Obesity and Fast Food: The McDonald's Lawsuit

In January 2003 U.S. District Court Judge Robert Sweet dismissed a class action suit filed by teenagers who claimed McDonald's food made them obese and caused their obesity related problems. Judge Sweet said that the plaintiffs failed to show that "McDonald's food was dangerous in any way other than which was open and obvious to a reasonable consumer." The McDonald's lawsuit opened the door for further legal action connecting obesity and fast food. 

One might think so if they were to watch the documentary Super Size Me by Morgan Spurlock. Spurlock undertook his documentary adventure to uncover the connections between obesity and fast food. Super Size Me began with Spurlock's curiosity and concern about the increasing incidence of obesity in the U.S. and in direct response to the aforementioned McDonald's lawsuit.

For one month, Spurlock ate only McDonald's food and decreased his level of activity to that of the average American. His food choices had to come from the McDonald's menu but could vary as much as the menu would allow. He ordered the standard fare unless the cashier asked if he wanted Supersize. If asked, he answered, "Supersize me," and ate the large meal.

By the end of the thirty-day experiment, Spurlock had gained 24 pounds, a strong statement about the connection between obesity and fast food. The weight gain was the least of his problems. Spurlock also developed depression and addiction to the unhealthy food. While doctors and Spurlock alike were aware of the consequences of the drastic diet no one was prepared for the onset of a fat-induced cirrhosis of the liver similar to alcoholic cirrhosis. By the twentieth day, Spurlock was urged to quit his experiment but completed it despite the warnings.

Okay, so none of us is going to eat McDonald's food for every meal. An occasional "splurge" is fine, but incorporating fast food as a staple of our diets is obviously unhealthy. Of course, Spurlock's experiment is a gross exaggeration of what can happen to our bodies when fast food is eaten, but it makes one wonder how healthy even the so-called "healthy" items on the local fast food restaurant's menu are. Sure, fast food is everywhere, but do you have to eat it? And why not make better choices about fast food? Isn't something out there better than burgers and fries?

Jared Fogle found something. Jared weighed in at 425 pounds while he was a student at Indiana University. One day he noticed the signs in the Subway sandwich shop next to his apartment that said only 6 grams of fat for a sandwich. He ate the turkey sandwich without mayonnaise or cheese every day for lunch and a veggie sandwich for dinner. Before the end of the year Jared had lost 245 pounds and contributes his weight loss to Subway. Jared also embarked on a more active lifestyle, which included walking 1.5 miles a day everyday.

The McDonald's lawsuit and Super Size Me are strong examples of personal responsibility versus corporate responsibility that will exist in a nation of free choice. If Americans are getting fat on fast food then we need to take responsibility for what we eat.

But McDonald's and other fast food establishments also need to take some responsibility for the nation's obesity problem. While fast food establishments advertise a successful union between healthy foods and processed food, the arrangement is far from healthy. Shortly after the documentary Super Size Me was released, McDonald's dropped Supersize products from the menu. They also began to offer apple wedges and milk as part of the Happy Meal® menu for children. No connection to Super Size Me, they say.

Resources

Associated Press. (2003, November 17). Jared the Subway Guy, superstar.

Associated Press. (2004, March 3). McDonald's scrapping 'Supersize'.

Braiker, B. (2004, January 29). The real price of a Big Mac: Filmmaker Morgan Spurlock discusses life as a human guinea pig. Newsweek.

Wald, J. (2003, February 21). Lawyers revise obesity lawsuit against McDonald's. CNN Law Center.