Swedish researchers say a diet of burgers, fries and soft drinks can damage the liver and increase waistlines, but may also boost levels of good cholesterol, a key measure of cardiovascular health.
In an experiment inspired by the movie Supersize Me, in which filmmaker Morgan Spurlock lives on McDonald's meals for a month, the researchers asked 12 men and six women to participate in a similar experiment.
The 18 participants — all in their 20s, lean and in good health — spent a month eating two meals a day at fast-food restaurants while living a sedentary lifestyle. The participants were told not to exceed 5,000 steps per day, with the goal of increasing their body weight by five to 15 per cent. All but one of the participants reached that goal, while five boosted their body weight by the maximum of 15 per cent. http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2008/02/14/supersize-experiment.html