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Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Eat Massive Burgers and Still Stay Skinny!

So maybe the infamous Carl's Jr. commercial with Paris Hilton isn't directly advertising about staying skinny.  But really, what subliminal messages is this sending?


Here you have this thin, toned model in a commercial for a hamburger that contains about 910 calories*. Do you think someone that looks like this:

Eats hamburgers with that many calories?  Highly improbable.  Here is a chart showing the recommended daily calorie intake:

LIFESTAGEGENDER / AGECALORIES
INFANTSBoys: 0-1yrs
Girls: 0-1yrs
n/a
TODDLERSBoys: 1-3yrs
Girls: 1-3yrs
1,230
1,165
CHILDRENBoys: 4-6yrs
Girls: 4-6yrs
1,715
1,545
CHILDRENBoys: 7-10yrs
Girls: 7-10yrs
1,970
1,740
TEENAGERSBoys: 11-14yrs
Girls: 11-14yrs
2,220
1,845
TEENAGERSBoys: 15-18yrs
Girls: 15-18yrs
2,755
2,110
ADULTSMen: 19-50yrs
Women: 19-50yrs
2,550
1,940
SENIORSMen: 19-50yrs
Women: 19-50yrs
2,550
1,940
PREGNANT WOMENWomen: <18yrs
Women: 19-50yrs
n/a
LACTATING WOMENWomen: <18yrs
Women: 19-50yrs
n/a


Therefore, if you are a 14 year old girl and have this burger for lunch, you only have 935 calories to eat for the day to maintain one's weight.  Now let's say she has one everyday because Paris Hilton is on the commercial.  Include the excessive calories, not to mention the fat, cholesterol, etc., this girl will gain weight.  Ultimately, with the negative body images a lot of teenage girls experience in their teens and their changing bodies, gaining and maintaining an appropriate weight is going to be a complicated matter.  

These factors: biological, psychological and social all contribute to the etiology of eating disorders.  I think this commercial really tackles all three factors that are possible contributors.  

Thoughts?



*Carl's Jr. does not currently sell or make the Six Dollar Spicy BBQ Burger.  The calorie amount was based on the regular Six Dollar Burger.

References:
http://www.carlsjr.com/menu
http://www.vitalhealthzone.com/nutrition/diets/recommended_calorie_intake.php

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