Super Size Me by Morgan Spurlock - Movie Review Example

Super Size Me About a month ago, my father came home with about ten print outs, it was not unusual as he is an avid reader. However, on this particular day he made sure that he read four of the ten pages he had carried home. As I later gathered, it was a report published by Reuters, the title was, “Fat and getting fatter: U.S. obesity rates to soar by 2030”. All along, I have had it at the back of my mind that obesity is a real issue in United States. But not having a close friend or relative suffering from the condition had always made it seem a condition for a few. Reality started checking in on the day my father read that article. The facts were astounding, the report detailed that 35.7 percent of adults and 16.9 percent of children aged 2-19 were obese. Further, the report talked of obesity risk factors, the condition’s link to diseases such as type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, gallbladder disease and cancer. The information presented awakened my interest in obesity and I have learnt to appreciate every form of knowledge that would help in addressing the growing epidemic. Therefore, when I looked at the assignment “Super Size Me” the whole experience replayed in my mind and I felt grateful for another opportunity to learn something extra on obesity. Super Sizes Me is an American documentary film produced and starred by Morgan Spurlock. Morgan Spurlock is an American, independent film maker whose prominence came from this film. The film documentary which was released in 2004 runs for 98 minutes, it details a drastic lifestyle change to depict the eating habits adopted by most Americans. The star, Morgan Spurlock, takes the viewer through a 30 day period, from February 1 to March 2, 2003, a period in which he engages in unhealthy eating habits at a famous fast food outlet, the McDonalds. McDonalds epitomizes Americans culture of fast foods, it has for long been associated with food that has high fat content. Habitual eaters from the chain and others offering similar menus report higher weights and are most likely to suffer from obesity. This is a general thought, in the film Spurlock undertakes to experiment by taking three meals from the outlet and test the truth behind such an observation. Throughout the thirty days, Spurlock turned up for breakfast, lunch and dinner and consumed every item on the chain’s menu. Prior to the experiment, Spurlock maintains an absolutely healthy life and his diet is closely monitored by Alexandra, a vegan chef. Besides the diet, Spurlock keeps to his trainer’s schedule and this means he is in good physical condition. To ascertain his physical condition, Spurlock visits three specialists, a cardiologist, a gastroenterologist and general physician. These examine and pass Spurlock as normal and healthy. Asked about the likely consequence of Spurlock’s new indulgence, the specialists conquer that the exercise will have an unwelcome effect on his body. However, they do not anticipate drastic changes as the body is expected to be highly adaptive even with the change in diet and intake levels. Before the experiment Spurlock stands at 6 feet 2 inches and has a body weight of 84 kilograms. The experiment is conducted under certain guidelines which seek to ensure that any outside factors are controlled. The guidelines include: an undertaking to consume three meals a day from the McDonalds, to consume every item in the chain’s menu, to only consume food offered at McDonalds, to Supersize all meals when offered, lastly to walk 5,000 standardized steps every day, this was informed by scientific findings on the average distance covered by a normal American on a daily basis. The experiment begins on February 1, it starts with breakfast at a McDonald’s outlet near his home in Manhattan. He sticks to the stated guidelines with the only exception being his walking; he appears to walk more than the designated 5000 steps. On the fifth day into his experiment, he has added 4.5 kilograms. Soon after, he starts to experience psychological problems as evidenced by bouts of depression. He also complains of lethargy and headaches. These conditions fade every time he takes a McDonald meal. According to his physician, this is a sign that he has become addicted to the chain’s meals. Additionally, Spurlock starts to lose his sex drive, as attested to by his girlfriend, Alexandra Jamieson. His body had also started to change and both family and friends had shown concern. His doctor, Dr. Daryl Isaacs checks on his heartbeat and realizes a serious distortion, he urges him to quit the experiment in order to avoid any serious health problems. However, determined to push on with the experiment Spurlock continues and eventually makes it to the 30th day on March 2. At the end of the experiment, Spurlock’s health has deteriorated as indicated by his cholesterol level which is 230. His weight has shot up by 11 kilograms resulting to a total weight of 95 kilograms. During the experiment period, Spurlock had experienced a diminishing sex drive, fat accumulation and mood swings. All these conditions had been directly linked to his eating habits for that one month. Following the experiment, Spurlock reported that it took him fourteen months to lose the eleven kilograms he had gained in that one month. This was achieved through a strict diet monitored by Alexandra who as mentioned earlier specialized in gourmet vegan dishes. The film’s influence Watching the film created a sense of urgency, at first Spurlock’s indulgence looked like fun. At the start of the film I silently thought that he was simply signing himself up for a month of fun, at some point I envied him. However, this feeling did not last for long. After Spurlock’s test on the fifth day, the 4.5 kilogram weight gain was not enviable. Besides, he was starting to really look out of shape. The attractiveness of his indulgence was fast waning and my conscience was getting the better of me. From around the fifth day it was quite easy to relate his activity with some of the experiences I had learnt during my inquiry on obesity. The final results, where Spurlock had added a total of eleven kilograms was quite astounding. It was difficult to think that one could add that much in one month. It created a feeling of urgency, where there was an immediate need to watch what one eats. Even though one could not avoid the feeling that Spurlock had been over indulgent the knowledge on what fast foods do to your body was chilling. It was an eye opener and a welcome lesson at a time when obesity is regarded as and endemic in United States. The film addresses the primary causes of obesity in a simple and easy way. By following the film, it is easy for everyone to see the link between poor eating habits and lack of adequate exercise to increased BMI. Such simplification is likely to resonate with many who indulge for fun and are oblivious of the effects of the diets they consume. At the conclusion of the film, one wonders what would have been the result if Spurlock continued with his diet. The result would undoubtedly have been catastrophic and this is the situation most of us find themselves in. This is because fast foods become part of our daily menu and for a longer period of time. In summary, the film was awakening and created a sense of urgency both from a personal level to the societal level. I was largely influenced to alter my eating habits which bore certain semblances with Spurlock’s meals. Additionally, the film influenced me to get involved in more physical exercises beyond walking to help expedite any excess calories. My last meal will undoubtedly be French fries, hamburgers and cheese sandwich. These are a constant feature in my daily menu and I will seek to have a healthier meal in their place. The reason is their high fat level which is responsible for fast weight gains as evident from Spurlock’s one month experiment. My four dining companions of choice would be a random dietician, an obese person, a nutritionist and a chef. The choice of companions would be influenced by a need to learn about healthy diets, as would be informed by the dietician and the nutritionist. The second influence would be a need to understand whether there is a way one would improve their intake of healthy foods by using different cooking styles, this lesson would be gained from the chef. The last inspiration in choosing my dining companion is need to influence. This is achieved by having an obese person who would hopefully learn a few things on how to address weight issues and sustain a healthy life from the three experts. In conclusion, Super Size Me was a superb educational film. It also provided some entertainment through the different eating experiences and approaches. The overall lesson was an important one in inspiring a lifestyle change and highlighting the consequences of fast foods on one’s body and health. Going forward, it would be important to have similar educational exercises to improve our knowledge on major health issues. This would also be critical in developing our understanding on how to avoid and address variant health conditions. Works Cited Super Size Me. Dir. Morgan Spurlock. Perf. Morgan Spurlock. 2004. Read More