Analytical Essay Super Size Me

Spurlock uses Triangulation of Observers to present views on the crisis of obesity in the United States by presenting varied sources that all agree fast food is a major contributor to this "epidemic". 1) John F. Banzhaf III, Law Professor at George Washington University has determined that something new to American culture must be causing this phenomenon. Eating patterns were relatively unchanged for hundreds of years before the advent of fast food. Now Americans eat out approximately 40% of the time. 2) David Satcher, MD, Former US Surgeon General calls fast food a major contributor to the obesity epidemic. 3) In his random sampling of nutritionists from all over America, 95% agreed that fast food is a major contributor to the obesity epidemic sweeping America.

In 2003 Morgan Spurlock launched on an experiment of sorts to fully understand the effects that fast food, in this case specifically McDonald’s food can have on one’s physiological and mental health by eating nothing but McDonald’s food for thirty days. Before embarking on this quest, Spurlock visited a general practitioner, a cardiologist, a gastroenterologist, a dietician, and an exercise specialist. He began his McDonald’s journey with exceptional health, by the end of the thirty days he had suffered serious health consequences both physically and mentally. From an addiction to McDonald’s food to a major increase in cholesterol levels there is no doubt that Spurlock’s health greatly declined in the month long period. Spurlock documented his journey in a film entitled Supersize Me, which has served as a call to action for the years since its release.

Contrary to the popular belief of the time, Morgan Spurlock’s amateur documentary “Supersize Me” pushed reform in both fast food culture, and eating habits of citizens, being one of the first catalysts in a new movement in America. This 2004 film, being the first of his works to establish Spurlock as a filmmaker, focuses on Spurlock’s 30 day journey in which he vowed to eat solely McDonalds for three meals a day, and track his overall mental, physical, and social changes over this span of time. Throughout the film, Spurlock consults three doctors (a gastroenterologist, a cardiologist, and a general practitioner) as well as a nutritionist to monitor physical change and gather quantitative data supporting his claim. The film often exhibited

Since Super Size Me is a documentary primary focused on the ideas of its director, Morgan Spurlock, we must be able to perceive him as a credible and trustworthy source. Using himself as

Morgan Spurlock’s motivation to create his documentary emerged from a certain court case, in which two teenage girls sued McDonald's for selling them products that resulted in them being obese for their age group (Spurlock). McDonald’s testimony stated that the girls could not fully prove that it was the McDonald’s product that were making them overweight and that eating their products for every meal would be seemingly dangerous (Spurlock). Spurlock to this statement into his owns hands and a decided to conduct a month long experiment, in which he would go on a thirty-day long binge of McDonald’s food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner to prove if and how fast food can make a person obese (Spurlock). It is well known within the general public that fast food in not a healthy option for a meal but for many, fast food is the only

In a recent movie “Super Size Me”, director Morgan Spurlock examines the effects of a steady diet

Without pathos, the documentary would have not affected the audience to the extent that it did. The pathos can be found when the audience is shown the effects that McDonalds had on Spurlock. After just a few days, the viewers were able to witness the pain that he was going through and the emotional impact the McDonald’s had on him. “My body just basically falls apart over the course of this diet,” Spurlock told Newsweek (Lambert 2004). Spurlock’s relationship and his sexual relationship with his girlfriend changed so the viewers were once again able to feel the emotion that Morgan was feeling. The audience was shown how being over-weight could have such an extreme impact on one’s life. Spurlock stated that there are 400,000 deaths a year that are associated with obesity illnesses (Spurlock 2004). He also stated that diabetes is now more common in children every year as a result of fast food and the numbers are continuing to go up if nothing is done to eliminate this spread.

Fat Head and Supersize Me are documentaries that highlight the adverse epidemic of obesity, heart disease, and other health problems that is running rampant throughout the United States. Supersize Me depicts Morgan Spurlock and his experiment to show the impact of eating McDonalds by recording his diet and comparing his health before and after the fast food challenge. Fat Head portrays Tom Naughton refuting the legitimacy of the results of Supersize Me and the Lipid Hypothesis.

In a society that is facing numerous problems, such as economic devastation, one major problem is often disregarded, growing obesity. As the American society keeps growing, so does growth of the fast food industry and the epidemic of obesity. In order to further investigate the main cause of obesity, Morgan Spurlock, the film director and main character, decides to criticize the fast food industry for its connection with obesity in America. In his documentary Spurlock performs a radical experiment that drives him to eat only from McDonald's and order a super-sized meal whenever he is asked. By including visual and textual techniques, rhetorical appeals, and argumentative evidences, Morgan Spurlock was able

     Morgan Spurlock decided to make this documentary to investigate the fast food companies, and the effects of certain fast food chains products, particularly McDonalds, on the health of society. This Documentary explores the United States growing epidemic of obesity and diabetes as well. Morgan decides to eat nothing but McDonald's food for thirty days. He must eat one of everything on the menu at least once, and when asked to super size his meal he must do so. Another stipulation of Morgan's experiment is that he can only take 5,000 steps a day to replicate the exercise that most average Americans get on a daily basis. He must also eat three meals a day, no exceptions and if McDonalds doesn't serve it

Fast food is unhealthy and does not provide the necessary nutrients needed for a daily diet, however Mcdonald's, a fast food empire claimed in a 2004 lawsuit against them that fast food can be a part of a healthy diet. The court ruled that the plaintiffs would have a serious claim if they could prove that eating fast food for every meal is dangerous for the person and their health. Morgan Spurlock, writer, director, producer, and star of 2004 documentary Supersize Me set out to prove that fast food is dangerous for a person's health. The documentary follows Morgan on his 30 day challenge of only eating fast food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Through Morgan's challenge his weight skyrockets, his health declines and feels terrible all the time. Many people believe that fast food companies are to blame for America's obesity but the individual must take responsibility for what they put into their bodies instead of blaming fast food companies for their unhealthy eating habits .The documentary explores the idea that people should avoid eating fast food because Fast food, although more convenient and easier is worse for you than making your own meals. Fast food leads to many health risks and is not a good substitution for traditional meals. People should avoid eating

The film doesn’t put all the blame of obesity on fast food companies. People do have free choice, but the point he makes is that these companies go out of their way to make the food pretty much addictive through the use of sugar, fat, and caffeine and that they go out of their way to hide how unhealthy this stuff really is. On the other hand, there are some things in Spurlock's documentary which were a little outrageous. The blame should not only be placed on fast food. I do strongly believe that we all have the will power to walk in McDonalds and order a salad or simply not go in and make McDonalds to make it a much wealthier company. The director used great methods on how to get the message across and great graphics to keep the audience entertained. I do believe is Spurlock would have eaten other food that contained over 2500 calories a day, he would have still faced health problems. Finally, he shows us pictures of him after he went back to his good eating habits which imply how happy he is to be back in shape. I think he is trying to send out the message that it's not too late for the viewer to change their eating style and live a healthy

Obesity rates are becoming higher each year. It is affecting young kids and adults all around the world, and because eating can become an addiction the rates are going through the roof with around 45% of America being obese.