Fed Up In Health Documentary

It has come to my attention that the recent obesity epidemic will soon be addressed during next week’s combined town meeting. Students from Algonquin have demanded policy change regarding the requirements for our school lunches. The food currently being offered to adolescents in the cafeteria, school store, café area, and are filled with sugars and carbohydrates, that likely promote an unhealthy diet and continued obesity. Upon watching the documentary FED UP in Health, a coalition of students will be asking for policy change, citing the movie as their evidence. FED UP argues that the worldwide epidemic of obesity is endangering our children as a result of the increased sugar consumption. However, upon further analysis, it has become apparent …show more content…
As already admitted in the movie, politicians are heavily invested in the outcome of the food industry. Accordingly, their input is likely biased. However, Dr. Robert Lustig, a nutritional scientist from the film, testifies with the movie’s message. He argues that there is “really good data” that “a calorie is not a calorie.” Similarly, he links the toxicity of sugar to obesity because when the liver is overloaded with sugar, it automatically turns it into fat. Lustig demonizes sugar but more importantly, his views are inconsistent with accepted scientific opinions. While, sugar has been recognized as an addictive substance in scientific literature, the theories from the movie are presented as fact (NCBI). Practicing nutritional scientists worldwide have recognized that Lusig’s comments are misrepresentative and do not align with the current consensus on the issue. For example, Dr. Mark Kern, a professor from San Diego State University, critiqued Lustig’s work, concluding that his information “there is no scientific evidence to support the idea that fructose causes obesity or metabolic syndrome ” and that it “serves to increase consumer confusion about nutrition” (Diagnosis Diet). Additionally, the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee ran a set of …show more content…
Schools consider ketchup a vegetable, sell soda and candy in vending machines, and give students access to baked sugar good. As long as calories define energy and to lose weight, there needs to be a calorie deficit, it is important to learn how to control how much is taken in and out. While the statistics and testimonials provided in the film were not accurate, the images they displayed were effective and are in fact a glimpse of reality for many adolescents in the public school system. Children are in fact influenced by their surroundings, which includes school. If school is responsible for giving students a proper education, this should extend into health and nutrition. This includes refining cafeteria offerings, limiting processed food, and providing an in-depth discussion on