There are many qualities that make up an Olympian. Natural talent and years of training and sacrifice are among them. Despite what McDonald’s would like to have you believe, a trip to the McDonald’s drive-thru before practice, or a coach that rewards you for losing with a six-pack of McNuggets are not on that list.So, imagine my surprise when I saw commercials advertising just that during an Olympic broadcast.

Surely Olympians can’t possibly be eating Big Macs and super-sizing their fries. The body of an Olympic athlete is a finely-tuned machine that needs the best fuel for optimum performance, not the artificial colors and eight different kinds of preservatives found in a Sausage McMuffin with egg.

McDonalds began their Olympic involvement in 1968 by sending hamburgers to the athletes in France.

So why, over 40 years after McDonald’s supposedly began feeding Olympians, are people like myself objecting?

I’m objecting because we now know that the enriched flour in hamburger buns isn’t as wholesome as McDonald’s would have us believe. I’m objecting because childhood obesity is rising faster than my cholesterol levels just thinking about a Double Quarter Pounder with cheese.

There is no denying the fact that children are becoming overweight at alarming rates. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Association of Children’s Hospitals, over the past three decades childhood obesity has more than doubled for children 2-5 years old and 12-19 years old, and tripled for children 6-11 years old.

These kids aren’t big-boned; they’re big-burgered. And I’m not the only one who has noticed.

First Lady Michelle Obama has taken on the responsibility of rectifying the problem of children’s expanding waistlines with the “Let’s Move” campaign. The campaign – which identifies childhood obesity as an epidemic – focuses on healthier food, both in and out of school, as well as increased physical activity.

“The truth is, our kids didn’t do this to themselves,” Mrs. Obama said in a recent press conference. “Our kids didn’t choose.to have those foods (supersized portions of high fat food) marketed to them wherever they turn.”

And these commercials go above and beyond normal marketing practices. They aren’t just showing happy families dining on burgers and sipping Cokes. They show athletes, the best-of-the-best athletes, the athletes that represent America to the rest of the world, eating these deep-fried morsels and pretending the food is healthy.

This is more than misleading advertising. These commercials are flat-out lies.

Call me extreme, but think about what will happen when this McDonald’s-fed generation tries to compete in the Olympics.

Will they be too bloated from the 2260mg of sodium (90 percent of the recommended daily intake based on a 2,000 calorie diet) found in a regular Deluxe Breakfast to fit into their skiing speed suits? Will they be so hooked on the 85 grams of sugar in a McFlurry with M&Ms that they ask for one instead of the Olympic bouquet if they’re lucky enough to get on the podium?

If these kids are our future Olympians, I foresee America losing more than just the gold medal count.

And, others agree with me in my abhorrence of McDonald’s approach to their sponsorship. I’m joined by the over 500,000 fans of the “Sorry McDonald’s, but I really don’t think Olympic Athletes eat your food” Facebook page.

While I hate to make decisions or opinions based on the masses, over 500,000 people can’t be wrong.

McDonald’s, you’re not fooling anyone. Leave the kids alone.