Super Size Me

Super Size Me is a documentary film directed by and starring Morgan Spurlock, an independent U.S filmmaker. It follows a period of his life in which he eats only McDonalds' fast food, three times a day, every day, for 30 days, and documents the physical and psychological effects this has upon him.

During the 30 days, Mr. Spurlock (age 33 at the time), previously slim and healthy, gained over 25 lb (11 kg). He also experienced mood swings, loss of sex drive and a nearly catastrophic liver damage. Dr. Daryl Isaacs, his general practitioner, worried that his liver could be permanently damaged before the experiment was over.

The driving factor for Spurlock's investigation is the wave of obesity spreading throughout American society, and the corresponding lawsuit brought against McDonalds on behalf of two overweight girls, who, it is claimed, have become obese as a result of eating too much McDonalds food.

Table of contents

1 Box Office Results
2 The experiment
3 The fast food industry
4 External links

Box Office Results

This film was very successful as far as documentary films go, staying in the top ten box office for two weeks.

The experiment

Warning: Plot details follow.

At the start of his 'McAttack', Spurlock is physically above average, as attested to by the three doctors he enlists to track his health during the month-long binge. All three predict the McMonth will have unwelcome effects on his body, but none expect anything too drastic, one citing the human body as being 'very adaptable'.

Spurlock starts the month with a McBreakfast in his native Manhattan (4 McDonalds per square mile), and also with an increase in taxi rides, as he aims to keep the distances he walks in line with the 2500 steps walked per day by the average American. Spurlock has several rules which govern his eating habits:

He must eat 3 McDonalds meals a day;
He must sample at least once every option on the McDonalds menu;
He cannot purchase anything not on the menu;
and every time he is asked if he wants to 'Super Size' his meal, he must accept.

Day 2 brings Spurlock's first Super Size meal, and also his first 'McStomachache', as he calls it, characterised by 'McGurgles', 'McTwitches' and 'McGas'. The food eventually causes him to vomit.

After 5 days Spurlock has gained almost 10 pounds (5 kg). It is not long before he finds himself with an inexplicable feeling of depression, and not much longer until he finds his bouts of depression, lethargy and headaches are relieved by a McDonalds meal. One doctor describes him as 'addicted'. He has soon gained another 10 pounds, putting his weigth at 203 lb (92 kg). By the end of the month he weighs almost 208 lb (94 kg), an increase of almost 25 lb (11 kg) which takes him five months to lose again.

Spurlock's girlfriend, a vegan chef who helps him detox after the month is over, attests to the fact that Spurlock has lost much of his energy and sex drive during his experiment.

Around day 20 Spurlock experiences heart palpitations. Consultation with his concerned general practitioner reveals that Spurlock's liver is 'turning into pate', and the doctor advises him to stop what he is doing immediately to avoid any serious heart problems.

Spurlock makes it to day 30, achieving his goal having been 'Supersized' 9 times along the way (5 of which were in Texas, the state with the highest number of America's 'fattest' cities). All three doctors are surprised at the degree of deterioration in Spurlock's health.

Alongside Spurlock's personal travails are interviews and sections detailing various factors that could account for America's high obesity rates. Discussed is the lack of healthy food available in many American schools, the 'luring in' of youth by advertising and McDonalds' kid-friendly play parks and clowns, and the relationship, if any, between food companies' stockholder profit and their customer health concerns.

The fast food industry

Like Eric Schlosser's Fast Food Nation, this documentary is about the dark side of the fast food. It suggests that prolonged consumption of fast food may be very unhealthy, at least if, as in the movie, you do not eat anything else besides that. This documentary opened in the U.S. on May 7, 2004.

Subsequent to the showing of the film at the Sundance Film Festival, McDonalds phased out its Supersize meal option, though no link to the film was made in this decision.

The documentary, which has been very successful, has received the highest-ever opening for a documentary in Australia and, in two weeks of release, has sparked a massive negative ad campaign, with an estimated cost of 1.4 million USD, from McDonald's of Australia. CEO Guy Russo has described the documentary, on television commercials which have aired on all major Australian networks as being "about a person that decides to overeat", and has minimised Spurlock's claim of the unhealthiness of fast food by agreeing with it. Russo stated to News Limited that customers had been surprised that the company hadn't addressed the claims. McDonald's has placed a 30 second ad spot in the opening trailers of all viewings of Super Size Me and has also offered to pay movie theatres to allow McDonald's employees to distribute apples to patrons as they exit the film.

Andrew Macki, a joint general manager of Dendy Films, (the documentary's Australian distribution company), has stated that the ad campaign has actually brought more viewers to the movie. Super Size Me has been so successful in Australia that the number of screens showing in the country is expected to double in the coming weeks.

Incidentally, country singer Gretchen Wilson, has announced a commitment to eating at McDonalds at every stop along her world tour.