Research Super Size Me

Super Size Me is an extreme example of transformative consumer research looking at consumption issues in our country as well as the lack of ethics in the food industry. For 30 days Morgan Spurlock ate nothing but McDonald; 3 times a day, trying everything on the menu at least once. He walked about 5,000 steps a day, the average steps an American male takes but did no other exercise other than that. The final rule was he must Super Size any meal if offered.

Spurlock was interested in further exploring the root causes of the obesity epidemic in the United States. Spurlock was able to track his physical demise during this time period in order to demonstrate how the fast food industry is actively promoting poor nutrition in order to turn a profit. For Spurlock, the physical effects were brutal but the film really sheds light on the fact that no one has it worse than the low-income families who turn to fast-food restaurants as a cheap and convenient way to feed their family every day.

Watching Super Size Me is not for the faint of heart. From the beginning the physical effects on Spurlock are clear. Just 5 days into the experiment Spurlock throws up on film after eating his first super-sized meal and has already gained 5% BMI. This statistic in particular nearly blew my mind. This is obviously an extreme case but if we think about the number of families in America that are averaging in 5 fast-food meals a week it only takes 3 weeks of eating fast food before their body experiences similar effects as Spurlock.

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Very early on in the film, the causes behind the American obesity epidemic are already becoming clear. By two weeks into the experiment, Spurlock begins experiencing mental effects from his diet. He is actually depressed when he is not eating McDonald’s, almost going through withdrawals from the high levels of sodium and sugar. Spurlocks’ girlfriend makes a point to say the effects of the experiment are clear as he has lost most of his energy and sex drive. It is not a secret that a poor diet leads to a decrease in mental morale and can even lead to depression. Despite this being generally known, fast food is still the most readily and affordable food option in our country. Other than the mental effects, in week 2 Spurlock feels sick and starts to develop chest pressure.

By the time week 3 rolls around the physical effects of eating 3 fast food meals a day become nearly life-threatening. Spurlock has trouble breathing, heart palpitations, has gained 17 pounds, and is even warned he is on the path towards liver failure. This part of the documentary left me all but speechless. As mentioned earlier obviously no American family is eating 3 fast-food meals a day. That being said the average American will eat fast food 159 times a year or about 3 times a week. The fact that a restaurant can sell a product that is giving a man heart palpitations is mind-numbing. It leaves me at a loss of words and highlights one of the many flaws in the American system.

In the final week, Spurlock does his final physicals and we get to see the full circle results the experiment has had on him. To summarize the effects of eating McDonald’s 3 times a day for 4 weeks Spurlock gain 24 pounds, 13% body mass increase and a 230 mg/dL increase in his cholesterol. The film ends with a powerful question; who do you want to see go first, you or them? Super Size Me highlights the flaws in the American system particularly when it comes to food consumption. I think it is generally accepted eating McDonald’s 3 times a day is not good for you but Spurlock was able to demonstrate in this film that eating a lifetime of McDonald’s very well way kill you.

The physical effects experienced by Spurlock during this time period coupled with consumption statics like how many Americans are actually eating fast food should strike fear in the heart of our government and policymakers. Unfortunately, the government has sat quietly and let this fast-food corporation sacrifice public well-being for profit. I think the unfortunate reality is that due to varying levels of income this does not affect many Americans such as the rich policymakers who ate very little fast food as is. This leaves me wondering who is looking out for the little guy, the family of 6 in low-income housing with limited food options. The unfortunate reality of the situation to date is that no one is.

This film really made me think about my time studying abroad in Glasgow, Scotland. I remember complaining to my parents in the beginning about the price of groceries and the small sizes. Looking back at it now these complaints are almost comical. I was complaining because the Scottish government actually cares about the well-being of their people. There were tremendously different standards in terms of what could be sold and an extreme reduction in the number or pesticides. Fruits and vegetables were similarly priced as things like chips and cookies rather than radically more expensive like they are in America. Super Size Me summarizes the magnitude of the consumption problem in our country and the lack of ethics in the food industry.