do you think super size me has made people more aware of the fast food problem?

Answer 1

It has not hurt! My son no longer takes my grandchildren to fast food chains. The movie made him sick to his stomach. I purchased the movie and shared it with different fast food addicts in my family. Some of them still eat fast food however, they have drastically cut back.

Answer 2

Unfortunately, I don't think it has, and I base my conclusion on the people I have spoken with about it and what I have seen in the media.

One thing I hear a lot is that he has a problem with McDonalds itself. People perceive him as being on a crusade against an American institution, and they don't like the idea of either a crusader, or someone taking on something that is seen as so all-American. They miss the point that perhaps he chose McDonalds precisely because it is such a part of our culture, but that his effort is to show the effects of all fast food, and the ups-sizing that has increased portion size. Yes, he chose McDonalds, but his documentary could just as easily been about Wendy's, or Burger King, or any other similar place. He could have eaten nothing but fast food, and rotated among the ten most popular fast food restaurant chains in the US, and I imagine the results would have been pretty much the same.

Another thing I hear is that he clearly has an agenda, as his companion (I don't remember if she's his wife or his girlfriend) is a vegetarian chef. People seem to think it's some sort of effort to convince people that eating meat is harmful. They either avoid watching it because they have been told that, or if they do watch it, they look at it as propaganda by vegetarians, so they look but they don't really see, if you understand my meaning.

The third thing I hear is that it is a documentary. You'd think the fact that it is a documentary would make people more open to watching it with an open mind, but in this case it seems to have the opposite effect. So many documentaries are made with a definite political slant, that people are busy looking at it as a piece of political propaganda. I have actually asked people, and they have told me that if it were on the series Nova, which is a PBS science series, they would take it a much more scientific. When I point out that impartial scientific bodies have been pointing out the dangers of our fast food culture for years, they tell me "Super Size Me" is different. They get frustrated with me, and I get frustrated with them, and the conversation deteriorates from there. Maybe if it were a fluff movie about a superhero who loses his superpowers because he eats too much junk food, it would reach a wider audience.

I don't think the mainstream media was a really great help, either. I have seen a lot of articles painting it as a crusade against a huge corporation, which is probably part of the reason why people have misconceptions about it. I remember seeing an article somewhere that stated "Filmmaker takes on the Golden Arches: Who Will Be Left Standing?" The fact that Spurlock was trying to make a larger statement about fast food in general, using McDonalds in particular, is lost in the hoopla.

As for myself, it did make me think. Long before the film was made, I had taken a good solid look at what I eat. I cannot avoid fast food, but I can make choices which change its impact on me. I can choose healthier options, such as sandwiches from Subway. If I go to McDonalds, I can choose something healthier from there, as well. The film just reinforced what I was already trying to implement in my life. I do love Big Macs, but they are not a staple of my diet; they are a once-in-a-great-while indulgence. I skip the fries. And I don't say "Super Size Me!"

Answer 3

I definitely think it has. I think it also may have helped to accelerate some of the change over to healthier options at some of these fast food places. Not only in the restaurants offering these options but in the public consuming them. I've never been a big fast food consumer, but it seems to me like some of the fast food chains in the past may have experimented with a healthy option on their menu, but those never seemed to last. From what I can gather by reading articles and seeing watching news coverage, it seems like just about all the fast food chains have some type of healthier options menu. I think that is great, and I hope it is a trend that continues. I know memories can be short and it doesn't take much time for any of us to revert to our old ways. Hopefully this is one that all will completely hang on to.

Answer 4

It has made me more aware of some issues, especially the marketing to kids and how bad school lunches have become. However, I already don't eat fast food. My fear is that the people who really need to hear this information aren't the same people inclined to watch it. It's sad.

Answer 5

It definitely changed the way I look at fast food. I've never had issues with my weight but it was an eye-opener as to how much damage those fast food chains processed foods can do to ones body. I can't even stomach McDonalds anymore since I saw it.

Answer 6

Most people are aware (unconsciously, at least), that fast foods are generally unhealthy. In the hot summer, however, seems everyone super-sizes their drinks. At least most fast food places have more drink options than soda now.

Answer 7

Yeah, even the small drinks are too large -- if one is thinking and knows the correct portion size of meals. My saying about FAST FOODS.

Take out the "S" in FAST... what do you have? "FAT" FOODS. Think of it that way and you'll be less likely to make it a habit of grabbing something on the go.

Answer 8

What fast food problem?
PEOPLE need to take care of themselves and not blame fast food for giving them MORE choices of food size and or selections.
What about at HOME? Tell me that people do not PIG OUT at HOME?
People really need to take responsibility for the size of their meals and the size of their waists!

Answer 9

Maybe to the people who are already health conscious, but I doubt your fast food eaters gave it much thought.

Drove past the local McDonalds and it was packed so .....I doubt the documentary made much of an impact at all - at least on the people in my area.

Answer 10

It is an enlightening movie. Watching him go "down-hill" physically made me sick and never want to eat that food again. I am not a big fan of fast food anyway, but now...no way will I eat that stuff again. I cook my own food.

Great movie. A must see movie.