FED UP

Yesterday I finally watched the documentary FED UP.  Following the personal lives of over-weight teenagers and their struggle with food consumption, this film focuses on how our nation still has a (growing) problem with obesity. Our children are getting sicker and getting bigger. With a nation obsessed with exercise and appearance, it is disconcerting that we still have a huge obesity problem. People tend to think they can outrun a bad diet. That they can eat whatever they want and it is ok because they are very active. The truth is, they can not. Studies have shown that even people who look “skinny”, and may not gain weight from the foods they are eating, actually have symptoms of obesity. Their insulin levels are high, they are pre-diabetic, have heart problems, and their total body fat is high–yet they look “skinny” and healthy.  

Our thoughts on food and exercise is completely wrong. Look at professional sporting events, who is the sponsor? You guessed it–McDonalds, Pizza Hut, Pepsi. All unhealthy food choices. Even our school cafeterias are serving processed foods. Food Industries spend billions of dollars glamorizing their advertisements with a cheap and easy lifestyle, and it works. The government implements exercise programs and active lifestyle, yet feed into these campaigns. When even congress states that pizza is a vegetable, something is completely wrong here. 

The film is really eye-opening and makes you think twice about the foods we put into our bodies. I am no way a saint and my food choices are not flawless. I am as healthy of an eater as I possibly can be, but I do have a sweet tooth, pour honey into my tea, and enjoy a glass of wine or two. However, I know what my body is like when I eat foods that do not serve me. I know how my face and hair look, how my athletic performance is, how my stomach reacts, and how my mood is when I eat processed, sugar-filled foods. At the end of the day its our own choices that make up our lives. I think the film does a great job to help educate people to become fully aware and get involved in helping our children (and ourselves) make smarter choices.