Deep-fried cupcakes? This Is Why You're Fat

Do you like to look at pictures of "deliciously gross food" such as this cupcake that has been deep fried and then drenched in chocolate syrup and topped off with sprinkles?

Well, someone out there does. Within three days of launching this month, a blog and website dedicated to food porn -- the aptly titled ThisIsWhyYoureFat.com -- pulled in more than 3 million pages views. (The blog's subtitle: Where dreams become heart attacks.)

"We thought it was a very good idea, but we were both very surprised at how it caught on." That's one of the co-creators -- she prefers to be identified as Creator No. 1 and declines to be identified because she and her partner are in the media and want to avoid making themselves part of the story behind the blog, to keep the focus on the food.

A little mystery never hurt either.

"It started because we were joking about how there are all these really nasty pictures of fatty foods floating around on the Internet. We’re like, "Do people really eat this? Are people posting these photos as a badge of honor?'"

They started collecting images on Feb. 1 and launched Feb. 9, and it's been pinging around the Internet ever since, thanks in no small part to mentions by Time, The Atlantic, the New York Times, etc.

The blog is all about the users: Photos are submitted and posted with very little commentary, beyond a description and a source credit. "We want to let the food speak for itself, and appeal to that community aspect," Creator No. 1 said.

That's not to say it's a free-for-all. There is an editorial stamp on it all -- and an effort to stay above the fray. "We've had some people ask if we would post images of obese people." The answer was no.  The New York-based creators have already been approached by literary agents and agents who are interested in taking ThisIsWhyYoureFat "into other forms," she said.

"There is a sort of irony in it, hence the name. We all get that eating, a, whatever, a 20-cream stuffed Oreo isn’t going to be good for you ... so it's kind of like a shared joke, not meant to be taken too seriously. But at the same time, it does provide a little bit of social commentary about U.S. overindulgence."

-- Rene Lynch

Photo: Deep-fried cupcake with chocolate syrup and sprinkles. Photo credit: Brandy via Flickr

Comments

[DebbieSLP]

The three most important determinants of health -- and not just weight -- are Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.

Eight hours of exercise a day is not going to make up for the disease and obesity causing properties -- and the malnutrition -- of 3000 calories a day of processed foods (white flour, sugar, and oils topping the list) and animal foods --our sources of saturated fat, cholesterol, and disease-promoting animal protein.

Exercise is important, and contributes to health, but the lack of it is not what makes people fat.

About 4% of Americans' calories come from unprocessed plant foods -- vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, and seeds. Another 3% comes from white potatoes, probably the least nutritious of all the vegetables, especially without the skin -- and the vast majority of potatoes in America are eaten in the form of french fries and chips, really more like a delivery system for fat calories.

That means fully 93% of our calories come from foods with very, very few nutrients (meaning micronutrients like vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients, antioxidants) or fiber. And by the way, out of the entire plant kingdom, whole grains contain the fewest nutrients of all, although they're of course still much better than processed grains (ANY type of flour is processed).

Re: treats --

The problem with having treats "once in a while" is that most people feel a treat of shrimp alfredo and cookies on Monday, then ice cream and a fast food lunch on Tuesday, sausage pizza on Wednesday, fried chicken and biscuits on Thursday, eggs and bacon for breakfast with cheesecake after dinner on Friday, and a big steak on Saturday, is having treats just once in a while. ("But I only have cheesecake once a week!!) Even with a side of salad or vegetables each day, this is still a nutrient-poor, calorie-rich diet.

The best diet gets 90% of calories from whole plant foods, not 4%. It's not that hard to eat mostly cooked vegetables, salads, fruits, nuts, seeds, beans, and whole grains, and use meats and dairy more as condiments than main dishes. The nice thing about this way of eating is that you lose cravings, and it's almost impossible to get too many calories despite eating as much as you want.

Hope this helps someone consider becoming a nutritarian -- a person whose dietary choices revolve around getting the best nutrition. Google "nutritarian" for references and links.

[JM]

How many of those can you actually eat in one day?

Even if you eat quite a few do you make them at home? Most people who would eat this are too lazy to make them.

You are not fat because of one food unless that is all you eat everyday. However that is not the case in my opinion. I am fat because I eat more calories than I burn in a day. It is as simple as that.

[JM]

How many of those can you actually eat in one day?

Even if you eat quite a few do you make them at home? Most people who would eat this are too lazy to make them.

You are not fat because of one food unless that is all you eat everyday. However that is not the case in my opinion. I am fat because I eat more calories than I burn in a day. It is as simple as that.

[Cupcake Ideas For You]

I am a true fan of the cupcake however their comes a time when the cupcake ideas go to far. Yes I give in to my treats but this monstrosity has the perfect name!

[Stephen]

There are a number of reasons why people are fat but the number 1 reason is that people do not do aerobic exercise at least 30 minutes per day, 3 times a week or more. They would rather watch TV, play video games or talk incessantly on their cell phones while pounding cheetos on the couch.

[Biggie]

Looks like most of those foods are once-a-year-at-the-fair foods. Might make one gain a pound or two. Although, if you can stomach those foods, you have probably built up a tolerance for fat-fried-fat.

I'm fat. I would NEVER put any of that in my mouth. Well, I do feel a little lustful for the deep fried cupcake...

[H.C.]

Yep, totally remembered seeing that - but these fairs have a way of one-upping the sugar, fat, fried and bacon levels every year. Can't wait to see what this year's will bring (and what organ systems in my body will shut down)

[WiseOwl]

yum yum! I want one:)

[Elina Shatkin]

Actually, we already did that last year with the O.C. Fair. :) http://www.latimes.com/theguide/restaurants/la-et-ocfairfood-31jul31,0,7400123.story

[H.C.]

wait till Aug-Sept rolls around and all the foodbloggers post their County Fair Food photos . . . ;)