Morgan Spurlock's Super Size Me

Words: 850
Pages: 4

Since the beginning of time, food has played a daily role not only in sustaining humanity for lifetimes, but also in contributing to the emergence of different environments and cultural identities. Today, many acknowledge the United States for its large population that deals with obesity, an epidemic which has now grown to epic proportions as a byproduct of the increasing convenience and role of fast food marketing. In his documentary, Super Size Me, director Morgan Spurlock explores the impact of an individual’s gastronomy by engaging in a month-long journey of an exclusively McDonald’s menu diet. By going through with his experiment, Spurlock experienced detrimental consequences to his physical health and relationships that seem to outweigh …show more content…
After the experiment concluded, Spurlock, with the aid of his girlfriend, worked towards neutralizing his health issues and regaining his original body. By adapting to a detox diet, Spurlock found himself losing twenty pounds in a span of only five months. Spurlock’s ability to fully recover suggests that, although the experiment caused him some harm, it did not have a permanent damage on him and thus adds justification for his reasoning behind the experiment and reduces the gravity of its riskiness. Not only does Spurlock overturn the negative effects on his body, but he also manages to benefit from the entire experience by gaining widespread publicity and capturing audiences around the country to call greater attention to the deceptive techniques of the marketing industry, and their capabilities in deluding Americans into buying unhealthy products. Spurlock offers himself up as a model that exemplifies the powerfulness of unhealthy fast food choices. Super Size Me now ranks as one of the highest-grossing documentaries of all time, making about eleven million dollars worldwide. The film received positive reviews from both critics and regular audiences, as well as a nomination for an Academy Award.