Fed Up

RADiUS-TWC | Release Date: May 9, 2014

7.0	USER SCORE Generally favorable reviews based on 22 Ratings

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ahnehnoisMay 14, 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, spiceAn 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.… Expand

2 of 2 users found this helpful20

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DJMorrisseyJan 7, 2015

Fantastic Fantastic Fantastic. I thought i knew alot about sugar but this movie opened my eyes to the whole 'sugar is the new tobacco'. The movie should be watched by all.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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Brent_MarchantMay 28, 2014

A well-researched, thoroughly documented indictment of the food industry and its practice of putting profits before public health, often with the tacit blessing of those in officialdom. Despite some occasional issues with the flow of theA well-researched, thoroughly documented indictment of the food industry and its practice of putting profits before public health, often with the tacit blessing of those in officialdom. Despite some occasional issues with the flow of the material and a tendency toward repetition, the film nevertheless makes its case effectively and intelligently. A must-see for anyone who cares about what they eat.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

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johndoe2014May 10, 2014

This movie needs to be seen by everyone. It is very human. And it provides useful science. And it recounts some politics that need to be shown the light of day. And no I do not work for the film makers. I am a former PE teacher who wishes IThis movie needs to be seen by everyone. It is very human. And it provides useful science. And it recounts some politics that need to be shown the light of day. And no I do not work for the film makers. I am a former PE teacher who wishes I could show this to my classes. But I will make sure that this movie gets into schools.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

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jrodfilmsSep 23, 2014

it all boils down to common sense, still the movie had pretty visuals, and was informative, but it became ironic that most of what you see is junk food advertising.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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TVJerryMay 27, 2014

The largest health issue in the world today is obesity, primarily due to sugar and the big business that shamelessly sells it. As a film, this is standard doc fare: lots of expert interviews, snappy graphics, media footage (much of itThe largest health issue in the world today is obesity, primarily due to sugar and the big business that shamelessly sells it. As a film, this is standard doc fare: lots of expert interviews, snappy graphics, media footage (much of it horribly grainy) and real people whose stories make it personal. This one actually hammers home its message too often, which drags the pace and becomes frustrating. So many documentaries are full of righteous outrage and shocking statistics. It's a shame that the intended audiences will probably never benefit from it's message.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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CorvinJul 5, 2015

A great overview on the basics. Those interested in delving deeper into the history and research should access the many lectures given by Taubes and Lustig for free on Youtube. If you've already studied this issue you'll probably find FedA great overview on the basics. Those interested in delving deeper into the history and research should access the many lectures given by Taubes and Lustig for free on Youtube. If you've already studied this issue you'll probably find Fed Up to be a bit basic, however it's still compelling. It puts a face on the devastation. Very young and desperately unhappy faces. It's heart wrenching when a child is obese because the parents swallow the hype of Lean Hot Pockets and breakfast cereal and worse, they can't afford to feed their children better than they are anyway. The one quibble I have with Fed Up is the claim that healthy food is just as cheap or cheaper than unhealthy food. Simply not true. If you go to the grocery store with $20 for a week you won't be buying fresh meat and produce. You'll be buying bread, Mac and Cheese, and sweets. The comparison Fed Up made was between restaurant food and grocery store food. The real comparison needs to be made between grocery store meat and produce and grocery store processed food.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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leaveitApr 27, 2015

Journalists that can't be bothered to stay up-to-date on scientific publications and instead hyper-focus on their pet subject of bureaucracy and corporations which make deals to deceive the citizenry which can't be bothered to stay up-to-dateJournalists that can't be bothered to stay up-to-date on scientific publications and instead hyper-focus on their pet subject of bureaucracy and corporations which make deals to deceive the citizenry which can't be bothered to stay up-to-date on scientific publications and instead hyper-focus on their pet subject of bureaucracy and corporations produced this oversimplification of the science and subsequent oversimplification of blame on the food industry. There is nothing here that you haven't already heard before: prepackaged and processed foods contain tons of sugar, no one knows anything about nutrition or endocrinology, people can't control themselves so we need public health legislation, etc. I give it 1 additional point for decent editing, although the narrative is all over the place and pretty overdone.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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reviewfrom19842Dec 29, 2016

This movie is good I really like it then I saw the last 20 minutes of the movie. I hate when movies try to put fear to make you scared so that hopefully you buy there massage. It has good indentions and I can see why it got good reviews butThis movie is good I really like it then I saw the last 20 minutes of the movie. I hate when movies try to put fear to make you scared so that hopefully you buy there massage. It has good indentions and I can see why it got good reviews but the last 20 minutes are unwatchable garbage. The movie was making good points until it turned into an after school special.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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TrailesqueJul 14, 2017

This was a good, if somewhat sad documentary - it was tough to see those kids struggling to lose weight, really wanting to but not being able to for some reason. The documentary takes aim at the American sugar and processed food corporationsThis was a good, if somewhat sad documentary - it was tough to see those kids struggling to lose weight, really wanting to but not being able to for some reason. The documentary takes aim at the American sugar and processed food corporations and blames them for our obesity epidemic - but it still left me hungry for more. I am not sure I agree with their claim that sugar is the culprit - I strongly suspect that Americans' passion for cheap, low quality meat and large quantities of carbohydrates other than sugar should share in the blame. Every fat person I've known was usually wolfing down cheeseburgers and digging in to big plates of barbecue in addition to tackling big gulp sodas, budget-priced pies, ice creams, bags of chips, sugary cereals, cheezy pizzas, beers, et cetera. Hey, America - eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, and whole grains! It is worth the effort - it is better for you, better for your kids, and better for the planet.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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