super size me

[nemi]

why is this film considered such a revelation ? Were people really under the impression that McDonalds was in any way healthy. I love Mikey D's but have never been under any illusions as to it nutricious value, thats why we call it junk food. If i was to eat nothing but sweets and chocolate for a month i would become fat and ill, it can be applied to so many food groups.... so why pick on McDonalds ??

[CarolG]

I couldn�t agree more. Its infuriating the way people go on about this film like there is a scientific breakthrough�so, McDonalds is fattening and eaten 3 times a day will be unhealthy � no s*** sherlock. Another thing, when he orders, if they ask if he wants a supersize he has to say yes � having been in the USA last winter I can say that their sizes are huge, I could fit my head in a Supersize coke container, our medium size in the UK is a small over there.

[Casey]

It was purely because McDonalds were claiming that their food was healthy! It turned out that even the salads were packed with calories etc. This is why the experiment took place, as McDonalds were forced to change their menu slighly after this film and Supersize meals got banned.

[Miss Zippy]

Hardly rocket science is it?  I�m sure  any food/food group eaten in isolation over a long period isn�t going to be particularly good for you.  If I ate nothing but, say, watermelon for a month I bet I�d be pretty anaemic, malnourished and run down at the end of it. I haven�t even seen the film but, like you, couldn�t believe the way it was being portrayed as this revelation. I expect the film just panders to the �let�s blame someone else because I�m obese/unhealthy/have no will power or common sense� brigade.

[becks]

Yeah but Casey, the claim that mcdonals food is "healthy" was made by their MD or something, and he never actually said that, he basically said that as part of a balanced diet, having a mcdonalds wasn't bad for you.

Generally i think that that is how people eat at maccy d's, and this stupid dvd is pathetic - who on earth said living on mcdonals was fine, or that you could? No one! This guy has hardly made earth-shattering revelations, and i think it's sad really, i for one, won't be watching it.

This also applies to anyone who tries to sue mcdonalds for making them fat - well DUH! Common sense would tell you that! Honestly, some people, it makes you wonder what the world is coming to...

[nemi]

i've just found that since the film people keep preaching to me about the evil that is McDonalds. If ever at work i say i'm having a big mac for lunch i get the sort of reaction like i've just declared i'm a big supporter of terrorism. McDonalds is unfashionable, thats a lot to do with it.  anyone who previously thought that eating burgers and chips every day wouldn't make them overweight is a doughnut - excuse the pun !

[Casey]

It is not so much the British becks that I was referring to. The Americans seem to think that it is fine to eat mcDonalds more than once a day! They are interviewed in the street throughout the documentry, there are perople saying they have it once a day or twice a day etc. And a ot of American parents think that it is fine to give their kids McD's everyday for their tea, the guy in this dvd was purely pointing out the obvious.

[stoo_pid]

Those who've seen the film already know that he doesn't claim any revelations at all.  And he does highlight the responsibility of the individual for their own eating habits; including his own - he fully acknowledges from the very start the potential danger of eating just McD's.

However, he does highlight the eating & health problems facing the USA in an interesting & very often amusing way.  Much of it is stating the bleeding obvious but not all of it - for example, bet you didn't know that the (implied healthy option) McSalad (or whatever its called) has more calories than the Quorn Burger..?

In short, a fairly light-hearted documentary that didn't tell me much I didn't already know but one that kept me entertained whilst getting McDonalds to accept just a little more responsibility.

If you are interested in the somewhat less frivolous side of McDonalds activities have a look here...
http://www.mcspotlight.org/case/

[Mattk]

the inspiration came from a u.s. courtcase where a big fat biffer sued macdonalds cos she got fat !

so the brainiac who made 'supersize me' came up with this idea.im afraid you'd have to be a total moron to eat it daily and expect to remain healthy !

[crazyclanger]

What people still have to think about that I am surprised no one has mentioned is that this guy made a film to publicise himself probably as much as anything. Also, a main factor in using mcdonalds in particular is that everyone knows mcdonalds, therefore more publicity. If the film was about some random restaurant that barely anyone has heard of, I doubt that many people would have went to see it even if it did have the same points, as even though they know all the things about mcdonalds being bad, people still like to have something to be angry or shocked about. That's life.

[Casey]

Thank you In A Pickle!

[ludwig]

There might be some point to it if Mcdonalds had ever claimed that it was ok to eat nothing but Mcdonalds, but I don't think they ever have made that claim. As it is, it's as pointless as spending a month drinking nothing but what's on the bar menu at your local pub and then saying 'hey, i've got liver damage, pubs are really unhealthy'.

[milly1984]

McDonalds was chosen as it is the most popular place for people eating junk food. The guy knew it wasn't going to be good which is why he hired a load of doctors and health nutritionists etc. McDonalds may not have said their food was healthy, but they also denied that it is as bad as was it actually is! The guys blood pressure shot through the roof a long with his cholestrol, he suffered depression, lack of sex drive and so on.. And sure enough if people were aware of all the facts that were proven in the film, they would definitely cut down on eating any sorts of fast food! By the way, as I already said, McDonalds was used as it the most popular, but he did also point out that Taco Bell, Wendys and Burger King were all just as bad!! You all need to watch the film before you start judging.

[Casey]

Spot on milly1984!!!!

[Casey]

Since my mates all watched this film, they have not eaten any junk food since! They only ate it once every 2 weeks or something, but it's definitely put them off for life! So the film had a positive impact on some people.

[ems27]

good for you and your mates.....i'm off to get a mc d's (large meal)

[Casey]

good for you ems, large is the best you can do coz supersize got banned!! haha!