Killer at Large Documentary

The camera pans the perimeter of an enclosed yard. Bodies swarm the chained link fence, desperately reaching through to snatch sustenance. These aren't refugees of some war torn land, they're elementary schoolers. And this is not some benighted third world corner of the globe, this is Cali. After Governor Schwarzenegger signed state legislation that "terminated" (hah!) junk food sales at schools, parents retaliated with junk food hand outs to save their kids from imminent.... sugar withdrawal. How noble?

Switch to Brooke Bates in the recovery room. We've just seen 35 lbs of fat liposuctioned out of her. Was that necessary? I'm talking both about making me watch liposuction and also making the option available to a TWELVE YEAR OLD GIRL. Her parents sanctioned the fat slurp. And doctors gladly took the dough - from her paunch and her parent's pockets. Fast forward to dvd's end and we've seen she's gained back all the weight and is headed to Mexico! Ole! No, not cause she thinks her Jlo will have more fans down there, she's off to get controversial lap band surgery. Again, parent approved.

With parents like those in these cases, how can we combat the obesity epidemic? People have to want to be helped. An unsettling dilemma to which the documentary hardly offered solution.

I didn't enjoy the Killer at Large documentary. I had to watch its 100 minutes in five installments. When a nutrition student, who's arguably more vested in food matters than the general viewer, can't stay interested in the plot line......there may be a problem. Killer at Large didn't expose anything we don't already know.

• Yes, obesity is the nation's number one killer.
• Yes, our stress-filled lives course cortisol through our veins, keep pudge on our frames.
• Yes, junk food advertisers care more about profit and brand loyalty than your medical bills.
• Yes, healthy food is more expensive which inclines us to settle for crappy cuisine.
• Yes, the hunter/gatherer norm was famine which evolutionarily conditioned us to hoard fat.

But what can we do about it? The documentary failed to present solutions. It suggested back yard gardens. It's laughable to think the average american will bother with picking up a hoe (other than ones on street corner). It suggested incorporating food education into schools. Ah yes, the same schools that cut out gym class? Y'think they'll teach food over math? It suggests community-wide intervention programs like Shape Up Somerville. Yea, that one that despite showing success was only rewarded $150,000 in renewed funding when it needed $15 million. It suggested using popular kid icons like Shrek to encourage exercise. Meanwhile, Shrek can also be seen on twinkie and poptart packages. Sup hypocriticism!

This utterly overwhelming film can be summed up in one sentence: "Hey fat asses, we're in an obesity epidemic." There, now you don't have to watch it. Now you have 1.5 extra hours in your day you can spend at the gym.

Here's the trailer, for what it's worth.