Nope, McDonald's Isn't Making Us Fat

What this study is missing

The headline is misleading. If you take the time to read the study, you'll find that the study is dealing with trying to find a causal relationship between restaurants and obesity. It does not differentiate between the type of food being consumed, only the type of restaurant. The question being asked is not, is Junk food restaurants making Americans obese, it's is there a statistically significant relationship between eating at a restaurant and obesity.

Still I believe there are some common sense flaws to the actual study. The study fails to mention is that people tend to over eat because they're not getting the right amount and balance of nutrients in their meals. While they cite studies that indicate increased nutritional in cafeteria foods do not address over eating issues, this ignores actual nutritional intake for the availability of 'more' nutritious food. It also cites a misnomer that offseting caloric intake from one meal to the next will offset the effects of a particularly unhealthy meal.

Yes, personal choice comes into play, but one cannot ignore the social-economic impact either. 'Junk food' sources such as Mcdonalds provide the lowest cost per calorie of any type of food available. As such they are an attractive, and often the only option available to families on a tight budget who need to meet a minimum caloric intake to subsist.

I think the more interesting question would be, does average per capitia income of a house hold and eating at a restaurant have a statistically significant relationship to eating out. I would wager people with a lower or low middle class income are more likely to eat junk food when dining out and would thus trend towards obesity.

All this being said, I do believe they draw some valuable conclusions. I don't think taxing restaurants is an effect method of regulation if the goal is to increase the health and welfare of the American population. Not only would it not be effective in curbing obesity, it would punish those who can least afford it the most. Rather, I think regulation of food standards would be a much more effective method to address the issue.

KenM of CA @ Jan 16, 2009 04:49:49 AM

No way

It is definately personal choice. McDonalds is less cost efficient than grocery shopping, not to mention healthier. I know people who worked at McDonalds and they refuse to eat the food. I'm not sure what exact data was studied in this test, but I am absolutely sure that McDonalds is not healthy. It is a fact that most foods, especially fast foods, are loaded with preservatives and offer little to no nutritional content. Just stop eating McDonalds and they wont pay their bills, thus causing them to close down. It is really that simple. And where do all those cows come from to make millions of Big Macs everyday? I havent seen them in North America, because they are stealing land from Central Americans where the land is cheap and native land owners don't have the means to protect their property. I just dont trust mass produced food.

Sean of OH @ Jan 16, 2009 01:18:47 AM

of course your assuming we all have no common sense also?

of @ Jan 16, 2009 01:04:02 AM

Horrible Title

Sorry, but that title is just way too wrong for this article. Of course McDonalds makes us fat. Their high caloric, saturated fat loaded and low nutrient meals (never mind the soft drinks) are a sure fire way to put on a few pounds if eaten consistently for a month or two. This title, without any context from the article, leads the reader to believe that this isn't the case, and that it's safe to eat McDonalds.

Pure attention grabbing smut, if you ask me.

Cor @ Jan 16, 2009 00:46:46 AM

Another amazing non-post from the blogosphere

We are impressed!

Two sentences of your own, followed by 2 paragraphs snipped from a nearly unintelligible student project and -- voila! -- fast food is good for you again!

This is truly the health revolution in action, and it only took me 15 seconds to TOTALLY BELIEVE! Thanks, James, for pleasuring my nerve centers!

Jim Freeh of KY @ Jan 16, 2009 00:41:48 AM

Peer Reviewed? I saw no evidence of it.

I saw no evidence of peer review in this working paper. It is not a published study, and is listed on the first author's CV page as just that.

It may be in press or being reviewed, and may get published in the future, but I see absolutely no evidence of it having passed a rigorous review process at this point.

I would urge readers to take this with a grain of salt. No pun intended.

Inderpreet Jalli of NC @ Jan 15, 2009 23:23:14 PM

Hardly

No estimate is precise. If it were precise, it wouldn't be an estimate.

The conclusions are flawed.

Steve of NM @ Jan 15, 2009 22:34:24 PM

Missing the point....

I Agree it's obvious but at least now this might deter those who use restaurants like McDonalds as a scapegoat for their own obesity and make them look at themselves a little closer. This is a capitalist country and McDonalds is the perfect example of the "American Dream." But remember the main thing necessary for capitalism is the consumer. Dont blame McDonalds for being a succesful company. If you dont want it, dont buy it.

Eric Mahl of NY @ Jan 15, 2009 22:17:45 PM