peer reviewed sources. The documentaries are all pushing an agenda, and you're right, they are believable for sure. They put just enough actual science in them (some accurate, some exaggerated or misrepresented) and then appeal to all kinds of emotional logical fallacies to make the average citizen believe the way they are representing the information. It's not that there is nothing factual in them, it is that it is so slanted to represent their bias, it is hard to sort through the actual science from the appeal to emotion.
You also repeatedly refer to warnings and labels in the UK - all the information you've described about calories, fat, sodium, etc are also on US food labels as well. Again, I would be interested in seeing a picture or an example of a food label that you feel is so prominently featuring this information. There are guidelines put forth by different agencies as well, warning about over consumption. This is not something that is exclusive to the UK, but for some reason you seem to think that we are all a bunch of cavalier junk food eaters who have no regard for our overall health and nutrition. Is that because of the ad campaigns you mentioned above?
Thanks a lot. I'm now picturing a lot of the UK health campaigns using this:
4 -
WinoGelato wrote: »lemurcat12 wrote: »Carlos_421 wrote: »Carlos_421 wrote: »fitforeternity493 wrote: »No.. But you should watch a documentary called Forks Over Knives. It goes into great detail about obesity and fast food... It's all the chemicals they put into the food that makes me disgusted. At McDonalds in other countries such as in France they use chemicals but fewer than American McDonalds.. It's the chemicals in the food that make people addicted.. Personally I got sick the last time I ate at McDonalds.. Which is something that happens when you eat healthy and detox for a few months..
I'd say eat the homemade salad over the McChicken any day of the week. At least you know what's in your food.
At the end of the day it's all about choices.. If anyone is going to eat food at McDonalds, then order a small fry and burger but maybe drink water instead of soda..
I never once blamed Fast Food places for me becoming technically obese but I also don't let them off the hook either... If anything I blamed my Significant Other and people around me for taking me to eat at these places and watching me grow to a size that is unsafe and unattractive... I had to take a look in the mirror and realize that if I wanted to be healthy I had to do it on my own accord and when I was ready. Becoming ready to change though was a process that didn't happen overnight , it took months.
Forks over Knives is a bunch of propaganda doodoo.
Intelligent argument
Prove me wrong?
And yeah, simply calling it "doodoo" is indeed a more intelligent argument than claiming McD's uses addictive chemicals which can be overcome by detoxing.
Well you've got me on the detox bit, I don't believe in the detox, I'm old enough to know the truth . I am curious as I liked Forks n Knives and before I have raised Forks Over Knives, Food Inc, Supersize me and Cowspiracy on these forums before and was advised that all those docs are biased? Would you agree mate?
All documentaries of that sort are biased and the makers of those documentaries will freely admit that their purpose is to make a point and perhaps convince people to eat a certain way vs. others. That's what people mean when they say you should take into account bias and not just accept things that are one-sided as if there weren't other sides.
I've mentioned a podcast I sometimes enjoy, Bearded Vegans, and one reason I like them (and their occasional discussions of these kinds of docs) is that they admit that they are interested in figuring out the best ways to convince others. They don't pretend to be unbiased.
Even in reading a history book or of course watching/reading any media I'd hope that one would understand the particular bias or POV the author is taking and read it with that as a lens. From discussions on the internet, I am not so optimistic about this as I was once.
Anyway, I don't really recall McD's being a thing in FOK, but it's been a while since I watched it.
The problem for us as well as you have mentioned is the communication. It is interesting to talk to Americans about these issues. For us in the UK we are advised by the media that the US has an obesity issue and we will end up the same if we don't watch what we eat. They have targeted saturated fats, salt, saturates and have food labels everywhere advising about these "dangers". We then also switch on Netflix and see US having pizza hut in schools, fast food advertising everywhere and we start to build this picture that fast food is "bad" for us. I get it must be frustrating for Americans when I make these points but I am just explaining where my views have come.
Of course when I say US has an obesity issue it gets challenged, if I say 'fast food' it gets queried what I'm referring to. I had a KFC at the weekend and I don't see anything wrong with these kind of foods every once in a while. It is just different cultures I guess, there is a big push here in the UK to get healthy and read food labels and know what you are eating. When I have raised salt to people on here they have rubbished it saying 'if you don't have high blood pressure, what's the problem'....
I like to look at a range of sources and even being on here and hearing what peoples thoughts are is interesting. McDonalds was more in Supersize me and Food Inc. Forks over Knives was more looking at plant based diets drastically reducing your blood cholesterol level. As I will be veggie all next month I will be able to see if that is true
Interesting to hear that UK media is using US and our eating habits and obesity as a scare tactic for British citizens. Do you have any links to these actual campaigns, where they have said if you don't change your ways you'll end up like us poor unfortunate slobs? I'd love to see, from a marketing perspective, how they manage to pull that off.
As others have said, any of those documentaries you've mentioned are biased. Forks Over Knives, Supersize Me, Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead, That Sugar Film, etc. That is why when you mention these as sources, or propaganda based ad campaigns - people challenge you for actual scientific studies from peer reviewed sources. The documentaries are all pushing an agenda, and you're right, they are believable for sure. They put just enough actual science in them (some accurate, some exaggerated or misrepresented) and then appeal to all kinds of emotional logical fallacies to make the average citizen believe the way they are representing the information. It's not that there is nothing factual in them, it is that it is so slanted to represent their bias, it is hard to sort through the actual science from the appeal to emotion.
You also repeatedly refer to warnings and labels in the UK - all the information you've described about calories, fat, sodium, etc are also on US food labels as well. Again, I would be interested in seeing a picture or an example of a food label that you feel is so prominently featuring this information. There are guidelines put forth by different agencies as well, warning about over consumption. This is not something that is exclusive to the UK, but for some reason you seem to think that we are all a bunch of cavalier junk food eaters who have no regard for our overall health and nutrition. Is that because of the ad campaigns you mentioned above?
You honestly think I will reply to you? You didn't even provide me with that courtesy
That's unfortunate. I was interested in your response to my question and would like to learn more about the UK campaigns you've described.
If you are upset I didn't respond to a PM you sent me, sorry. I often don't read them, and I don't usually respond. Most of the time when they come from someone that has been engaging in back and forth discussion/debate/argument in the forums they are either insulting, inappropriate, or insincere. I'm not saying yours was, I just simply didn't see anything in it when I did read it that needed further response.
2 -
is this post still about fast food and obesity. getting very personal at the mo1
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Therealobi1 wrote: »is this post still about fast food and obesity. getting very personal at the mo
Welcome to MFP.3 -
The series Superfat to Superskinny was one. At least I think thats what it was called.
They took obese UK people over to the US and had them see Americans homhad been obese for years, were undergoing surgery and all the problems like, wheelchairs, special medical teams and beds for the obese etc.
It did seem to help th UK people get the motivation to lose weight before it got any worse.0 -
The series Superfat to Superskinny was one. At least I think thats what it was called.
They took obese UK people over to the US and had them see Americans homhad been obese for years, were undergoing surgery and all the problems like, wheelchairs, special medical teams and beds for the obese etc.
It did seem to help th UK people get the motivation to lose weight before it got any worse.
The UK doesn't have any morbidly obese people of their own they could've used?7 -
snickerscharlie wrote: »The series Superfat to Superskinny was one. At least I think thats what it was called.
They took obese UK people over to the US and had them see Americans homhad been obese for years, were undergoing surgery and all the problems like, wheelchairs, special medical teams and beds for the obese etc.
It did seem to help th UK people get the motivation to lose weight before it got any worse.
The UK doesn't have any morbidly obese people of their own they could've used?
Apparently no one in the UK ever gets fat according to MFP forums.9 -
Chef_Barbell wrote: »snickerscharlie wrote: »The series Superfat to Superskinny was one. At least I think thats what it was called.
They took obese UK people over to the US and had them see Americans homhad been obese for years, were undergoing surgery and all the problems like, wheelchairs, special medical teams and beds for the obese etc.
It did seem to help th UK people get the motivation to lose weight before it got any worse.
The UK doesn't have any morbidly obese people of their own they could've used?
Apparently no one in the UK ever gets fat according to MFP forums.
Must've been a big budget mockumentary, then, what with going to the expense of flying those Brits to 'Merica and all. 4 -
snickerscharlie wrote: »The series Superfat to Superskinny was one. At least I think thats what it was called.
They took obese UK people over to the US and had them see Americans homhad been obese for years, were undergoing surgery and all the problems like, wheelchairs, special medical teams and beds for the obese etc.
It did seem to help th UK people get the motivation to lose weight before it got any worse.
The UK doesn't have any morbidly obese people of their own they could've used?
I'm sorry I don't know, I'm not in the UK. I don't know why they ran their show that way.
I'm an American myself and it made me feel a little bit ashamed to see that.
I just happen to have lived in 5 other countries over half of my life.
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