Review of Fed Up (2014) by Ahnehnois — 13 May 2014

An accessible documentary that chronicles the obesity problem. Footage of children struggling with their weight is intercut with various scientific and political machinations. A variety of interview subjects, including some big names, spice things up.

The film's conclusion is essentially that refined carbohydrates are the source of our ills. This matches up pretty well with where the science is on the subject. Foods that spike your blood sugar levels, including, obviously, sugar, but also processed grains of various sorts, cause the hormonal state that leads to obesity, which is why low-fat and various other "healthy" trends have failed to accomplish anything. This is presented intelligibly enough, and some products with sugar that seem healthy to most of us apparently aren't. Even I was surprised at some of the examples that flashed across the screen.

The film downplays the importance of physical activity somewhat; which seems questionable. Despite having Bill Clinton on repeatedly, it doesn't talk much about plant-based diets and instead focuses on the importance of cooking your own food from whole food ingredients rather than getting things that are processed and full of additives. It also focuses heavily on advertising to children and school lunches, concluding that people become addicted to the sugar rush of processed foods before they can make informed decisions, which is likely to antagonize some viewers.

Despite not covering every base, the film ultimately presents an - ahem - digestible narrative that lines up well with the medical experts I know.