The Article Supersizing America: Fatness and Post-9/11 Cultural Anxieties by Courtney Bailey was written and published by The Journal of Popular Culture in 2010. The article’s focus is about a movie made in 2004 by director Morgan Spurlock. Spurlock wanted to make a statement about obesity in America so he decided to make a documentary film called Super Size Me where he filmed himself going from fit to fat. Spurlock ate three meals a day at McDonalds for thirty days so he could show the world that our over indulgence of fast food in unhealthy for our bodies. During this time he gained twenty four pounds. Spurlock was diagnosed as healthy prior to the movie but showed a rise in cholesterol of forty percent.
In today's society over consumption of food is a real problem and has made America the fattest nation in the world. It's not surprising, with 12,804 McDonald franchises, that our nation is on a slow death caused by obesity. In my career I work with people that have large body mass indexes and I have learned that obesity causes heart disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer, stroke, sleep apnea, as well as other major organ issues. It has lead to sky rocketing healthcare costs and a nation trying to run to catch up with how to treat this disease. Obesity is a major concern in our country and hopefully with more recognition through education and awareness we can start to stabilize obesity, or maybe even reverse it.
Bailey, C. (2010). Supersizing America: Fatness and Post-9/11 Cultural Anxieties. Journal of Popular Culture. 43(3), p. 441-462. Retrieved on November 2, 2010 from http://0-journals.ohiolink.edu.olinkserver.franklin.edu/ejc/pdf.cgi/BAILEY_COURTNEY.pdf?issn=00223840&issue=v43i0003&article=441_safapca.
Michele, your article was very interesting. I have heard about this movie and how he ate at McDonald's everyday but I didn't know it was for every meal! I think that this article and the movie Super Size me bring awareness to something that has affected many people in our country. It is important to be aware of how harmful fast food restaurants are for us and going into detail about the harmful effects may open some people's eyes.
ReplyDeleteKristina Gregory
Michele,
ReplyDeleteGood selection for the article. The movie SuperSize Me does bring awareness of eating better and not relying on fast food so much, but how many people ACTUALLY eat at McDonald's 3 times a day for 30 days straight? I didn't bother watching it after I read that.
I agree that obesity is a rising concern for America. In my opinion, I believe obesity is a choice and not hereditary like some will give as their excuse. People choose what they eat, how they exercise(it at all), and how much they eat.