Fat Head
by Tom Naughton
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Canada
Canada
DVD details
Actor: Tom NaughtonDirector: Tom Naughton
Brand: NAUGHTON,TOM
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language)
Format: Color, DVD, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 104 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2009-02-03
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Model: OSC2219
Studio: Morningstar Entertainment
Product features:
- FAT HEAD (DVD MOVIE)
DVD Reviews of Fat Head
DVD Review: Basically a low carb diet film that only tells part of the truth
Summary: 2 Stars
The main reason I was interested in watching this was because of the challenge on Supersize Me. He made some points that I agree with, such as it being a choice to consume fast food, and that fast food doesn't necessarily make you fat. The main difference between each of these documentaries is that Supersize Me takes a liberal viewpoint, thinking that the government or some other entity is somehow responsible for your health, while Fathead takes a conservative viewpoint because he says that it is a personal responsibility to care for yourself, not the government's or anyone elses. In fact, he even basically sounds like he is anti government. His points that he made about Morgan Spurlock's math being wrong were definitely worth something, but unfortunately the vast majority of the public does not know this. The rest of the film was full of problems. I really wanted to like the movie and agree with it, being a big believer in self responsibility, but many things stood out to me, such as:
1. From the very beginning of the film when he says that it took him "hours" to film all of these obese people, so there must not really be that big of an obesity problem. He also later says that there really isn't an obesity problem, but that definition of obesity changed. I agree that some people are wrongfully classified as overweight or obese, and something needs to change there. But the idea that he obesity problem is not that bad is ludicrous. I see more obese people that what he filmed in "hours" just merely by going grocery shopping. I also see many young children that are obese. He also mentioned that black and hispanic people tend to be "thicker," and that part of this whole obesity epidemic is white people just not accepting that they have different body types. Excuse me, but I am aware that there are differences in body types, what does that have to do with obesity? If someone is very obese, it doesn't matter what race they are, they are obese. Most black and hispanic people may be "thicker" on average, but they aren't obese. The obesity problem isn't white people not accepting other races, it is rather obvious from looking around that there are plenty of obese white people. The film made it sound as if thin white women had some sort of personal vendetta against other races being different, and this is yet another reason why the obesity problem is being blown out of proportion.
2. He contradicts himself because he emphasizes that the obesity problem isn't that bad, but then goes into detail about everything wrong with public schools and kids these days. I agree that kids need more physical activity and are overmedicated, but apparently he has a problem with kids eating school lunches and not walking home. Oh and school buses are bad too.
3. The part of about the lipid hypothesis being wrong was good, but his evidence of how the human diet is supposed to work is very lacking. He gets all of his information from "Protein Power" and other low carb diets pushers. I agree that humans weren't meant to eat most of what we eat, including eating too many grains. But the idea that simply eating any grains at all is like eating sugar is too far fetched and not believable. He seems to think that by merely not eating grains and eating any amount of unhealthy processed meats and animal products, he'll be in perfect health. He is leaving out the entire issue of hormones antibiotics, etc, being put into these animal products and how they may affect health. Our ancestors did not eat factory farmed grain fed beef or other factory farmed animal products, but somehow he thinks this is not relevant at all. Sorry to break it to you, but when you go get a fast food hamburger without the bun, you are not just eating beef like our ancestors did. It is partially beef that has been injected with hormones and antibiotics and taken from hundereds of different grain fed cows, along with other ingredients that aren't even food, so it's not even 100% beef. But as long as you're not eating the bun, it's healthy right? He also doesn't seem to think it's important to eat leafy greens and other fruits and veggies, even though these should be making up the bulk of the diet.
4. The part where he eats the leafy greens and the rice and makes it seem so "disgusting" was annoying to me. Personally I would have enjoyed the meal. It's interesting how he emphasizes personal responsibility in not being obese, but then doesn't want to eat healthy himself. It's almost like he is trying to push this idea that it's ok to eat an unhealthy diet, as long as you don't eat grains.
5. The whole idea that he and the other low carb people are trying to push is that grains cause your body to get "metabolic syndrome," which the real cause of obesity in this country. Grains make up the diet of most cultures around the world, including other countries that have low obesity rates. Japan eats rice as one of their main food sources along with fresh veggies and lots of fish. They have the lowest obesity rate in the world. European countries such as Italy and France have high carb diets and much lower obesity rates. It is disturbing to me that by reading a few low carb diet books he seems to think he knows everything about eating "healthy," and by eating steak and bacon all day that is adequate.
6. In a few scenes he asks some people if they have ever eaten fettucine alfredo and then if they have ever had a heart attack, implying that the fettucine does not cause people to have a heart attack. Later he eats a hamburger from a fast food place and emphasizes that he is not having a heart attack. Anyone with any knowledge of research at all will know this was ridiculous, just because you don't have a heart attack after eating does not mean what you are eating is healthy. The research may show that people who eat those foods are more likely to have a heart attack. DUH. He also contradicts himself because after making a big deal out of no one having a heart attack from eating fettucine, he later tells us that grains are bad and are the cause of obesity and heart disease. Huh?
The bottom line is that your foods should be as untampered with as possible. Fruits, veggies, nuts, greens, etc, should make up the bulk of the diet, with some animal products, and personally I believe grains are ok. The obesity problem is not caused by people eating grains. People have eaten grains in this country way before there was an obesity problem. The difference is that back then, they didn't eat processed GMO foods with additives that were not really food. People also don't get enough physical activity.
Description of Fat Head
Genre: Documentary
Rating: NR
Release Date: 3-FEB-2009
Media Type: DVD
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