Programmed to Be Fat?

A hefty thesis underscores this Canadian-made scientific detective story documentary. While proper diet and exercise are unquestionably good, what if the root causes underlying the Western world's obesity epidemic have nothing to do with sedentary living or overeating? Several international scientists—noting that even lab animals, raised in controlled conditions, are becoming abnormally larger—have begun to look at "obesogens," a class of chemicals often used in industry (suspects include nicotine, lead, bisphenols, tributyltin, atrazine, and dioxin) that trigger the rapid production of fat cells. Entering the food chain and infiltrating the human cycle early via mothers' breast milk, these substances can have epigenetic effects, passing fat genes onto the developing fetus. Quite insidiously, small doses of the suspect chemicals have more severe consequences than large ones (which is partially why they went unnoticed for so long) in this theory that rewrites basic assumptions about being overweight. Narrated by David Suzuki (CBC's The Nature of Things, serving here as co-producer), filmmaker Bruce Mohun's provocative Programmed to Be Fat? deftly interweaves interviews, animation, and live-action to present an interesting concept. Highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (C. Cassady)