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Controversy in Ads

Gluttony 101

Dr. Sabrina Segal

Welcome to “uber-Burger”- a place inhabited by mountains of fatty beef piled on lard-laced buns and topped with not-so-usual condiments such as potato chips and hot dogs…yes, you read me right – topped with hot dogs. Carl’s Jr. tested this shameful splurge over the summer, calling it “the ultimate picnic burger.”

It didn’t quite fly. Not for the fact that it was loaded with fats galore, sodium, and enough cholesterol to scare a cardiologist, but rather it was just a bit too weird, even for the Carl’s crowd.

“Americans are obese. And you can blame it on the fast food and lack of exercise all you want. Either way, Carl’s and Hardee’s are proud to help you maintain your burger belly and won’t be helping you ‘trim the fat’ anytime soon.”

Why did the documentary “Super Size Me” bore Americans?

Because we already knew what we were eating and enjoyed it. We weren’t about to let some careless journalist who ate too many French fries one month spoil the fun. In fact, “Super Size Me” didn’t heighten the weight loss consciousness of Americans at all. Instead, it fueled the fast food industry.

•   Carl’s Jr. Double $6 Burger: 1520 calories and 111 grams of fat
•   Hardee’s Monster Thickburger: 1410 calories and 107 grams of fat
•   BK’s Triple Whopper with Cheese: 1230 calories and 82 grams of fat
•   Wendy’s Baconator: 830 calories and 51 grams of fat
•   McDonald’s Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese: 740 calories and 42 grams of fat

Salads were a nice touch, and didn’t amount to much more than a good publicity stunt for McDonalds. After all, do you know anyone who frequents McDonalds for their fresh produce?

Late night talk show host Jay Leno attacked Carl’s & Hardee’s for using “meat as a condiment” citing menu examples like the Philly Cheesesteak Thickburger, a burger topped with sliced steak and cheese. The fast food giants unabashedly used Leno’s quote “This disgusting thing is 5000 calories,” to promote their full-flavored high fat agenda.

Darn skippy! We American’s love our fat, know where to get it, and don’t need talking heads to tell us otherwise. No one will interfere with our love for Carl’s Jr.’s answer to the smoothie- a 700 calorie frozen delight featuring whole fat ice cream with toppings like Cap’n Crunch.

Whatever Carl’s & Hardee’s “unleashes on the world, it’s safe to say it will be fattening, delicious, and made famous, however unwittingly, by food critiques, diet pundits and warriors fighting for the gastronomically correct.” Or is “incorrect?” Exactly!!!!

How do you feel about these unhealthy foods being offered at your favorite fast food restaurant? Are you afraid to say you enjoy a good high fat burger? And if so why? What are feelings on the marketing of fast food to children and adolescents?

Photograph Credit: Sabrina Segal

119 Comments

21. adamking |May. 29, 2008 @ 10:30 AM

I think obesity in America as well as wherever else it may exist in the world is very much a personal problem and has absolutely nothing to do with what "your favorite fast food restaurant" may have offer. Dr. Sabrina Segal obviously has made the assumption that readers will agree with the would-be facts of the matter. However, I must disagree. I do not personally frequent any fast food restaurants. If I choose to eat healthy, it is my decision. How do I find the willpower to avoid these extremely fattening foods that the average American may or may not like? You might not be surprised that I would rarely choose to indulge in something that I don't find all that attractive to begin with. Even as small children are not often seen taking coffee with their sugar loaded cereal in the morning, I would not often be seen in a fast food restaurant as I do not have a taste for such foods. Whatever you decide to consume, you will eventually develop a fondness for. This can be seen around the world by observing the various cultural foods that many Americans would likely snub their noses at, or worse. Similarly, raising children to eat extremely sweet or fattening foods only encourages them to continue to do so and can raise their thresholds for those food types to unhealthy levels. So how can obesity in America be reversed? With a simple problem there must be a simple solution. Perhaps it's too late and you are already accustomed to eating unhealthy foods. You can simply take one step at a time to eliminate what you know to be unhealthy. Just as a drug user may suffer through rehab, it can be painful to give up things you enjoy. However, you might be surprised at just how unattractive something like a big greasy hamburger appears should you decide to return to it after a little bit of fast food rehabilitation. You'll likely even learn to enjoy the things that are healthy.

22. Red6264 |May. 29, 2008 @ 10:59 AM

I have to say I love big greasy burgers but I also know that I have a weight problem because of my love for all the wrong foods. I am trying really hard to limit my intake on all the big and fat burgers but eating salads instead can be just as bad and not give me the satisfaction that a big greasy burger will. So to help me with this issue that I have, I don't go to fast food places much since it requires money that I don't have so that helps and if I chose to have a greasy burger, I try to make it at home so I can control what I put on it and it fills the need for the time.

23. mistere24 |May. 29, 2008 @ 12:56 PM

I feel that unhealthy foods that are bad for us and it shouldn't be placed on the market to sell to consumers. There are many Americans that are obsessed and they shouldn't be. More fatty foods should be replaced with healthier ones that are high in fiber and can be digested easily in our digestive systems.I have enjoyed a greasy burger from a fast food restaurant and was unsatisfied with the after taste. Not only does foods that are high in fat and cholesterol bad for us, it has caused many drastic health problems in many Americans today.Children shouldn't be introduced to foods that are high in fats. Depending on their eating habits when younger, they will grow into young adults with some of the same bad habits.I think more restaurants should be like Mc Donald's and Subway that offers a variety of healthier foods instead of the fat ones.If more fast food restaurants sold healthier foods then more people would live healthier lives.

24. JerryH |May. 29, 2008 @ 3:42 PM

I personally watched that program "Supersize me" I wasn't shocked....I was shocked at what great lengths people would actually go through to do actually do a documentary. Lets face facts we know that the fast food industry doesn't maintain a long standing of being health-conscious. It truly amazes me that people are shocked by the fact that people are gaining weight. Check your diet. If you consume 30 burgers in a month you are going to gain weight. I'm sorry you need to eat less or something. I have eaten at Mcdonalds my whole life and I know better than to eat there everyday.We all know that the ads on TV aren't for real and that most of the things on tv are just that fake. So, why are we being taken in? The food is quick,and good. No questions asked especially if you don't like doing dishes.

25. kellie |May. 29, 2008 @ 6:42 PM

I happen to work for a fast food chain. People will indulge no matter what is in the news. As for the comment about McDonald's salads, yes I do know many people who come in for our premium salad line. We sell 15 or more salads in a town with a population of 1968. There is nothing wrong with giving into your urges once in a while. Eight years ago I weighed 203 lbs. I weigh 130 lbs now. I lost the weight and have kept it off while eating where I want and what I want too. Moderation is the key. Obesity is up and parents should monitor what is feed to their children.

26. Robinanncottrell |May. 29, 2008 @ 9:49 PM

I'm not going to say I don't enjoy a good, fattening hamburger from time to time. I do think some people can go over board with eating unhealthy foods, and what gets me is when people know it is not good for them, and yet continue to buy and eat these type foods,and then wants to blame the fast food industries for making them, or their children fat. I mean come on this is America no one forced those folks to buy any of that stuff. The fast food industries now have healthier choices, and if people chose to buy the not so healthy foods, well who's the blame? And I agree with the add above, lots of people aren't going to get out just to buy a good nutritious salad. Most people that go to these places want the fatty foods, what can I say they are good just not good for you. I also agree with Gimple's comment. I see alot of little children that are simply not aware of what healthy even means,and horribly over weight. And I have (2) beautiful girls, and they enjoy eating out, but it is a treat for them, because we do it rarely. I do not want them to suffer health issues now, or later because of what I as their mother allowed them to eat, and if we start our children out on good things like veggies, and fruits then they will grow to love these type foods.

Robin Cottrell

27. yrkmyers5 |May. 30, 2008 @ 4:04 AM

What is this? It is everyones right to eat what they choose. Anymore, that is what it comes down to, your choice. When dining at my favorite restaurant I have a variety of choices on the menu. Either it is healthy or unhealthy and everyone has options in plain view. I am not afraid to say it, I crave a high fat, juicy burger just like the rest of you. I say satisfy your need and craving at the time, common sense tells you not to do that everyday. As for the marketing of fast food to children and adolescents, sure that is wrong. From the kids meals, mighty meals, and dollar menus how can you not notice. But that comes down to a "parental" role, until they are able to purchase the food on their own it is the parents responsibility to monitor what their child consumes. That is whats wrong with society now a days, so easy to blame others and not taking the blame for our own actions. What we place in the hands of our children and ours to place in our bellies is a choice and that responsibility is on all that purchase and consume the products from the fast food places. Get a grip America, they do not force you to inhale a greasy burger and fries. Just enjoy one every now and again, not everyday.

28. taken |May. 30, 2008 @ 4:34 AM

Supersize me was an excellent documentary, I don't know how you can conclude that it bored Americans. It really awoke numerous people who knew or didn't realize the devastation fast food can bring on your body. I watched the documentary at least twice and referred it to many people I know. Each of the people I referred it to said it was great and a real eye opener. Many of us all still eat fast foot on occasion, but have drastically cut back on it and modified our eating habits to cut most of it out. I haven't been obese or overweight ever, and don't plan to, and thanks to this film I was able to see first hand what the result of a poor diet can do.
I feel really disgusting when I eat at burger king, even though I only order the whopper junior. Sometimes my coworkers want to eat there, so I go and dislike every bite. All that grease, fat and additives just makes me feel (mentally) like I should loosen my belt a notch.

29. jmorgan74 |May. 30, 2008 @ 9:49 AM

This is a subject that hits home to me. I have battled the "fast food addiction" for most of my adult life. It wasn't until I had the lap band surgery that I realized what an addiction food can be. Americans are addicted not only to the taste of big, juicy, fattening burgers, but to the convenience of fast food also. We live in a society that has to "keep up with the Jones'" and by doing so we are so busy working to pay for all the stuff we have acquired that we don't take time to do the right things for our bodies, such as eat healthy. We have to eat in 5 minutes to get to the next conference or meeting and fast food caters to that need. It wasn't until I was forced to watch what I eat that made me think twice about what I had been putting in my mouth for years. Then I began to realize what an effect I had on my children's health. I was creating little people that never ate vegetables, but lived on happy meals and sandwiches. I have since made a change in mine and my families health. I believe it is a responsibility we can't take lightly or our children will be dying much younger than we ever will.

30. heatherj |May. 30, 2008 @ 10:40 AM

I think that some of these fast-food places are just taking this all too far. They are all trying to come up with the biggest and the best. However, I do believe that it is our own personal responsibility not to indulge in such items. We do have a choice to put this into our body or not. Fatty foods are all around us and to stop and get a burger sometimes is one thing but to order something with 1500 to 2000 calories is another. WE can only blame ourselves for our obesity and the health of our children and their eating habits. We must teach them the long term affect of eating these items night after night and teach them to make health choices.

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