I hear it all the time..but then I see this show and hmm

teasdino

So, you hear about fast food being addictive all the time. You think 'hey...its just me and my will power'. You hear about people
suiing chains and think 'thats bulloney

Oompa_Loompa

Yes suing fast food places is so stupid. Hello people! No one is FORCING you to eat it

luv2ash

I agree--suing is not the right thing to do--however, having restaurants offer such unhealthy portions and unhealthy food is not right either---its all a marketing ploy because they know we will give them our money for such stuff. The only way around this is to just ban going there! I have not stepped foot into a fast food joint in 5 months--and loving every bit of it.

lynzyn

it is easier to sue than to blame yourself...

YogaRunner

This is an interesting topic. The new TV show Harry's Law had an episode that focused on this. An obese African American woman sued the fast food chain in her neighborhood for making her fat. The defendant asserted that in her neighborhood on every corner is a fast food restaurant and these restaurants are known to sell high fat, highly addictive food that is extremely low in nutrition. They use toys and advertisements to lure in children and in addition there were no grocery stores with fresh produce within reasonable proximity. They asserted that while no one was force feeding her, the restaurants surely should bear some amount of responsibility for contributing to the obesity epidemic in this country, much like the tobacco companies because they are selling products that are harmful to peoples health.

The Plaintiff obviously took the position that they do not force people to eat their food. They also used the fact that they contribute significantly to charities in the community and beyond. The lawyers for the defendant simply called that blood money.

It was an interesting portrayal of the debate.

teasdino

ok, the pc had a squib and put my post up before I had a chance to type it in...so here is the rest of that post...lol
I was watching a show on tv. They were lawyers and a lady came in who was what I guess would called morbidly obese.
She wanted to sue the fast food chains around her. The first lawyer she went to said no. While she was in the office another lawyer saw what was going on and he said yes.
So blah blah blah and it goes to a judge for a dismissal. He stands up and says his piece. I have to say...my eyebrows go to the top of my head. I did not know that when you hear the words 'it is addictive'...it actually does mean addictive. He had government studies that showed the fast food chains use a nice little combo pack of fat,sugar,and sodium that touches of chemicals in your body to make you addicted. It is comparable to a smoking addiction. The more you get the more you want. That your body makes special fat cells for these foods. And we know all that unless you get lipo they dont ever go away. They shrink..but will always be with you.
He also pointed out that fast food places were built in mid to lower income areas. That african and latino people in lower income areas had a higher risk of all kinds of health related issues than more affluent people.
He ended by saying that while his client was partly responsible for her decisions...shouldn't these chains that reap millions of dallors off of selling these things be held to some measure of responsibilty? That is what his client wanted.
What got me was the 'fact' that it is addictive. Yes...I know that I have heard that several times. But I thought it was more of a behavior thing. The chemical thing honestly slapped me in the face with reality. That the chemicals in your body craved more and more of these toxins. WOW!!! Think about it.
These are facts that have been out there for awhile. But till I actually saw and heard someone talk about them I did not pay them any mind.
I have to say, now that I have that put in face one more time it has made me be more motivated. Now I know why the fam is dying to go get that chicken sandwhich and fries. Ouch...dying is the operative word.
What do you think?
by the way....he won on his part and the fast food chains settled. I know this is only a show...but that doesnt stop the facts from being the facts.
jac

MomsDaily140

So, you hear about fast food being addictive all the time. You think 'hey...its just me and my will power'. You hear about people
suiing chains and think 'thats bulloney

It is bulloney, .... anything, I mean anything you put in your body/consume on a regular basis, be it caffeine, sugar, fast food, etc...... it can be addictive.

Anything can be addictive and we have to stop blaming everyone but ourselves. There's no accountability anymore. it's our life/lifestyle. We make those choices on a daily basis. People need to take responsibly for their own actions and choices. I hate that we live in the age of blamers :mad:

We all have the gift of FREE WILL

bgeer34

I think we are each responsible for what we choose to put into our body. I know I am... and I have taken full responsibility for my weight issue... but blaming someone else just gives people an excuse to stay overweight because it's not their fault. As far as serving sizes go... sadly it's a sign of how our country is greedy... we all want more of anything (in this case food) for less money... so they supersize everything it seems so that we feel like we got our money's worth. I haven't been in a fast food place for almost six weeks now... and I don't even miss it... I did at first though.. I missed my morning breakfast from Sonic pretty bad for a while. I am over that now

I am so thankful I finally have the willpower to just say NO...
NO, I will not stop for fast food
NO, I will not overeat
NO, I will not be fat forever

No is a wonderful word... we should all use it more often

However, when I'm skinny I might swing by McDonald's just long enough to make Ronald McDonald drool a little bit... lol

Oompa_Loompa

ok, the pc had a squib and put my post up before I had a chance to type it in...so here is the rest of that post...lol
I was watching a show on tv. They were lawyers and a lady came in who was what I guess would called morbidly obese.
She wanted to sue the fast food chains around her. The first lawyer she went to said no. While she was in the office another lawyer saw what was going on and he said yes.
So blah blah blah and it goes to a judge for a dismissal. He stands up and says his piece. I have to say...my eyebrows go to the top of my head. I did not know that when you hear the words 'it is addictive'...it actually does mean addictive. He had government studies that showed the fast food chains use a nice little combo pack of fat,sugar,and sodium that touches of chemicals in your body to make you addicted. It is comparable to a smoking addiction. The more you get the more you want. That your body makes special fat cells for these foods. And we know all that unless you get lipo they dont ever go away. They shrink..but will always be with you.
He also pointed out that fast food places were built in mid to lower income areas. That african and latino people in lower income areas had a higher risk of all kinds of health related issues than more affluent people.
He ended by saying that while his client was partly responsible for her decisions...shouldn't these chains that reap millions of dallors off of selling these things be held to some measure of responsibilty? That is what his client wanted.
What got me was the 'fact' that it is addictive. Yes...I know that I have heard that several times. But I thought it was more of a behavior thing. The chemical thing honestly slapped me in the face with reality. That the chemicals in your body craved more and more of these toxins. WOW!!! Think about it.
These are facts that have been out there for awhile. But till I actually saw and heard someone talk about them I did not pay them any mind.
I have to say, now that I have that put in face one more time it has made me be more motivated. Now I know why the fam is dying to go get that chicken sandwhich and fries. Ouch...dying is the operative word.
What do you think?
by the way....he won on his part and the fast food chains settled. I know this is only a show...but that doesnt stop the facts from being the facts.
jac

Wow I didnt know that it is actually addictive!

YogaRunner

ok, the pc had a squib and put my post up before I had a chance to type it in...so here is the rest of that post...lol
I was watching a show on tv. They were lawyers and a lady came in who was what I guess would called morbidly obese.
She wanted to sue the fast food chains around her. The first lawyer she went to said no. While she was in the office another lawyer saw what was going on and he said yes.
So blah blah blah and it goes to a judge for a dismissal. He stands up and says his piece. I have to say...my eyebrows go to the top of my head. I did not know that when you hear the words 'it is addictive'...it actually does mean addictive. He had government studies that showed the fast food chains use a nice little combo pack of fat,sugar,and sodium that touches of chemicals in your body to make you addicted. It is comparable to a smoking addiction. The more you get the more you want. That your body makes special fat cells for these foods. And we know all that unless you get lipo they dont ever go away. They shrink..but will always be with you.
He also pointed out that fast food places were built in mid to lower income areas. That african and latino people in lower income areas had a higher risk of all kinds of health related issues than more affluent people.
He ended by saying that while his client was partly responsible for her decisions...shouldn't these chains that reap millions of dallors off of selling these things be held to some measure of responsibilty? That is what his client wanted.
What got me was the 'fact' that it is addictive. Yes...I know that I have heard that several times. But I thought it was more of a behavior thing. The chemical thing honestly slapped me in the face with reality. That the chemicals in your body craved more and more of these toxins. WOW!!! Think about it.
These are facts that have been out there for awhile. But till I actually saw and heard someone talk about them I did not pay them any mind.
I have to say, now that I have that put in face one more time it has made me be more motivated. Now I know why the fam is dying to go get that chicken sandwhich and fries. Ouch...dying is the operative word.
What do you think?
by the way....he won on his part and the fast food chains settled. I know this is only a show...but that doesnt stop the facts from being the facts.
jac

This is the same show I was talking about :drinker: It really was interesting and while I wholeheartedly agree that personal responsibility is paramount and too often avoided, there is something to be said for civic responsibility as well. These companies are selling products that are extremely unhealthy and they are making millions of dollars doing so. Simply making charitable donations does not absolve them of problems they are creating and perpetuating. And they very clearly target African American, Latino and low income communities. The same communities where large grocery store chains do not build stores because it is not profitable enough for them. So, these communities have less access to fresh, healthy food. I live between Baltimore and Washington DC...two communities that have this very problem. It is not myth or just tv hype. It is very real and I have seen it first hand while working with adolescent boys in Baltimore City for many years. Fast food is their primary source of nutrition. It is cheap, it fills you up, it is easily accessible and fresh produce is non existent at the locally owned corner stores where they buy their groceries.

teasdino

Exactly!
We hold tobacco manufactors accountable for selling addictive products. So why are we not holding fast food chains accountable for their part?
Think of all the commercials that children see. Wether it be on the tv or on billboards, over the radio..what have you. The tunes are fun and the food is made out to be happy and fun as well.
I have to be compassionate for the people that are exhausted and have children. Here they are working all kinds of hours, maybe married and maybe not. They are exhausted and just want to give the fam something that is quick and easy. All the while they have to make sure the budget doesnt go to crap. So....swinging by your favorite fast place and picking up some nuggets and fries for cheap is very reasonable.
So having really thought this one out...I DO think these fast food places have a certain amount of responsibility.
jac