Sweat365 » A Whopper of a Problem
Post by:Brad Hefta-Gaub
Monday, October 26th, 2009 at 12:46 pm | 11 Comments
We have a Whopper of a Problem… and this misguided marketing campaign is a perfect example of what’s wrong with the American food culture. With the reporter espousing the virtues of "fast, big portion foods, at low prices" is it really any wonder why so many of us are gaining weight at such an alarming rate?
Should anyone eat this product? Should any company be willing to associate their brand with this product? Consider the facts: 791 grams or 1.7 lbs of beef, 2120 calories. This is more calories than the FDA and CDC recommend for an entire day; and that doesn’t include the large fries and large soda that would be consumed in the same meal.
According to recent news from the CDC, now more than 26% of Americans are obese, in 32 states more than 25% of the population is obese, and in 6 states more than 30% of the adult population is overweight. There is only one state in the US where less than 20% of the population is obese.
"Obesity is a major risk factor for many chronic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes. As obesity increases among all age groups, we are seeing chronic diseases in much younger adults compared to a few decades ago," said Dr. William Dietz, director, CDC’s Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity. "For example, we now see young adults who suffer from heart disease risk factors and other conditions such as type 2 diabetes that were unheard of in the past."
I understand that Microsoft is trying to create buzz, to be a little edgy. But how can any corporation support this kind of high risk behavior? Why not partner with Patron Tequila and offer the Windows 7 Shot Challenge?
Filed under: Bad Ideas, Fast Food Culture, Food, Obesity, diet |
Digg! this story.
|
Leave a Comment
11 Comments: :
A Whopper of a Problem
October 26th, 2009 2:36 pm
Karl On Sea says:
Woa! That’s completely over the top.
Also . . . are Microsoft sending out the right message about Windows 7’s performance, and how it’s going to be different from Vista? “Yeah, Vista was kinda thrown together, and ended up being a huge piece of bloatware, but this is completely different. No, really”
AND, in a completely unrelated aside, is it just my imagination, or are the two guys trying out the burger (at 51s into the video clip) actually Hiro Nakamura and Ando Masahashi from Heroes?
October 26th, 2009 3:33 pm
princessrn320 says:
It is amazing what poor food nutrition is put out there and I agree completely that they are billing it as “affordable”. The obesity thing is over the top. Look anywhere, except at a race, and the majority of the people are HUGE. I am not little but comparatively I am really small. The other very alarming thing is the age of the overweight is dropping. It is not your grandma anymore, these are kids in their early 20’s. So many of us know the hard road to weight loss and I can’t imagine starting out like that so early on, before college, before children and pregnancy. What will happen then?
October 28th, 2009 11:11 am
luluorange says:
I couldn’t agree with you more! The obesity problem in the U.S. is everyone’s problem, it is going to bankrupt our healthcare system and the people who doesn’t live a healthy life will be a burden on all of us taxpayers.
That’s why I love this site, Brad! It promotes fitness and motivates us to keep going.
Thank you for all the work you do!
October 29th, 2009 3:09 am
misspudding says:
Oh wow. I can’t believe she ate it!
October 29th, 2009 5:53 pm
mattielax61 says:
Corporations have been catching a lot of flack lately. Its not that they’re evil, or that they have no moral fiber at all, its just that they are a-moral in that they only answers to shareholders and profits. They don’t care as long as they keep raking in the dough.
October 30th, 2009 6:37 pm
tje210 says:
i heard this was only in japan, and those people all pretty good to begin with. i wouldn’t eat it, though… way too much protein to be effective at anything
i write this as i hungrily wolf down 3 krispy kremes in between a bike ride and gym time… hehe.
oh, and as far as being young and overweight, princess, that’s the reason i work out! i hate commitment, and i’d hate to think that some bad choices as a youngster would leave me with stretch marks and extra skin if i get older and regret being huge. although, i do have a friend who went from being thin to huge to thin, all in a few years, and she’s really lucky, no stretching or skin. don’t know how she pulled it off.
October 30th, 2009 7:20 pm
Doug Greisen says:
YUCK!
November 9th, 2009 4:53 pm
nutritionexpert says:
That burger is disgusting!! What a gut bomb! I have a “friend” who owns 6 McDonald’s in WA state and he tells me that “the bigger, the better” in his opinion because it sells better than salads and healthier type burgers/chicken. He is more concerned about making $$, than about the health of his customers, which is how most fast food restaurants are run.
November 11th, 2009 3:05 am
Andy says:
Hot dang! I feel stuffed from just looking at the thing.
November 12th, 2009 8:17 am
npvet1215 says:
As a parent I find this particularly disturbing. I struggle with my 12 year old whose at that age where anything I say or anything that is healthy is not “cool.” These kind of things just makes my job that much harder. I’m frustrated because even though I’m his mother he is at the age where I really don’t have control over what and how much he eats for many of his meals. I also “love” Taco Bells campaign of “fourth meal”
November 15th, 2009 4:31 pm
barenecessities says:
I can’t wait for Windows 8 to come out, now that will be a real hamburger.
This ad campaign is even more incredible when you realize it was employed in a culture where health is viewed more holistically and there is a “food tradition”.
Also, I like the comment about young adults now suffering from heart disease risk factors… forget young adults, now it not unheard of to see a kid with type two diabetes and many public health report predict that many children are at risk for a cardiovascular event before age 35. Furthermore, about 10% of adolescents (12-19) have high cholesterol and even more have high blood pressure (the silent killer).
Some other fun fact (from the American Heart Association) :
Average fruit consumption:
1.1 and 1.5 servings/day for ages 5-9 (boys, girls)
.6 and .7 servings/day for ages 15-19
vegetable consumption is lower and it is estimated that only .1 to 1.5 percent of children consume 5 or more servings a day.
Okay I’ll quite typing now, I think everyone knows there is a few problems with our nations health, but I know everyone on this site will help set a better example for the next generation so lets all keep at it.