Fast Food, Fat Profits Annemarie Holbrook

For this assignment, I was interested in viewing a documentary about food. One that particularly caught my eye was “Fault Lines – Fast food, Fat Profits: Obesity in America.” The main argument of this documentary is the changing ways of society is to blame for the increase in obesity since the 1980’s in America. It informs us on the underlying causes of obesity to make us more aware  with the hopes of changing it. The film opens up with clips of people eating fast food, focusing in on their mouth. This visual gives the viewer an uneasy feeling, as the site of people shoving their face with fast food is not too appetizing. It sets the mood for the video which encourages us to feel this way about fast food and lean more towards healthier options. Throughout the documentary, facts are given while the screen shows images of people and food. The documentary opens up with the main issue of obesity, facts are given, examples are shown, causes are identified, and finally it shows possibilities and efforts for solving the problem.

            Some of the big causes identified for creating obesity is the cost of healthy food vs. unhealthy food. The most obese groups of people in the United States are the poor and minorities. This is because fast food is cheap, allowing for more money to put elsewhere. Healthier options come with a price. Therefore, in the recession, society is suffering but fast food places are thriving. Society has got something backwards, as they point out in the video. The food that children are being fed in schools is processed and fattening, putting our youth at a major disadvantage in the future. The most obese place in America lies within our capital in Washington, D.C. where many poor people live with few healthy options within reach. In return, actions being taken to fix this begin with pinpointing our youth to educate their friends and family on eating healthier. The first lady, Michelle Obama, is taking strides to fight obesity and promote a healthy lifestyle.

             I am convinced of the film’s argument, drawn in by its startling statistics, vivid images, and convincing arguments to what seems to be thorough research.  The documentary addresses the issue, gives examples, shows supporting images, and then shows how the issue can be overcome. The documentary brings the issue to life and presents a convincing, plausible way to fix it.