Would You Like That “Fat Boy” Sized?

I know this is not a popular topic. Every time I mention it, almost everyone I know immediately disagrees with me. But here’s the thing. I’m glad fat people united to bring suit against McDonald’s. There is a part of me, perhaps the really fat part of me, that wants McDonald’s and other fast food restaurants to be held accountable for the crap they put in their food and on their menus. Sure, I understand people need to take responsibility for what they put in their bodies. I *should* also have the personal wherewithal to stop myself from cheating on my wife, beating my kids, and speeding on my way to work, but there are still laws in place to help keep my machismo in check. Look, we’re animals. If something feels good, we don’t care that it is bad for us, we do it anyway. So we build civilizations and create governments and laws to help us separate the good from the evil. Visit an AA meeting, they’ll tell you willpower and addictions are two different issues. There is something just a little addictive about the sinful delight of the quarter pounder with cheese and large fries. Making it super-size is so easy. Often, I want the large drink and so I’ll get the large fries automatically. I know I don’t *have* to eat them… but I always do. One argument against suing big tobacco is that the public has known for years that smoking is bad for our health, yet we continued to inhale cigarettes. But it’s also true that tobacco companies have known that their product is bad for our health and they will gladly sell it to us and market it to our children. Does anyone do a better job of marketing fast food to children than Mickey D’s? Is there a kid alive who doesn’t recognize the Golden Arches? (One that isn’t home schooled anyway.) Make sure to order the Mighty Kids Meal for even more fat in your child’s diet. It doesn’t take Joe Camel to know that hooking kids at an early age guarantees regular and increasing use throughout adulthood. Jean Kilbourne tells us a big part of advertising is appealing to the largest consumer of the product and making them feel assured that their heavy use is normal and healthy. I’ve not seen a commercial yet warning me to not exceed 1 meal per week at the fast food giant. Yet European McDonald’s recommend their customers limit their consumption. American McDonald's encourages us to eat with them early and often, but then uses the “personal accountability” argument to say we should know better. So, fine, the lawsuit was thrown out and conservatives everywhere rejoiced. Capitalism is saved. Yet, maybe if McDonald’s profits are down it’s because we’re ready for a change. And we have seen some change. Fast food is pushing a healthier menu these days. Shortly after the lawsuit, Wendy’s started offering alternatives to French fries. McDonald's only recently added two items to their to their dollar menu that could remotely be considered healthy (side salad & fruit and yogurt parfait). Proving once again that eating healthy is a luxury for the well to do in America. What I really want is somebody to invent a cheeseburger that looks like a cheeseburger, feels like a cheeseburger, and tastes like a cheeseburger, but has fewer calories and low fat content. The reason McDonald's adds trans-fats to their food is that it makes it taste better and therefore increases sales. Could they just STOP doing that? It'd be a start.

Don't take my word, READ Eric Schlosser's Fast Food Nation, or watch Morgan Spurlock's Supersize Me.