Author Morgan Spurlock

ISBN: 0399152601

The following review was contributed by: Paul Lappen & CLICK TO VIEW Paul Lappen's Reviews

From the person behind the documentary Supersize Me,
this book looks at the fast food industry in America.
He explores the ways in which fast food is marketed to
children, the supersizing of the fast food menu and
the accompanying rise in conditions like obesity,
heart disease and diabetes, even among children.

The average school cafeteria has replaced its food
with sugary and sweet items like pizza and soda, that
is, if the cafeteria hasn't actually been turned into
a food court. Cash-strapped schools are obligated to
let soda and candy vending machines in school, for a
cut of the money, while physical education is being
eliminated. Diabetes is supposed to be an "adult"
disease; in the last few years, it has started to show
up in children under 10 years old. Most nutritionists
recommend limiting fast food to no more than once a
month. How many people, or families, can honestly say
that they can do that? In 2005, obesity related
diseases will come close to smoking as the biggest
killer of Americans; the estimate is that 400,000
people will die from such diseases. As an experiment,
put a plate of McDonald's fries under glass, for
several months. What will happen to the fries? The
answer is: basically nothing. They might start to
smell, but there will be little or no decomposition to
the fries. One can only wonder what is in the fries or
the vegetable oil to cause this to happen.

Part of this book is also a chronicle of his 30 days
on the "McDonald's Diet" for the film. He got three
different doctors to independently keep an eye on his
health, which basically fell apart. He suffered bad
headaches and chest pains, he couldn't focus mentally
and his cholesterol and blood pressure rose
dramatically. Oh, and he also gained more than 24
pounds.

A measure of liver function is the presence of an
enzyme in the blood called serum glutamic pyruvic
transaminase (SGPT). During his month of McDonald's
food, his number rose from 20 to 290; under 40 is
normal. Another enzyme to measure liver function is
alanine transaminase (ALT); his number skyrocketed
from 17 to 471, before settling at 240. Again, under
40 is normal. Is it any wonder that a child born in
2000 has a 1 in 3 chance of developing diabetes from
poor dietary habits?

This is a gem of a book. Filled with lots of
information for all Americans, it is very easy to
read, and is helped with bits of humor that Spurlock
spreads all over the book. This is very highly
recommended.