Click here to watch the trailer: “Fed up” movie trailer
“Fed Up” is a documentary that examines the role of sugar in the obesity epidemic. Any documentary should be watched with an open mind to challenge us to think of things in a new light. “Fed Up” was very eye opening in revealing the hidden sugars that are added to items to make them more “palatable”.
There were important references to some dietary goals which were presented in 1977 that concluded low fat diets were “the way to go” http://zerodisease.com/archive/Dietary_Goals_For_The_United_States.pdf. The evidence was not particularly strong, yet dietary recommendations were made accordingly. Removing fat from a product removes the flavor, which typically is replaced with added sugars. Fourty-fifty years later we have obesity and diabetes that have skyrocketed. Certainly there are many factors that contribute to the rise in the obesity and diabetes epidemic but, the added sugars are likely a big factor.
One of the BIG things that I wish the film had mentioned was CARBOHYDRATES. When we consume carbohydrates, they convert to sugar and then causes insulin to be released from the pancreas. Insulin then stores the excess sugar in various places in the body including the liver (as triglycerides) and the abdomen (as fat). So it would be a big fail if I didn’t mention the importance that excess carbohydrates play in contributing to obesity and diabetes (as well as many other unwanted medical conditions).
I gathered that there is a strong push for political overhaul and changes in funding, advertisement and availability of products. There were multiple clips of children in schools who kept choosing burgers and fries over fruits and vegetables. In fact, local schools in east TN are suggesting that the recent legislation which provided schools with funding for healthier options is actually money being wasted because students aren’t choosing healthier options. How about we think of this issue differently and remember that healthy eating habits…..well…..they start at home.
It is important to remember the basic concepts of supply and demand. Because of consumers demand in recent years we have seen options such as: low carb menus (yes, even at Cracker Barrel!), grass fed beef in grocery stores and even in restaurants, more organic options and less preservatives in foods. Likewise, if the demand for a product decreases, its likely as a result of the consumers who aren’t buying it as much. I suppose this is the very fear of the BIG companies who the film suggested that we should “demonize”.
The documentary made brief mention of a family that had cut out all added sugar and starting cooking meals at home for several weeks. As a result, the mother, father and son lost a lot of weight and felt better. This was such an encouragement to see, I only wish more of the film focused on ideas, stories, and suggestions to encourage families to make these changes at a personal level….within the four walls of their own home. With that said….I’ve got some work to do in my own kitchen. Happy healthy eating to all!
“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food” -Hippocrates
A few facts from Fed Up website:
-One soda a day increases a child’s chance of obesity by 60%.
-There is overwhelming evidence of the link between obesity and the consumption of sweetened beverages, such as soft drinks, energy drinks, sweet teas, and sports drinks
-In 2012, Americans consumed an average of 765 grams of sugar every 5 days, or 130 pounds each year.