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Fighting Obesity

I know I am behind the times and this is old news, but I just watched SUPER SIZE ME for the first time. It of course is not my first look at the fast food industry and the problems plaguing Americans, especially children that lead to obesity. I was a bit shocked at how much eating McDonalds for every meal in a month affected not only Morgan's weight and health, but his mood.

Last year I read the book Fast Food Nation that really got my stomach turning. If you haven't read it, I highly recommend it because even if you aren't on a diet it will radically change your mind about the fastfood industry, and may even help reduce your girth.

This movie and book have both said what needs to be said, but will they alone make any difference to the ever-growing waistline of the world?

I admittedly still eat fastfood from time to time. Most commonly if we need to eat out we choose Subway, which incidentally is not in the clear when it comes to the evils of the fastfood world, they just happen to have more tasty low-fat choices.

I don't think I've eaten a full McDonalds meal and if I have it has only been once in the past year. As well, I have radically reduced the amount of KFC I eat, although for some reason KFC is more addictive to me than McDonalds.

When we eat out here we eat Wok In A Box, where I can choose the low-fat rice noodles, prawns, and vegetables which all get cooked in a wok in front of me. But even there, mr ralph always seems to order the most fattening item on the menu, Satay Chicken with Hokkien noodles. But, at least it isn't as fattening as McDonalds chicken nuggets plus a Double Quarter Pounder McValue meal that he used to eat.

Since the film's release McDonalds in Australia, as well as nationwide have begun a healthy campaign. For a while they (maybe still do) sold apples. If you want an apple why not go to the local fruit and vegetable shop? Thankfully you can still find them in Australia on almost every corner. But, even the low-fat options at McDonalds are not all that healthy, and sometimes still contain over 9 grams of fat per serving.

Plus as everyone knows once in McDonalds, even if you went there with intentions on ordering something from the lighter menu, the temptation is sometimes just too great to eat a BicMac and large fries.

Awareness is only part of the solution. But something tells me this problem is not going away.

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