Morgan Spurlock's 2004 documentary,Super Size Me, is a controversial and
impactful cultural expression related to wellness.In the film, Spurlock
demonstrates the detrimental health effects caused by the fast food industry
by only eating food from McDonald's for 30 days straight. One of the rules
that were implemented during the documentary was that anytime the
employee taking his order asked if he wanted to "super-size" his meal, he
must accept it. Throughout the duration of the documentary, Spurlock was
eating around 5,000 calories a day. After eating only fast food for 30 days,
his health rapidly declined, and he experienced trouble breathing, heart
palpitations, a 24 ½ pound weight increase, and his cholesterol shot up 65
points. The documentary was controversial because many people argued that
not all fast food options are as unhealthy as the choices Spurlock was making
(Stossel, 2014). However, the documentary shined a light on the negative
impacts that unhealthy eating can have on an individual's health and
increased consumer awareness.
This documentary is important because Americans eat a considerable amount
of fast food. In fact, most Americans eat fast food 1-3 times a week (Fast
food statistics, 2022). The film has illuminated how people need to make
better choices in the food they eat in order to remain healthy. A significant
social impact that occurred following the documentary was that McDonald's
chose to remove the "super-size" option from their restaurants. Additionally,
after the release of the film, the fast food industry started to change by
offering an increased number of healthier options for consumers to choose
from.
References:
Fast Food Statistics: July 2022. The Barbecue Lab. (2022, July 6). Retrieved
July 17, 2022, from https://thebarbecuelab.com/fast-food/
Stossel, J. (2014).'Super Size Me' Carries Weight With Critics. ABC News.
Retrieved July 17, 2022, from
https://abcnews.go.com/2020/Oscars2005/story?id=124265&page=1
