New Documentary Fed Up Takes Audiences Inside the Obesity Epidemic

The provocative documentary Fed Up, which offers an unflinching look at the real causes and challenges of America’s obesity epidemic, is currently playing in select cities; a list of theaters is available here. Directed by Stephanie Soechtig and executive produced by Katie Couric – who also narrates – and An Inconvenient Truth’s Laurie David, Fed Up has received almost uniformly positive acclaim from critics. The film offers a no-holds-barred look at the failings of both the food industry and the general food culture. Arguing that “Everything we’ve been told about food and exercise for the last 30 years is dead wrong,” the film mixes expert commentary, journalistic investigation, and real-world case studies to offer a compelling, persuasive picture of the public health dangers of processed food, sugary soda, inadequate school lunches, and much more. As part of its attempt to educate audiences about the perils of sugar, the filmmakers have launched the Fed Up Challenge, which asks all participants to go sugar free for 10 days. To find out more about the film and the challenge, visit the movie’s official website. –ARW