Valley Star

Issue date: 4/14/04 Section: Opinion

Media Credit: Tiffany Farmakis

Obesity kills. We know that. The medical reports and statistics tell us so. And yet, many of us still relish those fast-food-craving moments when we say: "Big Mac combo, Supersize with a Coke, please."

And we know that munching on the 600-calorie Big Mac and the 610-calorie Supersize fries chased down with the 410-calorie Supersize Coke is not a healthy meal. Consuming a meal of this type regularly could result in weight gain, high cholesterol and other negative effects on our health.

We know this and we eat it anyway.

Well then, why did the House of Representatives need to approve the Personal Responsibility in Food Consumption Act, known as the "Cheeseburger Bill," to curb the influx of lawsuits against fast food chains for causing obesity?

"We as Americans need to realize that suing your way to better health is not the answer," said House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill. "Trial lawyers need to stop encouraging consumers to blame others for the consequences of their actions just so they can profit from frivolous lawsuits against restaurants."

Members of our government who are paid by our hard-earned tax dollars were forced to waste expensive time approving legislation that tells us that we are responsible for our actions.

"The fact is, it's ridiculous to blame a restaurant when a person eats too much food," said Rep. Pat Toomey, R-Penn, in a Fox News interview. "It's a person's own individual decision."

Well, duh.

I didn't need to read a government official's statement to know that.

McDonald's launched its latest marketing ploy, the Real Life Choices program, earlier this year to educate consumers on how to reduce carbohydrates, fat and calories by modifying their order - for example, order a Big Mac with all the fixin's - except the sesame seed bun. Messy ... but tasty!

Ordering a bunless Big Mac does detract from the flavor. Besides, the greasy burger filled with artery-clogging saturated fat is not exactly Tofurkey with alfalfa sprouts.

"People don't go to McDonald's looking for diet food," said Pam Smith, nutritionist and program developer. "But what Real Life Choices does is give them a chance to have food that will fit within their diet but still with that flavor that they're seeking."

The solution is simple: if you're dieting - don't eat at McDonald's.
And if you do - know that it was your decision that made those leather pants too tight.

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