Study offers fat people $3.5K to eat fast food every day

1. 78

   Stacie Lposted 13 years ago

   Washington University in St. Louis has the gastronomic deal of the century for fast-food freaks: They can eat to their artery-hardened heart's content all the pizza, tacos and bacon-swathed burgers they can handle every day for three months -- and walk away (assuming they still can) with $3,500.
   
   
   http://now.msn.com/money/0510-fast-food … study.aspx
   
   Would you eat and gain weight for 3500?
   Maybe I would....
   These research studies can be rewarding..

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      BlissfulWriterposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      That is just weird.   I'm not even sure it is ethical.  No, I would not eat junk food for $3500.

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      caleb89posted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Although I would love to know the results of this study I just don't think that we should do that to people. It seems incredibly dangerous and I worry about the participant's health.

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2. 71

   skearposted 13 years ago

   "They have to be at least 30 pounds overweight to begin with"
   
   Wow, this could do some serious damage to already unhealthy people!

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3. 60

   Disturbiaposted 13 years ago

   It sounds like a load of crap to me. $3,500 is not enough money to put your health at risk. It might sound good if you were homeless and starving and could use all the free food you could eat, but under those conditions, you probably wouldn't be the necessary 30 lbs. overweight you need to qualify for the study in the first place. 
   
   However, that aside, the article goes on to say that the participants must gain 5% of their body weight over the three months of the study period. And this is being done to figure out why some overweight people get diabetes and cardiovascular problems while others don't? Is three months long enough to study something that usually takes a life-time of poor eating habits coupled with genetics to develop?  Surely, they aren't expecting anyone to develop these problems during the study. I thought it had already been established that poor eating habits along with family history are what cause these things. I want to know how much of our tax money is going into the grant that is funding this stupid project.

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4. 61

   American Viewposted 13 years ago

   Our Stimulus money at work, unreal

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5. 78

   Stacie Lposted 13 years ago

   The article went on to state that the researchers would help them take off the weight after the three month study was over.

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      Disturbiaposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, I saw that.  It's the least they can do.  However, it all sounds very abusive to me.  Being allowed and/or forced to feast like a pig for several months, then suddenly being made to diet and workout.  Three months is not enough time to learn why some people are more prone to certain illnesses than others. My opinion is unchanged.  To me, the study has no merit.

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   Cagsilposted 13 years ago

   I could eat it. However, it's actually unlikely I would ever gain weight.

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7. 59

   tussinposted 13 years ago

   If you eat moderate sized portions and order the least greasy items on the menu you won't necessarily gain weight on such a diet.  I knew someone from work who ate McDonald's for lunch every day: chicken sandwich with no mayo, no fries and no softdrink.  That woman was much thinner than many people who brought dinner leftovers to reheat for lunch--huge portions of pot roast, lasagna, and other rich foods.  It's all in the amounts. 
   
   Unfortunately, the people offering the money stipulate that you have to gorge yourself on fast foods. to quote from the article:
   
   "They have to be at least 30 pounds overweight to begin with and must gain 5 percent of their body weight..."
   
   I don't think they're offering nearly enough money considering what they're asking for.  Then again, there are people who do this every day for free.

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      Alexisjacksonposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      That's really insightful, I read an article of a runner who signed up for a 5k and before  the event all she ate was Mcdonalds, and she beat her record time. Just kind of thought it went with your comment lol.

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8. 80

   TheNerdyGardenerposted 13 years ago

   I wouldn't.
   
   $3,500 isn't nearly enough to cover the eventually medical bills that a fast food addiction can cause.

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