Super Size Me is an American Documentary film that was day-viewed back in 2004. It was directed by Morgan Spurlock who was an American filmmaker who decided to eat only burger for one month and chose McDonald’s as a fast food restaurant to feed him during his documentary experiment film. The film documented Spurlock daily lifestyle. The focus was not only on his physical state, but also his psychological well-being. It revealed everything needed to be known on fast food industry and its influence in regard of poor nutrition for making profit. Three meals at McDonalds was Spurlock daily food diet. He would eat every item on the chain menu consuming over five thousand kcal which meant nine big Macs daily. Exceeding the average of intake of 2,500 kcal daily Mr. Spurlock not only gained 11 kilograms, but also increased his cholesterol level to 230 mg/dl. Moreover, he had mood swings and fat accumulated in his liver. He needed over a year to lose the weight he gained from the experiment. This was done by following a vegan diet. Millions around the world had one question in their mind. Why? What made this man to do this crazy step?
Well, Mr. Spurlock had to sacrifice his own life and health for the sake of American society to spread the awareness of obesity problems in the American society. He wanted to support two obese girls who had filed a law suit against McDonalds’ claiming that they gained weight due to eating McDonald’s food. A law suit the two girls were not able to win against McDonald’s. Spurlock was there to support them and prove what the two girls had declared. As a result of his one-month experience he was able to also prove the physiological and psychological effect of eating fast food daily. As a result of his Documentary, it was nominated for an Academy Award for being the best Documentary Feature and won Best Documentary Screenplay too.
During the experiment he had to fully eat three McDonald’s meals per day during breakfast, lunch, and even dinner. He also had to consume every item on the McDonald’s menu. This meant at least once over the course of the 30- days period. He also had to only intake items that are offered on the McDonald’s menu. This included having one bottled water and all the other outside consumption of food is prohibited. Finally, he had to eat Super- Size the meal when offered; he cannot request to Super -Size on his own.
During the experiment Mr. Spurlock had an attempt to walk about as much as a typical United States citizen, based on a suggested figure of 5,000 standardized distance steps per day. However, he did not closely adhere to this, as he walked more while in New York than in Houston.
Within the first five -days period, he gained over four kilograms and felt very depressed. On day 21 his doctor advised him to immediately stop what he was doing since his heart was in danger. He insisted to continue his challenge as he did and achieved his goal at the end.
The documentary ends with a theoretical question who do you want to see go first, you or them? A healthier menu was added to McDonald’s and a Happy Meal was released and the man proved his point in the end.
