McDonald's Blames Video Games for Childhood Obesity...

[atszyman]

link

So if it weren't for Video games the world would be full of thin pacifists....

When is someone going to just tell the truth and blame lazy parents who pick up fast food for dinner and plop their kids in front of the TV for the night instead of cooking at home and playing with the kids?

My wife and I work full time and while it would be easier to just pick up McD's from the corner on the way home and plop them in front of the TV at night, we manage to cook most of our meals and keep the TV off much of the time or at least hang out in the playroom most of the evening actually keeping our kids active. It's not like our meals are overly complex, hamburger helper and frozen chicken products seem to be a staple, and while maybe not the best foods, they are much better than 95% of the fast food places out there.

There are a lot of nights when I'd love to just go home, sit on the couch and watch TV or play games for hours on end but I have kids and make sacrifices to make sure they end up with a decent well rounded childhood.

I realize it's bad marketing to blame your customers for their or their children's problems but giving them yet another scapegoat for blaming childhood obesity on anyone but the kids and parents isn't going to help the problem....

 

[2nyRiggz]

Well they can't come out and blame it on themselves can they....damn those video games for telling kids/parents to go large on the 1,300 calorie meal.

Heres to starting the new year with place blaming....well done McDonalds...love the Mcgriddle by the way

Bless

 

[Iscariot]

Isn't this the a case of the pot calling the kettle black, and a child molester? Also, Hitler?

 

[PlaceofDis]

well its not immediately McDonald's fault either. no one is forcing anyone to eat there, and their food is known to be bad. video games aren't at fault either.

its either the individual, or the parents.
people need to own up for their own choices.

 

[Raid]

Hey McDonald's, exactly how many calories are in a video game?

Well they do get it half right, reduced physical activity as a result of playing video games (instead of running around outside) is surely a contributing factor, but calorie overload is also a big problem... and McD's is only taking half measures in that regard.

 

[atszyman]

Well they can't come out and blame it on themselves can they....damn those video games for telling kids/parents to go large on the 1,300 calorie meal.

Heres to starting the new year with place blaming....well done McDonalds...love the Mcgriddle by the way

Bless

I know they can't blame it on themselves but finger pointing and giving the lazy parents/kids scapegoats for blaming their problems on anyone/thing other than the truly guilty party (themselves) is not helping the problem at all.

I like fast food (occasionally) and don't have too much of a problem with my kids getting it (occasionally) but it's plain common sense to most of us that we shouldn't be doing it for every meal...although year after year it appears that common sense is becoming less and less common...

 

[GFLPraxis]

Very smart of the McDonalds CEO. He found a scapegoat to shift attention to.

 

[MRU]

I hate McDonalds food. Every piece of food looks nothing like it's supposed to. Beef/Hamburgers which taste of something altogether sinister, and calories which make a whore blush.

Did you know a Large meal here, is your USA small, our super-sized is your medium and your large and super-sized are just mammoth....

I just had a laugh and looked on the mcdonalds Ireland site and under the nutrition info.

Then clicked on .... 'The Veggie Option'.. and here's the big choice

Vegetables

We‘ll always source the freshest, from Ireland where possible. In winter months however, vegetables are sourced from warmer countries in the EU, and all beef tomatoes are bought from EU approved growers.

That's right... McDonalds do not actually offer a 'vegetarian' meal here in Ireland, so all the information they can put under their 'veggie option' information is where they get there beef tomatoes

Even better clicking on the Oil - Vegetarian and flavoring free gives this info

100% rapeseed oil is all we ever use for cooking our French Fries, Reduced Salt Chicken McNuggets, McChicken Sandwich, Filet-o-Fish, Apple Pies and Hash Browns. Partially hydrogenated it contains no added flavouring.

Even more vege options there then




However I do not blame McDonalds. Their food is utter crap. But you do have a choice to shop there or not. I choose not to.

 

[Iscariot]

In order to work off one large soda, a double quarter pounder and large fries (no dessert), you would have to play soccer, baseball, or basketball for five hours straight. And this isn't a loaded comparison; it's one meal, and without added desert, extra bacon, extra cheese, a second burger, etc.

 

[adrake86]

There is no one to blame for obesity it is our own falult. Maybe we should come to that conclusion.

 

[MRU]

you would have to play soccer, baseball, or basketball for five hours straight.

Just the same amount of time to play through Heavenly Sword....


But yeah it is scary. I couldn't eat that many calories without getting a guilt complex

There is no one to blame for obesity it is our own falult. Maybe we should come to that conclusion.

It is our own fault, so surely we are to blame, hence your statement is a little bit of an oxymoron

 

[Iscariot]

It is our own fault, so surely we are to blame, hence your statement is a little bit of an oxymoron

I'm willing to take full responsibility for the obesity epidemic. It's not like a single one of 'em is going to catch me.

 

[MRU]

I'm willing to take full responsibility for the obesity epidemic. It's not like a single one of 'em is going to catch me.

Inside every fat person there is a thin person .. They were eaten for breakfast

 

[Osarkon]

Inside every fat person there is a thin person .. They were eaten for breakfast

Hah! Brilliant.

 

[Consultant]

Inside every fat person there is a thin person .. They were eaten for breakfast

Lol.

Actually in the US, responding to that movie "Supersize Me", McDonalds has put salads on the menu. Yup salads. Unfortunately not in Ireland I guess.

By the way, are beef tomatoes made of beef? =p
Wiki says there are tomatoes named "Beefmaster"...

Well, what is known is that a combination of McDonalds and video games will supersize most people.

 

[MRU]

Lol.

Actually in the US, responding to that movie "Supersize Me", McDonalds has put salads on the menu. Yup salads. Unfortunately not in Ireland I guess.

We have a salad... however if you want salad as a main meal the only option have to have it with Crispy fried chicken. Also the salad consists of lettuce and about 3 cherry tomatoes, 3 shards of carrot and that's about all.

 

[apsterling]

Well, this might only pertain to me, and only for a little while, but I can manage to eat their food, and not get large.

I don't know how many calories drumming burns, but that and bicycling (or walking) 2 miles after eating there is about the only activity that I do.

 

[swingerofbirch]

I agree with the sentiment that there is no one factor that causes obesity (at a societal level).

McDonald's is one factor--it's where people "end up" because of various factors. But if McDonald's didn't exist, people would end up somewhere else because of the same societal factors. I am not a sociologist; this is merely conjecture on what some of those factors are:

In the past, mothers stayed home more and cooked food that is much less processed than what you find in restaurants.

Scientific research combined with capitalism has lead to "food" products that are highly processed and foreign to our bodies.

People's work more often involves sitting rather than moving.

People who sit a lot seem to live in chronic states of stress.

So, where do stressed, working people with little time who want to save money end up? Capitalism and science have the answer! And if it hadn't been McDonald's, it would have been someone else.

PS: I'm not saying working mothers, science, or capitalism are bad.

 

[spyker3292]

Don't blame it on anything but little kids who love food.

 

[MRU]

Don't blame it on anything but little kids who love food.

Yes you can they are still 'children'. It is their guardian / parent who is responsible.

 

[::Lisa::]

Did you know a Large meal here, is your USA small, our super-sized is your medium and your large and super-sized are just mammoth.

Do you still get super-sized over there then? In England they said they cancelled it. "Why?" I asked to person standing behind the till. She replied stating that.. obesity rates here in the UK were climbing too rapidly and McDonalds was mainly the blame, so they cancelled Supersize. Not that that will stop anyone, they would just buy 2 meals instead of one

Inside every fat person there is a thin person .. They were eaten for breakfast

LOL!! Good un.

Don't blame it on anything but little kids who love food.

Yes you can they are still 'children'. It is their guardian / parent who is responsible.

I completely agree. I've seen fat toddlers. I mean c'mon seriously, you cannot blame the individual there. I believe that parents are to blame of obese children if they (parents) have to buy their meals. If the child is able to find a way to fund their eating habit by themselves and get enough money to make themselves obese on it (unlikely) then it's the individuals fault.

An interesting topic none the less.

 

[MRU]

Do you still get super-sized over there then? In England they said they cancelled it.

I'm in Ireland Come to think of it I don't know if they still do supersize here either. With so many choice of better places to eat for only a couple of (€7 for a McDonalds meal, compared to €10 for a bar/restaurant meal) Euro more, I never eat in McDonalds.

 

[::Lisa::]

I'm in Ireland Come to think of it I don't know if they still do supersize here either. With so many choice of better places to eat for only a couple of (€7 for a McDonalds meal, compared to €10 for a bar/restaurant meal) Euro more, I never eat in McDonalds.

Yeah, I assumed that after I saw the "taming a Leprechaun" LOL. McDonalds scrapped SuperSize in England years and years ago. It maybe the same for Ireland but I have no idea. I guess you wouldn't know if you don't eat there. I used to eat supersize I can defintiely say I've grown up a lot since those silly eating way too much days though!!!

Now I hardly (if ever) eat there. I just do a meal planner of lovely (healthy) food and we occasionally have a fake McDonalds night where we buy our own seasame seed buns, shop bought quater-pounders, salad and cheese if wanted. Cook it on the george foreman = much much muchhhh healthier fake McDonads lol

 

[0098386]

I love my health stuff but I'm also keen on the 99p Bacon Cheeseburgers they have. 2 of them and I'm good

This whole story is just preposterous. Of course they can't blame themselves but what would it have taken for them to not talk at all?

I find when I'm deep in work on Tormi or any other projects that I'll eat lots - but because my brains working overtime that I don't put any weight on. Last night I had a little snack that would probably worry everyone around me but I just don't put it on. I'm not a whippersnapper either (22) so I don't think I can thank metabolism.

 

[GoCubsGo]

Well, neither McDonald's nor video games (contra on NES) is to blame for me being fat. Each person has unique genetic makeup. My parents aren't fat but yet I got smacked with the fat branch. I will, for the rest of my life, have to work harder to keep the pounds off than any one else in my family. It is just how I am made. Once you accept that the burger affects you differently than others, then eating it is not bad. Sitting on your ass after the fact hoping it doesn't hit some part of your body is.

Trust me when I say this though, in no way shape or form do I have any fast food chain or electronic device to blame for any of my physical features. But I do have Victoria's Secret to thank for my rockin' rack and their awesome bras!!!