by Russell Waldron

Created on: June 15, 2009   Last Updated: June 16, 2009

Fast Food Nation and Super Size Me have certainly had an impact on our thoughts in regards to fast foods. No longer is the general public sticking their heads in the sand and playing ostrich, we're now looking at fast food with keener eyes and much more health orientated awareness. Awareness may be just one word, but it certainly means so much when we talk of health and well being, longevity and living life to the max. How have they impacted the fast food industry?

Fast Food Nation and Super Size Me showed us the dangers of over indulging on fast foods. When we take into account that the average household dines on fast food at least twice a week, we need to know exactly what nutritional value that food has. So how did they do this? Morgan Spurlock the author of the educational documentary and Super Size Me book, embarked on an experiment which incorporated dining at McDonald's three times a day and super sizing the portions of those meals.

This 30 day super-sizing experiment began in February of 2003 and ended in March. Working beside him was a cardiologist, general practitioner and a gastro-entomologist to monitor his heart, cholesterol, weight, blood sugar levels and so forth. Prior to the fast food experiment, Morgan weighed in at 185.5 pounds. In just five days of consuming in excess of 5,000 calories, his weight had risen to 195 pounds. As his fast food binge continued his weight escalated finally rising to 210 pounds. That was a weight gain of 24.5 pounds. But weight gain was only one side effect of this junk food binge eating, Morgan experienced heart palpitations.

Morgan was advised to stop the fast food eating otherwise it could be fatal. In fact Morgan could have been placing his life at risk, increased cholesterol levels, insulin and sodium can place great danger to the liver as well. Morgan refused to stop and continued right to the 30th day. Once the study was over Morgan was informed that his heart may have suffered irreparable damage. The outcome of the study was that Morgan showed the public through his documentary, that binging on fast food too often can place your health in great danger. Sadly with all the damage done to his heart, Morgan may not live a very productive life now. Yet those watching his documentary certainly had had a wake-up call. The documentary shows a tombstone for Ronald McDonald with the closing words. Who do you want to see go first, you or them?

That was a very graphic but meaningful statement which definitely

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