nosh magazine
THAT
SUGAR FILM
Catherine Saxelby, one of Australia’s leading nutrition experts, reviews the film that
everybody is talking about.
BC Radio asked me to review That
Sugar Film and comment on how
realistic or factual it was with regards to the
average adult diet in Australia. Actor
Damon Gameau, the film’s hero, goes on a
60-day journey where he eats ‘supposedly
healthy’ foods to equal 40 teaspoons of
sugar each day from ‘hidden’ sugars in
processed foods. Like Morgan Spurlock in
Super Size Me, Gameau documents the
A
Listen to Catherine’s
interview on ABC online,
find out more about the film
at www.thatsugarfilm.com
or read Catherine’s full
review of the film at
foodwatch.com.au
6
www.n4foodandhealth.com
impact of such foods on his health and
state of mind. There are many pieces to
camera where he shares his feelings with
the audience. Here are my thoughts.
First things first
I enjoyed the film’s production and found
myself really liking its hero Damon. I found
him engaging, human and realistic. I really
related to him! The film’s climax has Damon
performing a huge song and dance number,
similar to the final scenes of the Mama Mia
movie, where he plays Mr Sugar dressed in a
pale pink glitter suit. His talented partner,
Zoe, dances in the chorus with their new
baby strapped on. So much fun – you come
out having laughed and in a good mood.
Whatever happened to
moderation?
On a more serious note, I believe the film
goes overboard on the need to quit sugar.
Are we not capable of moderation? Does it
have to be total exclusion? Here are my
four points of criticism:
1. Liquid overload
Damon consumes lots of liquids, which
have been shown to be easier to overconsume than whole foods (e.g. apples
versus apple juice). I’m guessing his intake
did exceed what he was eating before and
these sweetened liquids were responsible
for the fat gain in the abdominal region as
well as the decline in liver function.