STACK NZ Jul #64

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DVD&BD Q&A
NO
SUGARCOATING
THE TRUTH
In That Sugar Film, Australian actor/director Damon Gameau set out to discover
just how much of the sweet stuff is contained in what we assume are healthy foods.
He tells STACK that everyone was surprised by the results.
STACK: For those who haven’t seen the
film, tell us a little bit about it.
DAMON GAMEAU: Basically I go on
a sugar eating binge for 60 days, eating
40 teaspoons a day – which is what the
average Australian is eating – but only
found in perceived 'healthy' foods like low
fat yoghurt, cereals and juices. No junk
food was allowed.
What prompted you to make the film?
I was aware of the constant ambiguous
messages around sugar in the media –
some of which is deliberately done by the
food industry as I discovered – and so want
to find out the truth for myself. Plus we had
a baby on the way, so that upped the ante.
That Sugar Film shares some similarities
with Morgan Spurlock’s acclaimed
documentary Super Size Me. Are you a fan of
that film?
I was a big fan and actually spoke to Morgan
early on in the hope that he could be in the
film as some kind of 'grand master lab rat'
who would oversee my adventure. I knew
there would be comparisons, but I didn't know
how else to find out the truth; I couldn't ask
someone else to do the experiment. The main
difference in the films is that I don't think
many people eat McDonalds three times a day,
whereas billions of people are eating the foods I
consumed every day.
Were you surprised how quickly your diet
affected your physical condition?
Everyone was, especially the doctors
and scientists. No-one has ever done a
fructose eating experiment before and so
developing fatty liver disease in just 18
days was a shock for all.
What was the hardest part of following the
eating regime?
Definitely the mental toll. I felt lethargic
and the constant roller coaster of sending my
insulin spiking up and down throughout the day
was very difficult. I think many may live like this
and not be aware of it.
Did you ever get to the stage of thinking
“I don’t want to do this anymore”?
Absolutely, especially towards the end.
The main concern was that my lady was eight
months pregnant and I had a real fear of being
stuck in the US filming, fat and grumpy.
How have the various food
companies reacted to the film
– no threats of legal action?
We had five lawyers look at the
film prior to release and made
sure we weren't crossing any
lines. We have actually been
approached by quite a few
large companies who
have wanted
screenings for staff. They are all aware
the scientific evidence is mounting
and that a change is coming. Being a
capitalist structure, they will want to adapt
in order to survive.
What do you hope viewers will take
away from the film?
That they will be empowered to make
smarter food choices for themselves
and they families. They don't have to 'quit'
or cut out sugar, they just need to be
aware of where it is hiding so they know
how much they are actually having. The
World Heath Organisation recommends just
six teaspoons a day for optimal health…
we are a long way from that as a population.
I think what people need to realise is that
sugar does most of its damage on the inside.
The weight gain is one aspect but the links
to type 2 diabetes and heart disease is far
more frightening.
Are there an extra or additional features on
the DVD and Blu-ray edition?
Well, the first cut of the film was three
hours and 45 minutes, as there is so much
to tell of the sugar story. The DVD has 12
extra short films on a range of topics plus an
interview with Stephen Fry about his struggles
with sugar and most importantly, a karaoke
version of the sugar song!