Analysis Of Super Size Me

Super Size Me opens up by introducing to several statistics about America, obesity, and the link between fast food chains. This gives the viewer an idea of how things have shifted in the past few decades from a healthier way of life, cooking at home with the family to how families are today. Especially in America with more people eating out more and sometimes multiple times a week. Morgan Spurlock, the filmmaker of the documentary, being of excitant health for his age decides to do an experiment. The experiment consists of going from a healthy, low-carb diet to putting himself in the position of eating McDonald’s three times a day for thirty days straight. Within the first ten minutes, the view sees Spurlock put through a series of tests.
This is going to go down as his starting health numbers to be able to document the changes the food will make on Spurlock’s body. These tests will be repeated on a less extensive level throughout the period of this experiment to keep an accurate and up-to-date health log. Spurlock has a set of rules he must abide by for the next thirty days including, “1.) Can only Super-Size when asked. 2.) Can only eat food from McDonald’s water included. 3.) Has to eat everything on the menu at least once. 4.) Must eat three meals a day (Super Size Me video).” As shown in the video the effects of the extremely unhealthy foods that are consumed are immediate. The sizes of the meals, in itself are extremely too much for one person to finish without becoming sick like Spurlock. Morgan’s health before the experiment was in pristine condition.
Within only one week Spurlock gains 5% of his body weight, which was about 10 pounds. This brought his body weight from 185 to 195 in a matter of seven days. This alarmed the nutritionist and she tried to limit his diet even more, but for sake of the experiment Spurlock could only do so much. Later in the experiment the food begins to effect Spurlock’s mood and energy. It’s stated that he felt drained and was exhausted after work, unlike normal. Spurlock stated that he began to feel depressed until he was eating again showing that he was becoming addicted to the unhealthy, greasy food he was consuming. Upon the end of the experiment, Spurlock’s cholesterol went up sixty-five points, his body fat went up seven percent, and he gained twenty-four and a half pounds. Spurlock put both his heart and his liver in danger during the course of this experiment, but he was able to reverse the damage in eight weeks on a strict
diet.
The lunches in American are shown in three examples.
The first two are of very unhealthy lunches being mostly of soda, snack cakes, and fries. Spurlock went further into the cafeteria to show that only six meals for that month were to be homemade. The other meals were meals that were precooked and prepackaged just to be warmed up and served to the students. The last example school was one of an alternative school, their school used mostly vegetables and fruits for their lunches. Spurlock states that all of the schools were spending the same amount of money, but why would one school be eating so much better that the other two. The finger get pointed at the soft drink and snack cake companies. The companies pay to contribute to the schools lunches however it only consists of junk food. The question remains why can’t all schools get healthy lunches like the third school, but still get the added benefit of getting an occasional diet soft drink or low calorie
snack.
Seeing some of the effects of him eating the super-sized meals in the beginning had an effect on me and lead me to question whether or not I should be eating that. However, he overate with the super-sized meal and upon comparison I know when I am full to stop eating. I think this is an eye opener about what Americans put into their bodies. Morgan did a great job in showing the effects of McDonald’s upon over eating and how Americans over indulge. The movie did impact me, however I will most likely still eat McDonald’s simply because it is easy and cheap especially on a late night after work. However, I will continue to use caution to how often I eat this greasy treat.
According to Kevin Mallory and Morgan Spurlock, the documentary had no effect on McDonalds. One day before the film was aired McDonald’s made changes to their menu, giving a healthier alternative to adults. The “Go Active” menu and bottled waters were added to be on the healthier side of things. What is the reason behind all these changes? Mallory states, “This, way McDonald’s could claim their campaign to get healthy happened before the release and therefore had no impact on the decision. (Mallory)” In addition, six weeks after the film McDonald’s eliminated the Super Size option McDonald’s released their premium salads Still, McDonald’s lives up to their standards with only one salad being under 350 calories.