Progressive Wednesday

I’m not lovin’ it: Watch

April 25th, 2007 by Progressive Wednesday

Frontline: Diet Wars

It probably won’t come as a complete shock when I tell you that our friends over at PBS have done it again. Their Frontline series has produced a piece called “Diet Wars,” which takes an in-depth look at the problem with obesity in this country and around the world, with an emphasis on the constant battle between commercial diets and their role in the increase of obesity in the United States during the 1980s and 90s.

Steve Talbot, yes the same one who played Gilbert Bates on “Leave it to Beaver,” tries, as so many others have, to sift through the claims and accusations flung around like emaciated rag dolls by the creators and critics of these commercial diets. It may sound like the same old same old, but “Diet Wars” isn’t. Talbot’s willingness to give the non-mainstream opinion a fair shake actually makes the debate interesting, and the results sometimes shocking. You can watch the whole program online at the PBS website or you can purchase it here and help out the last true public television station.

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Super Size Me

The only problem with “Diet Wars” is that it can be very discouraging to someone considering attempting one of the commercial diets, even though many of them have proven to be very effective at least at taking the weight off, if only temporarily. It can stifle motivation. Not so with “Super Size Me.” In this 2004 Academy Award nominee, writer/director Morgan Spurlock eats nothing but McDonald’s for a whole month. Three times a day for 30 days, he eats everything on the menu at least once. Oh, and if they ask him if he wants to “Super Size” it, he says yes.

Spurlock doesn’t just get fatter, he gets sick. He becomes addicted to McDonald’s food, developing headaches and depression that only a McMeal can cure. His liver acts like that of an alcoholic and he develops heart palpitations after less than three weeks. Against the advice of several doctors, he finishes, gaining 25 pounds in the month. You can get it here, or rent it at any video rental store. After you see this film, you’ll likely never want to eat fast food again. And that wouldn’t be the worst thing. In fact…