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The movie is called “Super Size Me: A Film of Epic
Portions.” In it, director Morgan Spurlock documents the decline of
his health as he dined solely on McDonald’s food for a month,
ordering the “super size” portions whenever they were offered.
If truth in advertising laws applied to movies it might
be titled “Being an Idiot is Bad for You.” By any name, this
stinker won the award for best documentary director at the 2004
Sundance Film Festival and has since been picked up for national
theatrical distribution. Spurlock’s excursion in poor judgment
should be hitting American theaters in May.
Not surprisingly, the director gained 25 pounds and 60
cholesterol points during his little experiment. He also reported “McStomachaches,”
“McHeadaches,” poor skin, bad hair, and overall sluggishness.
Sounds like nothing a few weeks of Purina Fit & Trim
wouldn’t clear up, which makes as much sense as Spurlock’s approach
to fast food. McDonald’s Corporation agrees, naturally, claiming
the film is “not about McDonald’s but about Spurlock’s decision to
act irresponsibly by eating 5,000 calories a day” according to
Associated Press.
Still, after the film found a distributor, McDonald’s
announced it would eliminate super sized fries and drinks by the end
of the year. Spurlock claims this as a personal victory on the
movie’s website while the fast food giant maintains their decision
had nothing to do with turning down the heat before the film arrives
in theaters. They say they simply want to offer “a range of choices
that support a balanced lifestyle,” which can apparently be
accomplished by reducing the number of choices.
I’d say they are both right: Spurlock is a diet dunce
and McDonald’s is a corporate coward.
When I first caught wind of “Super Size Me,” my first
impulse was to conduct an experiment of my own. Like Spurlock, I
would weigh myself in and have my cholesterol checked, then proceed
under a doctor’s supervision. I too would eat only McDonald’s fare
for a month but would exercise my judgment and body and not eat
everything they tried to sell me.
My bet is that I could both lose weight and lower my
cholesterol. I probably wouldn’t make a documentary since I can
barely take a snapshot without blurring it, but I figure I could
squeeze out at least two or three columns. Unlike most Americans,
however, I live and work more than 10 miles from the nearest
McDonald’s. That and the thought of explaining the stunt to my
doctor – not to mention my wife – was enough to make me reconsider.
Besides, “No Thanks, Make that a Salad” isn’t nearly as snappy a
title.
I’m no dietician, but the point is that Americans
already know how to eat. If we don’t we’ve wasted a boatload of
cash on school nutrition classes, food pyramids, and five-a-day
programs to promote consumption of five portions of fruit or
vegetables daily. The latter is now being morphed to nine a day,
pushed by high profile advertisements with retired basketball star
Clyde Drexler. That is about as many servings as I eat of
everything; I’d have to start chowing down more in total to hit my
quota.
Spurlock does make a nod to personal responsibility but
his comments and website clearly target McDonald’s. That’s his
right, though it is my hope someone will make a documentary about
why so many blame companies for all the world’s evils.
Like McDonald’s, Wal-Mart, and Microsoft, these tend to
be innovative, hugely successful businesses that deliver affordable
products and services people truly want. And that’s why people
super size: they want to. “Super Size Me” may be more entertaining
than a food pyramid, but as an educational tool its premise offers
only empty calories.
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