"casserole filled with pizza, cheese, potatoes, noodles, and stuffing."
This does not sound like a recipe for a heart attack. It's exceedingly high in carbs but not so much fat (at least no worse than any deep fried dish, Texan style). It's no doubt a good way to gain weight - carbs turns into fat in the body and that can lead to a stroke or a heart attack ... but in moderation, or as a one time meal, those 'ingredients' are not a recipe for death.
As a matter of a fact, most of these foods are offered (but not as A casserole) at any french-canadian réveillon. I fail to see what the excitement's about.