A CNN map shows the American obesity epidemic since 1985, and it’s freaky. Why is it happening? High fructose corn syrup? Fast food? Cheap carbohydrates? Lack of moral fiber?
obesity
Shrek To Market "Healthy" McDonald's Choices To Kids. What?
By 5.10.07
A chubby troll , or giant, or whatever Shrek is supposed to be isn’t exactly the best spokesperson for healthy eating, but McDonald’s is using him anyway. The McDonald’s Shrek themed “Milk and Apples” campaign launches tomorrow.
TGIFriday's Introduces Smaller Portions At A Discounted Price
By 3.9.07
es, and desserts at a chain restaurant can top 2,000 calories apiece, I’m pleased that T.G.I. Friday’s is listening to their customers and recognizing that it can play a role in improving the public’s health,” said CSPI executive director Michael F. Jacobson. “Since Americans now get about one-third of their calories from restaurants, the increased availability of healthier, portion-controlled options is a real benefit to calorie-conscious diners.”
Full Copy Of Coke's "Fat-Burning" Enviga Study
By 2.19.07
We’ve got a a copy of the study Coke based its controversial fat-burning claims for Enviga, the quaintly titled, “Effect of a Thermogenic Beverage on 24-Hour Energy Metabolism in Humans.” The study, published in the February issue of Obesity, says it,
First FDA Approved OTC Weight-Loss Drug: "Alli"
By 2.8.07
An obesity specialist in Washington, Dr. Arthur Frank, said Alli had a safe track record and could help patients lose 5 to 10 percent of their weight. On the negative side, Alli can cause annoying side effects including diarrhea and oily stools.
Red Wine Is Still Good For You
By 11.17.06
It’s hard to keep up with what’s good for you and what’s not. Currently, red wine is still good for you. Got it?
Your Children Are Fat!
By 11.6.06
The CDC is saying that the “belly fat” of US Children has grown by over 65% since 1999 . Supposedly, Belly fat is more dangerous for health than overall weight gain, because there is a much closer link between visceral fat (the fat around your internal organs) and serious diseases.
Women Like Skinny Models?
By 9.25.06
Here’s a suspect little piece of reporting from The Sun claiming that women prefer skinny models:
HP Markets Girdling Camera to Rather Delusional Women
By 8.18.06
And with the proud forward march of technology comes one more reason not to trust that Match.com profile picture: the newest Hewlett-Packert cameras include an automatic “slimming” effect that can transform even the tubby, the amorphous, the morbidly obese into slender sylphs.
Everyone’s Already Eating A Fourthmeal!
By 8.1.06
Under fire from their bizarre ‘Fourth Meal’ campaign, Taco Bell has taken an odd defensive tact. Instead of claiming that they invented the fourth meal (a midnight burrito gorge fest, scheduled between dinner and breakfast to help you get through that calorically taxing ‘sleepytime’ period of the day), Taco Bell explains…
Chocolate Makes You More Depressed
By 5.19.06
From the ‘Morning Bummer’ department, I have an unfortunate cousin who is trapped in that infinitely recursive cycle of eating that happens when you eat because you are depressed and you are depressed because you’re fat. Weighing upwards of four bills, the woman will often come home from work, climb into bed and eat two full bags of Doublestuffed Oreos while watching television in a gloomy bedroom. She’s this really great, vivacious, knee-slapping personality, making it all even sadder that she could easily be featured as the mascot of Fat Chicks in Party Hats.
In The Face Of Famine, India’s Obesity Epidemic
By 2.7.06
This article on India’s rising obesity epidemic (partially due to the in-flux of cheap Western fast food) is sure to make you hungry. We’re tempted, in fact, to simply blockquote every time the writer succulently describes some sweet, sticky indulgence gobbled up by New Delhi’s swelling armada of obese Hindis. Apparently, it is very common for Indians to snack on “‘skim’ milk with the thickness of cream” and “muffins the size of a baby’s head” or “desserts with names such as “double excess chocolate mousse” and “penalty.”” My god, it’s full of stars. Gastronomists: time to move to India.
American Houses, Blouses Trend Together
By 2.1.06
This is far from science—and the author of this chart doesn’t claim that it is—but you might find it a bit amusing to see this correlation between American’s median home size and our rates of obesity. Both are blossoming.
Scooters Say Self-Propelled Locomotion Is For Suckers
By 1.5.06
In the second issue of Harvey Kurtzman’s Mad (before the Comics Code hit and it ostensibly became a “magazine”. You know, like Cracked or The New Yorker), Wally Wood illustrated a story called “Blobs”. In it, gelid human midgets flew their flying robot scooters around a futuristic Fritz Lang cityscape without the slightest use of the flaccid appendages of their arms and legs. They had been made superfluous by the forward progress of science. The eponymous human blobs also wore gigantic vacuum-tube computers on their heads that spoke their thoughts aloud in a capital letter robot font, and by merely pumping a quarter into a vending machine, they could make out with a Rita Hayworth titanium robot.
