Let’s analyze Spurlock’s findings: In the beginning, Spurlock’s body rejected the supersized food he ingested. As a result for overeating, he threw up. In fact, his digestive system was not used to these large quantities consumed thus it couldn’t handle it; and especially that he ate foods high in fat and sugars which correspond to foods that are hard to digest. Yet by the end of the month he craved MacDonald’s food and felt happier and calmer once he had eaten some. We here see the mental and psychological effect induced by fast food consumption. This sensation of pleasure and peace is probably due to an addictive substance that MacDonald’s use in their food to make people eat more and enjoy what they are consuming. In addition to the symptoms of addiction, Spurlock experienced a decrease in sexual energy that was noted by his girlfriend. In fact, researches have shown that high cholesterol have the ability to impact sexual performance, as well as sexual desire, especially in men. This is due to the blockage of the tiny arteries in the penis thus a poor blood flow leading to impotence and erectile dysfunction. This justifies the rapid tiring and low performance of Spurlock during his sexual activity with his girlfriend. A reason why Americans consume junk food constantly is due to economic reasons: it is cheap and fast and there isn’t a big price difference between the large and supersize meals. You pay a little bit more for a bigger proportion. This definitely leads to obesity. Still nowadays they stopped offering supersize portions. In addition, Spurlock stresses on how Macdonald’s has a great impact on the children; targeting them with ads before they realize how harmful the food is, and attracting them with free toys that come with the happy meals. Moreover, studies done on this subject show that advertisement for fast foods on television increase the desire of eating junk food instead of cooking at home. So, the sedentary life of Americans and the very large…
Communication is one of the essential elements to living. It can be presented in two ways, verbally and nonverbally. In the article, The Power of Context, by Malcolm Gladwell, verbal and nonverbal communication are presented through the way crimes are dealt with, from police attempting to stop crime through mentioning problems to the police physically stopping the crime and dealing with the problems. In Michael Moss’s, The Extraordinary Science of Addictive Junk Food, the power of the communication that advertisers use can easily manipulate people into loving junk food which would in create an addiction that consumers would be stuck in for every long time. Systems of power are upheld with language by showing a message in a specific way to…
Warner, Judith. “Junking Junk Foods.” They Say/ I Say with Readings. 2nd ed. Ed. Gerald…
Fast food is now served not only at restaurants and drive-thrus but also at stadiums, airports, college campuses, and elementary schools, cruise ships, trains and airplanes …” The passage follows by briefly reminding readers of the astronomical amount of money that people spend on fast food. Last year, over 100 billion dollars’ worth of fast food was purchased. Lastly, the passage introduces a stunning fact that states that Americans spend more money on fast food than they do on computers, education, software, etc. An even more-jaw-dropping fact is that if expenses for magazines, books, movies, videos, music and potentially more were put together, it still wouldn’t come close to the colossal amounts of money gained from consumers to benefit the fast-food industry. The Omnivore’s Dilemma contains similar aspects to those displayed by the article. For…
The food industry is responsible for the emerging of obesity in the United States, yet they are not taking actions to cut down on the amount of sugar and salt. The Science to this leads to hypertension, high blood pressure and bad diets to several cancers. The food industry is responsible to its consumers and the products that are produce, but lack of fat and sugar, which can be phrased as the companies’ jewel is not something the food industry is ready to give up. The food industry is not only ignorant to this pleads, but it will put them out of business. The craving for food is irresistible and almost every food has some amount of sugar and salt in it, bread, milk, flour, snacks, pepperoni, these are one of the most common food in the United States and people consume these on daily basis which is a typical American meal. The sensation of going to the store to get a creamy cookie is mouth watery, just thinking about it lights up the brain, but in that mouth watery cookie, wrap inside it is sugar, fat, and salt, the fastest killing machine health wise. The emphasis that researchers have taken to try to educate the public is somewhat fruitless because the more they try to educate the public the more the food industry back itself up and it is almost impossible to compete with that., because everyone loves food. (Moss…
There are many factors and attitudes, which can have a major influence over an individual's eating behaviour, such as mood, cultural factors or even their parents. Mood can have a major influence over an individual’s eating behaviour. It has been suggested that someone who over eats or under eats, may be suffering from Depression, and they use their eating behaviour as a way of masking their negative mood. It has also been shown that being in a low mood state can result in the desire to eat sweet or starchy foods. This is said to be because carbohydrates help the manufacture of serotonin (neurotransmitter associated with mood). Consuming high carb foods can also be used as a way of self-medicating an individual’s low mood. Verplanken et al (2005) conducted a correlational analysis on mood, impulse buying and the consumption of snacks. In this study, it was found that those with low self-esteem were more likely to impulse buy and consume snacks. It could be said that this is their way of coping with the emotional distress caused by low-self esteem. Therefore supporting the idea that an individual's mood can influence their eating behaviour. However, as this was a correlational study, cause and effect can not be established. It may be that impulse buying causes a lowered mood.…
Obesity attracts many other diseases to the human body. In the United State, there are many children including an adult who has become obese. As reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association, “17 percent of girls’ age12 to 19 years are now suffering from childhood obesity.” The level of obesity is still rising. According to an analysis by the World Health Organization, “In the USA, the male rates of being overweight or obese is higher than those of any other major country.” Most children are being exposed to junk food all their lives. They consume on junk food everywhere they go such as at home, at school, or at the restaurant. For example, many parents are so busy working, and they do not have the time to prepare healthy food for their children; therefore, the parents purchase junk food in grand quantity from the store, so their children can easily make something to eat while they are work. Because these children were exposed to junk food when they were kids, they do the same thing when they have their own family. That is one of the reasons why the level of obesity has increased. Many people are not being instructed about the effects of junk food. Most of them know that is okay to eat junk food. People need to avoid eating junk food because it can have a negative impact on the body. For example, obesity increase blood pressure level, and this hypertension leads to stroke. There is a great difference between people who set…
The reason for Spurlock’s investigation was the increasing spread of obesity throughout U.S. society and corresponding lawsuit brought against McDonald’s on behalf of two overweight girls who became obese as a result of eating McDonald’s food. [Pelman v. McDonald’s Corp., 237F. Supp. 2d512]. Spurlock points out that even though the lawsuit against McDonald’s failed much the same criticism leveled against the tobacco companies applies to fast food franchise whose product is both physiologically addictive and physically…
When it comes to keeping the human body, nutrition is the most essential part of everyone’s life. If people do not have full control, it will affect the way they will be in the future. Any change to someone's diet will change their body in the long run, whether it be positive or negative. It is quite apparent, especially in America, that the common person’s nutrition has gone down hill. Since the 1980s, the rate of obesity has inflated double the amount for adults and triple for children (“Obesity” p. 1). Shockingly, America spends more on fast food than on college education, computers, software and cars combined. In fact, in 2005, Americans spent one hundred thirty four billion dollars on fast food alone. In the ‘70s, America only spent six billion (Schlosser p. 10). I am not one to blame McDonalds for the drastic rise of poor nutrition. There are obviously other reasons why. I mainly blame the misinformation and myths that the general public has been told. The reason why that people are more unhealthy now than in the past is…
Michael Moss wrote the essay, “The Extraordinary Science of Addictive Junk Food”, to discuss the role that the food industry plays in America’s health crisis. He talks about the behind the scenes of the way junk food is manufactured, the science behind addictions to certain foods, and the rising numbers of obesity in both children and adults. It is important for Americans to have knowledge about the actions that companies are willing to take to protect their consumers.…
There is controversy over whether or not people should stop eating junk food. In the article “New Study Reveals Junk Food Good for You,” Billy Bunting believe some types of sugary, fatty junk foods “are better for you than so-called healthy foods” (Bunting). Throughout the article, he accounts evidences to verify his argument that eating large doses of junk food is good and a key to a long and healthy life. In “New Study Reveals Junk Food Good for You,” Bunting accounts studies, action points, and seven “tips to enjoy eating junk food so that its benefits can be fully realized” (Bunting).…
The study of addiction has included alcoholism and drug addiction for a long time. The recent obesity epidemic has brought food addiction as a serious concern even though it is still a controversial issue. It is difficult to accept the idea of food being an addiction. Addiction has been defined as” a primary, chronic disease involving brain reward, motivation, memory and related circuitry.”(Whitepaper) There are numerous studies and research that support the fact that over eating food can have the same effect on the brain as those addicted to drugs.…
Obesity has grown into a rampant issue all over the United States, over the past few decades. Fast foods also have increased their outlets in the nation, in turn, depicting a success in the business venture. It is clear that fast foods have become quite cheap in comparison to healthy, homemade meals. Subsequently, people have turned to eat fast foods for economic reasons. Convenience is yet another reason behind people’s high indulgence in eating fast foods other than healthy, homemade meals. One does not need to prepare meals when dealing with fast foods; it is just a matter of walking into a fast food restaurant. However, the rampant feeding on fast foods in America has adverse effects that seem to affect even children. Obesity is the leading result of feeding on too much fast food. Recently, this has grown into a concern whereby fast food restaurants are being blamed for the high occurrence of obesity in America. Nonetheless, I do not concur with the fact that restaurants are to blame for obesity, but people have the sole responsibility of choosing the food they consume and account for their weight (National Bureau of Economic Research web).…
"Junk Food: How Much Can You Get Away With?" The PDR Family Guide to Nutrition and…
In the article “How the Food Maker Captured Our Brains” by Tara Parker-Pope talks about why we can’t control ourselves with it comes to junk food or anything that has sugar. Dr. Kessler finds some similarities in the food industry that they created food or combined them in a way that makes us desire for more.…