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Fat and Politics – Article Discussion
In Michael Stephens’ “Fat and Politics: Suing Fast Food Companies,” the seemingly
hypocritical gap between those who are aware how unhealthy fast food is and the actual ability to
do is examined. Stephens’ approach is incredibly even handed and comprehensive, as he
correctly notes that many of these food problems are systemic and cultural: “Our national foods
and the cultural contexts in which they are eaten are indivisible” (609). By noting these various
factors that keep people eating bad food, the oft-repeated argument that fast food companies
don’t MAKE you eat their food is strongly argued against. Stephen’s economics-based

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perspective is not only true; it is one of the most important ways in which real progress can be
made in combating the obesity epidemic.
Stephens uses the ‘suing fast food companies’ phenomenon not to talk about that trend
itself, but to use it as a mirror for the way people treat those who patronize fast food places.
When people attempt to place limits on businesses that deal in such unhealthy food and
predatory marketing, they are not treated seriously: “A fair debate is made more difficult because
the media, influenced by the enormous revenue from fast food corporations, typically treat the
issue in a derisory fashion” (609). Stephens notes that, instead of it being ridiculed because it is a
non-issue, he reveals that money is a huge motivator for these news companies to behave in this
way. By emphasizing the economic component of the way these market forces work, his
arguments become much more compelling.
Stephens’ description of the way food and eating has changed given industrialization and
globalization is succinct and well-argued – he neglects to mention ‘food deserts,’ which are areas
of substantial poverty in which actual access to healthy food is far more limited, leaving fast
food places as virtually the only affordable, close way to feed themselves and their families.
While he does not mention this, it fits well with his arguments, denoting the ways in which
substantial moneyed interests control the things people are forced (whether through proximity,
price or time constraints) to eat: “There is no possibility of informed consumer decisions, when
saturation advertising entirely overwhelms the cautionary messages of doctors and health
professionals” (611). Because of the influence of money, it is virtually impossible to trust many
reputable sources on the subject of health and diet, and these snake oil salesmen often have the
money to drown out the lesser-funded voices of reason. For these reasons and more, a lack of

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education and resources contributes heavily to the consumption of unhealthy food – as Stephen
argues, this makes it a lot harder to just blame consumers for choosing to eat at McDonald’s.
Stephen’s economics-heavy approach is very persuasive and compelling, as it forces
activists to speak to fast food companies in a language they can understand. In order to make
changes, Stephen suggests the use of economic measures – as they are the only metrics that will
actually get fast food companies to change their minds. Only through severe legislation or
concrete dangers to their bottom line would companies like McDonald’s stop using trans-fats, or
provide more even-handed advertising. Stephen’s ability to place fast food consumption in its
proper cultural context – the way American society has progressed as all but necessitated places
like McDonald’s – is what makes his point of view so valuable and insightful.

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Works Cited
Stephens, Michael. “Fat and Politics: Suing Fast Food Companies.” In The Politics of
Consumption, pp. 608-612.