super size me personal response essay

Obesity in America: “Super Size Me” Essay

Introduction.

“Super Size Me” is a movie directed by Morgan Spurlock addressing the obesity epidemic that American faces. The movie is a documentary on an experiment conducted on filmmaker Spurlock by himself so as to reveal the effects of eating fast foods. The inspiration for the movie was a number of legal suits that had been brought against the fast-food giant McDonalds. In the suit, the food giant was accused of selling unhealthy foods to the population with dire health consequences for the plaintiffs.

Spurlock sets out on an all McDonald diet for a whole month so as to demonstrate the effects of fast foods. He purposes to eat his thee meals each day from the McDonald menu with no outside food sources. To begin with, Spurlock has his health checked by three medical specialists: a cardiologist, a gastroenterologist, and a GP. The tests confirm that his fitness is well above that of the average person. In addition to this, Spurlock has a dietician monitoring his progress as he conducts his fast-food experiment.

As the days progress, Spurlock’s weight increases dramatically and his health deteriorates. The movie makes it very clear that these changes are a result of his eating habits. In the cause of the experiment, Spurlock engages a number of professionals who discuss the effect of fast foods. The interviews with these professionals also aim to find out why fast foods are slowly becoming the number one food served to school-going children. The movie concludes by authoritatively stating that fast foods are hazardous to the health of the consumer.

What impressed me most about “Supersize Me” is the movie’s use of facts to make its point. While the movie is centered on Spurlock’s attempt to live off fast foods for an entire month, it makes use of authorities on the subject. The movie contained a lot of scientific information that had an even greater impact as a result of the physical evidence that Spurlock’s experiment presented. Obesity has been on a steady increase in the US resulting in a decline in health since people who are obese are at increased risk of physical as well as psychosocial health consequences.

The movie is laced with statistics and interviews from experts in the health industry therefore reinforcing the message that the movie is trying to make. The results from Spurlock’s test are enough to jolt any person into taking a closer look at their eating habits. The ignorance exhibited by most people is also highlighted through interviews with people who turn out to be clueless as to concepts such as calorie intake and a balanced diet.

The reason why the informative nature of the movie impressed me the most is that obesity is an epidemic that has afflicted America. Over the past few years, research indicates that the prevalence rate of obesity has actually increased. This movie addresses this issue by highlighting the fact that while obesity can be a result of different reasons, the condition is mostly limited to people who overindulge in unhealthy food and exhibit limited activity.

The movie reveals that in addition to the physical effects, unhealthy eating also causes psychological distresses such as stress and depression. The movie also takes a wider look at the subject and highlights the lack of government involvement in mitigating the dietary crisis that Americans face. The movie’s emphasis on taking personal responsibility is evident from Spurlock who ridicules individuals who make lawsuits against McDonald’s for their overweight issues.

Without a doubt, the movie “Super Size Me” by Morgan Spurlock had a profound impact on me. While I have previously heard information suggesting that fast foods are detrimental to a person’s health, I always ignored these messages. To me, fast foods were an integral part of my life. After watching the movie, I have come to a greater understanding of the effects of fast foods on my general health.

From Morgan Spurlock’s documentary, I witnessed how fast foods could transform a healthy person into an unhealthy person in a matter of weeks. While I acknowledge that Spurlock’s diet is extreme in nature and that no one in their right mind would indulge in it, Spurlock uses the extremes to highlight the point that fast foods are dangerous. I am now keener as to the foods I consume and try to stay away from fast foods whenever possible.

The movie “Super Size Me” is arguably one of the most thought-provoking movies that I have ever watched. The movie addresses a topic that is of great importance to the people and sensitizes everyone on the dangers of unhealthy eating. I found this movie not only entertaining but also very informative and empowering. In my opinion, the movie’s ability to use humor to pass on a very serious message further increased the impact of the movie on the audience. It is my sincere hope that every other person who watched the movie was deeply impacted by its message and is making positive changes in their eating habits just as I am.

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Bibliography

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I say this having eaten irresponsibly at McDonald's since I was in grade school, and one of the very first McDonald's outlets in the nation opened in Urbana. Hamburgers were 15 cents, fries were a dime. Make it two burgers, and we considered that a meal. Today it is possible to ingest thousands of calories at McDonald's, and zoom dangerously over your daily recommended limits of fat, sugar and salt. I know because Morgan Spurlock proves it in "Super Size Me."

This is the documentary that caused a sensation at Sundance 2004 and allegedly inspired McDonald's to discontinue its "super size" promotions as a preemptive measure. In it, Spurlock vows to eat three meals a day at McDonald's for one month. He is examined by three doctors at the beginning of the month and found to be in good health. They check him again regularly during the filming, as his weight balloons 30 pounds, his blood pressure skyrockets, his cholesterol goes up 65 points, he has symptoms of toxic shock to his liver, his skin begins to look unhealthy, his energy drops, he has chest pains, and his girlfriend complains about their sex life. At one point his doctors advise him to abandon McDonald's before he does permanent damage. The doctors say they have seen similar side-effects from binge drinkers, but never dreamed you could get that way just by eating fast food.

It's amazing, what you find on the menu at McDonald's. Let's say you start the day with a sausage and egg McMuffin. You'll get 10 grams of saturated fat -- 50 percent of your daily recommendation, not to mention 39 percent of your daily sodium intake. Add a Big Mac and medium fries for lunch, and you're up to 123 percent of your daily sat fat recommendation, and 96 percent of your sodium. For dinner, choose a Quarter Pounder with cheese, add another medium order of fries, and you're at 206 percent of daily sat. fat and 160 percent of sodium. At some point add a strawberry shake to take you to 247 percent of sat. fat and 166 percent of sodium. And then remember that most nutritionists recommend less fat and salt than the government guidelines.

There is a revisionist interpretation of the film, in which Spurlock is identified as a self-promoter who on behalf of his film ate more than any reasonable person could consume in a month at McDonald's. That is both true and not true. He does have a policy that whenever he's asked if he wants to "super size it," he must reply "yes." But what he orders for any given meal is not uncommon, and we have all known (or been) customers who ordered the same items. That anyone would do it three times a day is unlikely. Occasionally you might want to go upscale at someplace like Outback, where the Bloomin' Onion Rings all by themselves provide more than a day's worth of fat and sodium, and 1,600 calories. Of course they're supposed to be shared. For best results, share them with everyone else in the restaurant.

Of course we bear responsibility for our own actions, so . . . is it possible to go to McDonald's and order a healthy meal? This week a Chicago nutritionist told a Sun-Times reporter that of course Spurlock put on weight, because he was eating 5,000 calories a day. She suggested a McDonald's three-meal menu that would not be fattening, but as I studied it, I wondered: How many customers consider a small hamburger, small fries and a Diet Coke as their dinner? When was the last time you even ordered a small hamburger (that's not a Quarter Pounder) at McDonald's? Don't all raise your hands at once.

Oh, I agree with the nutritionist that her recommended three meals would not add weight; her daily caloric intake totaled 1,460 calories, which is a little low for a child under 4, according to the USDA. But even her menu would include 54 grams of fat (15 saturated), or about one third of calories (for best heart health, fat should be down around 20 percent). And her diet included an astonishing 3,385 mgs of sodium (daily recommendation: 1,600 to 2,400 mgs). My conclusion: Even the nutritionist's bare-bones 1,460-calorie McDonald's menu is dangerous to your health.

I approached "Super Size Me" in a very particular frame of mind, because in December 2002, after years of fooling around, I began seriously following the Pritikin program of nutrition and exercise, and have lost about 86 pounds. Full disclosure: Fifteen of those pounds were probably lost as a side effect of surgery and radiation; the others can be accounted for by Pritikin menus and exercise (the 10,000 Step-a-Day Program plus weights two or three times a week). So of course that makes me a True Believer.

You didn't ask, but what I Truly Believe is that unless you can find an eating program you can stay on for the rest of your life, dieting is a waste of time. The pounds come back. Instead of extreme high-protein or low-carb diets with all their health risks, why not exercise more, avoid refined foods and eat a balanced diet of fruits and veggies, whole grains, fish and a little meat, beans, soy products, low-fat dairy, low fat, low salt? Of course I agree with McDonald's that a visit to Mickey D's can be part of a responsible nutritional approach. That's why I've dined there twice in the last 17 months.

Roger Ebert

Roger Ebert was the film critic of the Chicago Sun-Times from 1967 until his death in 2013. In 1975, he won the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished criticism.

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Film credits.

Super Size Me (2004)

100 minutes

Written and directed by

• Morgan Spurlock

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Super Size Me Essay Questions

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Despite the terrifying findings in Spurlock's documents-movie, people still eat McDonald's meals. Why do you think this is?

People still eat at McDonald's after seeing this film because they do not relate the results of eating fast food that they see on the screen with what they have in their own plate. This is similar to the way in which people still smoke despite irrefutable evidence that it can kill them. Statistics and medical evidence are all well and good...until people are hungry. Fast food is cheap. Fast food is salty and addictive. The body begins to suffer until given more fast food which begins a vicious cycle much like nicotine addiction. It seems almost fanciful to believe this and so this is why the majority of people who consume fast food actually believe they feel better when they eat it.

Do you think the director put his health in jeopardy deliberately? Was this irresponsible?

When the director first embarked on this odyssey, even the science and nutritional professionals were skeptical about the terrifying detrimental effect it would have on his health. If the professionals could not foresee the decline in his health, it would have been hard for a layman to do so. It is difficult o foresee the body breaking down to such a degree, or the astonishing weight gain that occurred in such a short space of time. Because he could not have known what would transpire as a result of the experiment it was not irresponsible but had he been aware of the effects it would have been somewhat irresponsible to gamble with his health in this way.

Do you think McDonald's tried to refute what was presented in the film?

The film essentially blames McDonald's, and other fast food conglomerates, for the epidemic of obesity in America. It shows the detrimental effects on the health of those who eat fast food every day, and it also shows that the damage is far more difficult to undo than it was to create. Although the corporation never exactly addressed the issues in the film, or altered the menu items to make healthier meal options, they changed the way they marketed their food. A little deceptive, certainly, but in a way a sideways admission that he movie had harmed the public' impression of their food. By presenting a new, sporty Ronald McDonald to the public they presented their meals as food that healthy and activity oriented people consumed as part of a regular healthy lifestyle.

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Super Size Me Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for Super Size Me is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

What would your recommendation be to Morgan in the future? Do you think he should limit fast food or not eat it at all? Please explain the reason for your choice.

This question calls for your opinion.... what you would do. I would advise Morgan to stay away from fast food restaurants, as much as possible.

What are the designs and methods of research used in the movie Super Size Me? Briefly give reasons why you think so

I'm not sure what you mean by methods, other than the fact that Spurlock worked closely with doctors and was examined regularly while taking part in the experiment. He was also under medical and dental care after the experiment was concluded. For...

What do you believe are the biggest factors that contributed to Morgan’s poor health in this film (eating McDonalds is not a valid response)? Please explain in detail.

One of the themes of the film is food addiction; the premise is that fast food is actually addictive because after eating it for a little while, going without it creates cravings and physical responses much like those side-effects created in...

Study Guide for Super Size Me

Super Size Me study guide contains a biography of director Morgan Spurlock, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About Super Size Me
• Super Size Me Summary
• Character List
• Director's Influence

Essays for Super Size Me

Super Size Me essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of Super Size Me, directed by Morgan Spurlock.

• Food Conciousness: Super Size Me as an Effective Case Study
• Factual Reporting and Fast Food: Is SuperSize Me Trustworthy ?

Wikipedia Entries for Super Size Me

• Introduction

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