Benefits of Utilizing the Documentary Super Size Me in a College Health-Related Fitness Course
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
3-2006
Abstract
Fast food culture has been evolving for over 30 years. Starting in California, fast food chains have infiltrated almost every facet of a person’s life. Fast food is not just served in restaurants but every where you can imagine, even in places that should be the model of health and wellness, hospitals. Unhealthy food has become a part of many people’s daily lives and research shows that 41% of adults surveyed by the Pew Research Center visit a fast food restaurant at least weekly (Taylor et.al, 2006). Taylor also notes that 59% of the 18-29 year-olds surveyed eat fast food at least once a week (2006). The money Americans have spent on fast food over the past 30 years has increased from $6 billion to over $110 billion which represents about a quarter of the adults in the United States who consume nearly three hamburgers and four orders of fries every week (Schlosser, 2001). McDonald’s, the leader of the pack, accounts for 43% of the total U.S. fast food market, operating more than 30,000 restaurants in more than 100 countries on 6 continents (Super Size Me, 2006).