UK McDonald's chief blames game industry for obesity
by Kyle Orland 
{ Jan 9th 2008 at 2:00PM }
We're used to scientists, the government and even beverage companies taking the game industry to task for contributing to the childhood obesity epidemic. But now there's a new, even more unlikely source using gaming as an obesity scapegoat -- McDonald's.Talking to the London Times, McDonald's UK chief executive Steve Easterbrook said games are part of a "lifestyle element" that has led to a rise in childhood obesity. "There's fewer green spaces and kids are sat home playing computer games on the TV when in the past they'd have been burning off energy outside," he said.
To be fair, Easterbrook didn't lay the blame completely at gaming's feet. "The issue of obesity is complex," he said, while also acknowledging that the government, the food industry, and good old personal responsibility have their part to play in solving the problem. Still, any organization that serves a "deluxe breakfast" with 59 grams of fat should be very careful when shifting the blame.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
coolforever4537 @ Jan 9th 2008 2:05PM
I'M NOT LOVIN IT.
McDonalds is the worst fast food place ever, anyone agree?
mr nimblewick @ Jan 9th 2008 2:06PM
I agree.
DWells55 @ Jan 9th 2008 2:08PM
Absolutely, I don't eat there. I'm honestly not a huge fast food fan myself, but that's not to say I don't enjoy Wendy's.
And seriously, hypocrisy much? I'm not going to blame McDonald's for childhood obesity, but this is a company that specifically targets children with low-quality and extremely unhealthy food. It's still the parent's responsibility to raise their children properly, but the media has a very strong affect and McDonald's is well aware of that. They know well that their food is harmful to children and they don't care, to attempt to shift the blame like this is entirely hypocritical and disgraceful.
samfish @ Jan 9th 2008 2:20PM
I like their Egg McMuffins but that's it.
Unfortunately for some stupid unknown reason, when I tell them to leave the meat off (as I don't eat meat), they charge EXTRA to leave a freakin' slice of ham off!
As such, I only eat it on rare occasions when I have a hankerin' for it.
...that's probably for the better, though.
mattclarkie @ Jan 9th 2008 2:23PM
I like the occassional Big Mac, I haven't had one for atleast a year. But they are a pile of shite when you compare them to a burger you can make at home with a good quality burger not full of fat or preservative.
I much prefer Subway, I know that it isn't particularly healthy, but I only have one occassionally, and I always stick loads of salad on my Italian BMT. Italian BMT (drools all over laptop).
DangerMouse @ Jan 9th 2008 2:32PM
There dollar menu sucks ass. McChicken? Bleh, more like McMayonnaise w/ chicken & lettuce.
Oh, and last time i checked the newer mcdonald's, the playgrounds got replaced with french fry greased gamecube controllers.
Fernando Rocker @ Jan 9th 2008 2:37PM
I like the salads =(
Vegeta (aka Ska Oreo) @ Jan 9th 2008 3:04PM
I agree. Everything about that place is horrible. I only eat there when I have no other choice(or I'm lazy and don't feel like driving to Burger King).
Speddy @ Jan 9th 2008 3:09PM
US McDonald's chief had died of a stroke not too long ago...
After seeing SuperSize Me, I completely stopped eating McDonald's food. I've been free of McFatty since 2004.
ThornedVenom @ Jan 9th 2008 3:28PM
Actually, having travelled quite a bit, McDonald's only sucks in America. Food quality is better in Europe, and even better in Asia.
Don't ask why.
Dictatorship @ Jan 9th 2008 4:14PM
I only like the Apple pies there. It's the only good thing I sometimes buy from them, and by sometimes, I mean when I am in the mood for pie.
But the rest of McDonald's menu can go to hell. I'll choose Subway or Carl's Jr.(the one in my city though) anyday.
colin @ Jan 9th 2008 11:23PM
@mattclarkie,
a "good" burger has a decent amount of fat in it. fat adds flavor and tenderness. gristle is what you want to stay away from. the only way to really know what you are getting is to buy meat to grind. your best bet is to buy a fatty chuck roast and have your meat cutter grind it. have him run it through 3 times, and that's a damn fine burger! lean ground beef will crumble when you try to form patties and it doesn't taste like a real hamburger.
still don't believe me about the fat?
the difference between the 3 USDA cuts of beef (Select, Choice, Prime) is marbling. A Select (lowest grade) cut of filet mignon will have almost no fat inside the tenderloin. A Choice (middle-grade) filet will have some marbling. A Prime (high dollar) filet will have tons of little fatty lightning bolt like marbling all throughout the cut.
/being way off topic
colin @ Jan 9th 2008 11:23PM
@mattclarkie,
a "good" burger has a decent amount of fat in it. fat adds flavor and tenderness. gristle is what you want to stay away from. the only way to really know what you are getting is to buy meat to grind. your best bet is to buy a fatty chuck roast and have your meat cutter grind it. have him run it through 3 times, and that's a damn fine burger! lean ground beef will crumble when you try to form patties and it doesn't taste like a real hamburger.
still don't believe me about the fat?
the difference between the 3 USDA cuts of beef (Select, Choice, Prime) is marbling. A Select (lowest grade) cut of filet mignon will have almost no fat inside the tenderloin. A Choice (middle-grade) filet will have some marbling. A Prime (high dollar) filet will have tons of little fatty lightning bolt like marbling all throughout the cut.
/being way off topic
Assassinneko @ Jan 10th 2008 1:22PM
ok listen everyone wants to go out and blame a corporation such as mcdonalds or the entire video game industry,but cant parents take responsability for their own actions. Say your 5 year old kid is fat ask yourself why and how he got that way. remember young children dont control where the food comes from. its because YOU the parent are making bad health and life choices for your child.You cant buy a kid mcdonalds and then let him play video games all day of course hes gonna gain weight its natural.ill be the first to admit mcdonalds sucks,so does burger king we all know that,So can we please stop blaming other people for lazy parents??
Stop blaming other people for your problems noone cares about your kid
alex wingate @ Jan 10th 2008 1:25PM
I honestly think mickey d's is ok.
but this is a good accusation
yeah its FAST FOOD..the purpose of it is to be fast and easily cooked....and using oil is part of the fast cook....people should understand that actually the big mac...isnt 1 serving..and just because the meals get bigger doesnt mean you're supposed to eat the entire meal...its all really about portion control and when whats enough...is enough...but the gaming industry is a major contributor to obesity...kids today would rather sit around and play video games then head outside...because...we've all seen what it can be like..its not getting better for the socialable status...and even all you people that left comments on this website...are just as bad as those kids...because im pretty sure when a person of old age now...would have written a letter instead back in his day, instead of written a blog comment or typed up an email.
so heres my proposition...
down with video games
correctly portion food amounts
BRING BACK THE LETTER!
Matt B @ Jan 9th 2008 2:08PM
I love a good egg or sausage mcmuffin and a tasty hash brown(or 2) in the morning before work. When you first bite in and a squirt of mystery juice gets on your nice work pants. Good times.
xFenixKnightx @ Jan 9th 2008 2:13PM
Damn that was funny!! +1 =)
dizzy @ Jan 9th 2008 2:10PM
"Well, maybe our food makes people fat, but you guys make people violent and kill people!"
copa @ Jan 9th 2008 2:20PM
In other news, Marlboro announced that video games are the leading cause of lung cancer.
Matt B @ Jan 9th 2008 4:25PM
LOL Copa.
When I smoked in the house prior to having kids, I would smoke much more playing games than not. So Marlboro may have a case there. XD
Proud to work as a manager at McDonalds!!! @ Jan 10th 2008 10:29AM
If eveyone wants to complain about how our food makes them fat, maybe they should stop eating here instead of whining about how fat they're getting. (Not so hard to do!) I'm a manager at McDonald's and one of the busiest where I'm from, we make fresh food and that's why we stay busy. Sorry your McDonald's sucks, but don't put down McDonalds all together. Most of them aren't so bad! If parents want to complain about their kids getting fat, stop paying for them to get fast food! It's called discipline, learn to use it once in a while America! Simple as that. Why must America complain so much, when it's their choice to do what they want and blame everyone else for their choice? Stupid!
Obie @ Jan 9th 2008 2:10PM
I only use their breakfast menu, everything else is garbage IMO.
xFenixKnightx @ Jan 9th 2008 2:12PM
Yea the breakfast is good there, after that not so much.
Well if anything video games make me lose weight from being on Live and not eating dinner most of the times lol.
mattclarkie @ Jan 9th 2008 2:27PM
When I am doing my Marathon gaming sessions I don't eat for 10 hours, and all I have for dinner is something like beans on toast.
It is when I am not gaming that I eat, I mean how can you pwn a n00b on Halo when your controller is covered in cheese and grease. You just can't doit.
jamma @ Jan 9th 2008 2:10PM
yeah, cos video games pretend to have 100% beef when it's really 100% pure turd
SUPER DESU @ Jan 9th 2008 2:15PM
You've obviously never played Lair.
baby sea tuna @ Jan 9th 2008 2:11PM
Pot, have you met my good friend Kettle?
DWells55 @ Jan 9th 2008 2:16PM
Hahaha, nicely done. +1 for you sir.
Neon Jebus @ Jan 9th 2008 2:18PM
I was going to say that was like the pot calling the kettle fat, but you beat me to it. Good show sir.
SUPER DESU @ Jan 9th 2008 2:13PM
Well, I'm a gamer, and I stay thin by not eating the minced and vulcanized cow vagina they try to pass off as beef.
xFenixKnightx @ Jan 9th 2008 2:15PM
Cow vagina? You'd think they would try to pass it off as fish, lolz!
Vol @ Jan 9th 2008 2:17PM
Apparently this guy hasn't heard of WiiFit yet and how it will burn off that Big Mac you just ate while slamming down 60 grams of sugar in that Coca-Cola.
CJC @ Jan 9th 2008 2:17PM
Yay! Let's make a list of why video games suck!
Let's see what they supposedly cause:
Violence
Obesity
Degradation of women
Loss of interest in soccer/football
What's next? My money is on CANCER.
Korova @ Jan 9th 2008 3:00PM
Try:
Poor eyesight
Voter apathy
Low mathematical aptitude
The funny thing is that in Asia its the opposite - people there are dropping dead because they forget to eat. Maybe McD should open more sites in Korea.
SoulBlade @ Jan 9th 2008 2:22PM
Makes a whole lotta sense. It's not McDonald's fault their food is so unhealthy, it's that kids aren't burning it off by running around outside.
How the fuck do stupid people get positions of power? Idiots.
Moofree @ Jan 9th 2008 2:25PM
I agree with Mr. Easterbrook. Those Game DVDs have waaay too many calories.
Not to mention Blu-ray, with its' 2000 Calories, and 130 grams of fat.
DWells55 @ Jan 9th 2008 2:34PM
Yeah, but at least with the Blu-Ray it takes over 25,000,000,000 bytes to get to all those calories on a single layer disc.
Oh my God, that was an absolutely terrible pun, I apologize.
Moofree @ Jan 9th 2008 2:40PM
I would have done a "25 billion bites to eat just one" pun ;)
LiK @ Jan 9th 2008 2:31PM
are parents completely free from all responsibility for what their kids do these days? geez.
Mr.Blonde @ Jan 9th 2008 2:35PM
Pot calling the kettle black?
chispito @ Jan 9th 2008 2:36PM
Neither McDonald's nor videogames is responsible for anybody becoming fat.
Personal responsibility, kids.
CJ @ Jan 10th 2008 11:49AM
Agreed! It's time that people own their own issues, not blame it on corporate fast food, games or otherwise!
Joel Serious @ Jan 9th 2008 2:41PM
I kind of slightly agree with the man though. In a lot of cases, many gamers do not exercise enough, or I find that many that play long sessions of gaming have weird eating habits. These long sessions in front of the television and not actually exercising are not helping.
Having said that, video games themselves are not really the problem. It's the lack of education by whomever to the individual that chooses to play Wow for an entire weekend and never exercises and eats like shit.
Ephelea @ Jan 10th 2008 5:48PM
I'm sorry, WoW/other video games are not the cause of obesity. I've played WoW since it was released, and it hasn't caused weight gain. I could lick my computer for days, and all I'd get is weird looks and dust in my mouth occaisionally. Can't say that about a Big Mac. I'd probably gain a pound just thinking about it. In fact, I feel fatter already.
Joel Serious @ Jan 11th 2008 9:05AM
I didn't say WoW caused it. I was using an example of how someone could be unhealthy. I'm sorry but sitting on a couch or computer chair for hours and not exercising is not going to help you. I have obviously hit a touchy subject in that I do not play WoW, but you should really limit the amount of time you play video games or just sitting around. I'm not singling out video games, I'm singling out inactivity. Sorry that I wasn't making that clear before.
Give me a break about wii-fit. Go outside. I love how everyone is making it out that this device is going to make everyone that owns it healthy, it's not. I'm sure it will make some people take a better look and see that exercising should be in their daily regimen, but it's not going to be this magical device that a lot of people are making it out to be.
LuckyEMS @ Jan 10th 2008 8:50AM
parents fault all the way you cant blame kids they eat what there parents give them
SoulBlade @ Jan 9th 2008 2:49PM
He should blame weed on obesity too. Munchies can lead to McDonald's binges.
Jerk Face @ Jan 9th 2008 3:13PM
Potheads are also bad at sentence structure.
james huntley @ Jan 9th 2008 2:56PM
This is ridiculous.
The only people who i sympathise with are the people with thyroid problems who cant control their weight, which is a TINY percentage. We have free will! Its obviously fatty food, and obviously sitting around playing games and not exercising that fat off will build up! If i was that executive i'd be sitting there saying "yes the food is what it is, but thats obvious! if you're oveweight maybe you shouldnt eat it, or you should exercise more"
you cant shift the blame around, no-one forced you to be fat
MN Guy @ Jan 9th 2008 5:58PM
I exercise 3 times a week (30 minute run in the morning), never eat snacks, deserts, or junk food of any kind, don't drink pop, don't have a thyroid problem, and am overweight. I am 6 foot and 240 pounds, though I do have a fairly muscular and wide frame.
I just have slow metabolism. I know a lot of people that don't exercise and eat way, way worse than I do and are skinny as hell. My dad is skinny and my mom actually has health issues in which she CAN'T gain weight no matter what she does and is only 90lbs.
Usually the people claiming all fat people are slobs with no control are the same a-holes that eat just as much, don't exercise, and stay thin due to a fast metabolism that they got lucky with.