021222 Survey Shows McDonalds Not Responsible for Fat People

Santa Monica, CA - McDonalds is not liable nor legally responsible for making two teens obese whose attorney has filed suit against the fast food chain, according to a SupermarketGuru.com "Future" Quick Poll. SupermarketGuru.com is a leading online resource providing consumers with food safety, products, trends and shopping tips.

"Fast food restaurants are an easy target to blame for American's expanding waistline," says Phil Lempert, chief executive officer of SupermarketGuru.com and an expert analyst on consumer and marketing trends. "However it's up to consumers to select healthy food choices and take responsibility when they don't."

A new nationwide trend is consumers suing fast food chains for contributing to their weight problems.

Nearly 350 consumers from every state responded to the Quick Poll. 78 percent of the respondents were women. The Quick Poll asked two questions that were posted on SupermarketGuru.com for one week.

When asked if McDonald's is making our kids fat, 81% said no, it isn't McDonald's fault. And when asked if the two most recent lawsuits against McDonald's, in which an attorney is claiming the fast food chain is liable and legally responsible for making two teens obese, a resounding 97% said it's not the chain's fault.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, nearly two-thirds of adults are considered overweight or obese and 15% of children 6-19 are overweight. The Centers for Disease Control information claims there are more than five million obese children in the United States.

"We know that habits learned as children continue for a lifetime," says Lempert. "Most kids are introduced to McDonald's, and the other fast food restaurants, by their parents. Not too many eight-year olds ask Dad for the car keys and drive over themselves. Parents need to set a healthful example and help their children make the right food and exercise choices."

Lempert suggests a three-step process to solve obesity and other food-related health issues. "The first step is to take a good look at the types of foods American's eat, and shift to a more balanced plate of proteins, grains, fruits and vegetables. The second step is to measure how much food a person eats in a serving and adjust the portion size to a realistic amount. Most Americans eat about 30% more volume than they should. And the third step can be the most important -- to take more time to enjoy the meal and the people we are eating with. The food environmental issues are as important as what we are consuming."

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