In brief: The best documentary I’ve seen since Bowling for Columbine.

Written and Directed by Morgan Spurlock.

Last year I read a book by Eric Schlosser called Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal, which explored how the fast food industry's drive for consolidation, homogenization, and speed has radically transformed America's diet, landscape, economy, and workforce, often in insidiously destructive ways. Morgan Spurlock’s documentary, Super Size Me, is the perfect cinematic companion piece to that book.

In it, filmmaker Morgan Spurlock decides to try an experiment: To eat nothing but McDonalds for 30 days, three meals a day, going across country to various McDonalds in many states, trying every item on the McDonald’s menu at least once, eating and drinking nothing else, and eschewing regular exercise, in order to simulate the habits of typical frequent fast food consumers, while simultaneously exploring how the fast food industry has influenced American culture and health, and while you may think that eating fast food for three meals a day for thirty days is not representative of the typical consumer, Spurlock shows us the frequency with which different percentages of people visit McDonalds, and you’ll see that Spurlock’s bizarre diet for this month, while not a perfect simulation, is not far off from what many people consume.

Fast food places like McDonalds is something I’ve always taken for granted, having been taken to places like Burger King or pizzerias at least once a month when I was kid, so it is eye-opening to see what the reaction to frequent fast food is for someone like Spurlock, who informs the viewer up front that eating out was extremely rare for him when he was a child, reactions that include nausea after only a few days. Having gotten a baseline medical and consultation with a cardiologist, a gastroenterologist, an internist, and nutritionist/dietician at the start of this experiment, and with whom he periodically checks in throughout the 30 days, we see the gradual progress of the deterioration of his health, including some conditions that I had never even knew accompanied poor diet. I had no idea that poor diet had such a dramatic effect on mood swings, or on sex drive, something that Spurlock’s girlfriend, a vegetarian chef, no less, certainly must not have been thrilled about.

The most fascinating segment in this part of the documentary is when one expert talks to Spurlock about how addiction to fast food, much like addiction to any other chemical, is centered more in the brain than in the taste buds, and to punctuate this point, relates a shocking story about how when a chocolate addict was given the same drug given to heroin addicts in emergency rooms to cause the receptors in the brain to fail to respond to heroin, the chocophile experienced the same loss in desire for the confection.

Spurlock’s visits to his doctors are equally fascinating—and frightening—as they become increasingly horrified by the various test results administered to Spurlock during the 30-day binge, in particular one visit in which one of his doctors is shocked at how Morgan’s liver is undergoing a process similar to how Nicholas Cage’s liver was becoming pickled by alcohol in Leaving Las Vegas. By the time the experiment reaches its 21st day, the viewer is genuinely worried about Spurlock, and he even considers breaking his “nothing but McDonalds” rule when one of his doctors implores him to take a daily aspirin for his blood.

But the freakshow journey of Spurlock’s clogged arteries is just the foreground. What is more damning is how Spurlock exposes how the fast food industry has insinuated itself into the very fabric of American culture, so much so that the average person can more easily identify a rendering of Ronald McDonald than photos of prominent political figures, or recite the “Two All-Beef Patties…” recipe tagline for the Big Mac than the Pledge of Allegiance, while simultaneously being oblivious to what a calorie is. This infection into our lives by fast food permeates not only our adult lives, but is ingrained in our schools, where children are fed nutritiously worthless and dangerous diets of sugar and fat, where soda machines line the hallways, all achieved by the food industry conglomerates through subsidies, often using the same quality of ingredients and preparation used to feed prisons, despite the fact that feeding more nutritious meals to schoolchildren, as Spurlock illustrates, can be done at the same low cost, and despite the fact that America is now the fattest country on Earth, with more obese people per capita than any other country. Spurlock also shows how some chains like KFC and McDonalds have responded to the current public concerns over diet and health by trying to gear their menus to these concerns (such as McDonald’s recent removal of the Super Size from their french fry and soda menus), possibly, as Spurlock implies, as a result of his film.

The movie is informative, eye-opening, disturbing, and even funny, with plenty of humorous moments peppered throughout. If you can find a theater near you playing this, go see it. If not, get it on video.

You’ll never look at a Big Mac the same way again.

I too, found the movie very enlightening... particularly when the nutrionist says that a single bagel is the equivalent of five slices of bread! And I used to eat two in a morning! With cream cheese, no less!

I do, however, think that his lack of any real exercise skews his results significantly. His film seems to portray fast food as being the sole factor in his diminished health. And while certainly that was a major contributing factor, his personal decision to not engage in any type of exercise (which McDonalds had absolutely no influence on) was undoubtedy another significant factor.

I would have liked him to have explored, for instance, the guy in California(?) who eats BigMacs every day, but appears in good health and weight. Is this because of exercise? What is it that keeps him healthy... and is he healthy?

Darth Sarcasm: particularly when the nutrionist says that a single bagel is the equivalent of five slices of bread! And I used to eat two in a morning! With cream cheese, no less!
Luigi Novi: I know! I had NO IDEA bagels were so loaded!

Darth Sarcasm: I do, however, think that his lack of any real exercise skews his results significantly. His film seems to portray fast food as being the sole factor in his diminished health. And while certainly that was a major contributing factor, his personal decision to not engage in any type of exercise (which McDonalds had absolutely no influence on) was undoubtedy another significant factor.
Luigi Novi: I think the reason he did that is because he wanted to simulate the physical activity that typical customers of McDonalds experience. Yes, McDonalds is not responsible for that, but I think he simply wanted to illustrate it for those inactive fast food consumers who are unaware of how important daily physical activity is.

Darth Sarcasm: I would have liked him to have explored, for instance, the guy in California(?) who eats BigMacs every day, but appears in good health and weight. Is this because of exercise? What is it that keeps him healthy... and is he healthy?
Luigi Novi: The addendum at the end of the film stated that Bob Goske's cholesterol is only 140. That's shockingly low for someone who eats so many Big Macs. It also mentioned that he "seldom" eats the fries. Is that it? I have heard that the fries are nutritionally worse than any other aspect of a McDonalds meal. Perhaps he also exercises. And yeah, I wish Spurlock answered this question too.

I think you're right on the fries. So deliciously fattening...

I couldn't figure out why I had a problem because I only ate fast food once a week.

McDonald's once a week
Burger King once a week
Taco Bell once a week
KFC once a week
etc.

(Last cholesterol test -- 357)

357? You're joking, right?

I mean, I know you're joking about the "once a week" thing, but the cholesterol thing is a joke, right?

Nope. But thanks for the concern. This was about five months ago and I told the doctor I wanted to do what I could by myself first before going on meds. BTW, I ran three marathons last year and am preparing for another in the fall. Getting it checked again soon.

(Sorry for the off-topic).

It's not off-topic. It's a perfectly legitimate tangent related to the issues raised in the movie.

The trailer can be seen here. Official site's here.

I didn't care for the movie. (When he vomitted in the car that first time, I suppose I should have felt empathetic. Instead, all I felt was "Man, this guy's a wimp.")
The painting seemed over the top, to say the least. And the guy seemed to be doing everything he could to make his meals fattening.

Ironically enough, after this movie, I started craving Big Macs. I still do. But I've been amazed how many of the facts stuck with me afterwords. (The sugar in different items, the fat content of that awful-tasting salad... and especially the mcgriddle- that blew me away.)

So it's safe to say that I'll probably be coming back to mcDonalds occasionally for a Big Mac and some fries- but I think that's all I'll ever have.


As for actuall nits- There was a shot near the end, slowly pulling out from a super-sized drink and fries. (Just before it shows a bunch of fries sitting on a scale.) The shot was obviously a reversed zoom-in, because the condensation is dribbling UP the glass!

Zarm Rkeeg: The painting seemed over the top, to say the least.
Luigi Novi: Painting? What painting?

Zarm Rkeeg:Ironically enough, after this movie, I started craving Big Macs.
Luigi Novi: The same thing happened to me while I was reading Eric Schlosser's Fast Food Nation, which was a pretty seering indictment of the fast food industry, and the impact they've had on our natinonal and global culture.

This was a dumb idea for a documentary. It's pretty obvious even to the most idiotic moron that eating nothing but fast food would be bad for you. That's why you're only supposed to go to McDonalds once in awhile...not everyday!

It's obvious, yes, but is it obvious as to the LEVEL that Spurlock descended to? I found the film entertaining and felt that at the end he made some good points. I liked how that he was in good cheer throughout the film and wasn't filming an indictment a la Michael Moore.

Fast Food Ice Dirtier Than Toilet Water

Glad this topic popped up again because I just saw it on Netflix (one of my first queue items!). Very entertaining -- I think I should buy it and watch it once in a while.

I think the thing that stuck with me the most was his little science experiment -- putting the items in glass jars and seeing what happens after a few weeks. I was amazed and appalled that there was virtually no deterioration in the McDonald's Fries after 10 weeks. (Maybe that's why the ones I'd find on the floor of my car never looked "old"! No, I did not eat those!)

Since seeing the movie (and even before, with the whole cholesterol thing above) I don't go out to fast food very often at all - maybe once a week at most. After a year on Lipitor I was down to 214 - the lowest I'd ever been in at least 10 years of measuring it. Doc still wants to increase the dosage though. Another contributing factor is that I took last year off from running and exercise in general, mostly due to injuries. This year I'm getting back on track though!

I never go to McDonalds. I admit I sometimes get a rare craving for BK, but I try to avoid even that, largely because their stuff gives me the worst gas. When I want a burger, Wendy's is the best in terms of taste, but the one fast food thing that I probably like the most is Taco Bell. I wonder how their food's stats rank with the ones for Mickey D's show in this movie.

Well when I have a few extra bucks I do catch fast food and have done so ever since I was in college. All except white castle which i would rather eat wet cardboard than the tasteless crud they have, but on third shift it was either that or the local all night gas station for the most part.

I pretty much find them all about the same. One of the best places when I've travelled and like to eat are either mom and pop "greasy spoons" in these small towns or truck stops like the flying D. The food there is usually a lot better and more personable.

Cholesterol must be something different for ewach person. I've been a carnivore, fried food eater (I fry my eggs and bacon in butter whenever i can get away with it without the wife killing me) most of my life and my cholesterol has been around 200 or lower for the past 4 years (when I first started having it checked yearly)of course i'm also a rather active person (although recently ive been sitting aorund a bit more)

which this whole post is just kinda pointless like this movie. If you eat nothing but fast food and dont do anythign of course you are going to be a fat disgusting slob. Duh.

And I know what you mean about the fries. I stabbed myself in the hand once cleaning out under a minivan and thought i had hit a needle until i pulled out a fry pack. Those things dont rot they fossilize.

I remember hearing about a college journalism professor who went on his own 30 day all McDonalds diet and lost weight, by exercising and eating only certain foods, like avoiding the fries.

Darth Sarcasm: I do, however, think that his lack of any real exercise skews his results significantly. His film seems to portray fast food as being the sole factor in his diminished health. And while certainly that was a major contributing factor, his personal decision to not engage in any type of exercise (which McDonalds had absolutely no influence on) was undoubtedy another significant factor.

Luigi Novi: I think the reason he did that is because he wanted to simulate the physical activity that typical customers of McDonalds experience. Yes, McDonalds is not responsible for that, but I think he simply wanted to illustrate it for those inactive fast food consumers who are unaware of how important daily physical activity is.

Thing is, what is enough daily physical activity? I have a job where I'm on my feet, walking and do light to moderate lifting with some heavy (though how do you define heavy?). I've had people who have the same job say they've lost weight because of all the walking involved in it.

I noticed that he also got regular pop rather then diet. I wonder if getting only diet pop would have made a difference? Though is it just me or did he say that the iced tea has no sugar? Correct me if I'm wrong but iced tea has (as far as I know) massive amounts of sugar in it!

I suppose each person's build, gender, metabolism and other personal factors do affect it, but I've heard that if you eat a balanced diet, a half hour of exercise each day is good. Obviously doing more than that is even better, especially if you're overweight.

He said that there were about five or six items on McDonald's menu without sugar. Did he mention regular iced tea, or diet?

Do you live in the UK, Chris? I never noticed you mention this, but I notice that you refer to soda as "pop".

Na, I'm in Ontario, Canada.

Chris, most places around here (Southeastern US) offer iced tea both with and without sugar. I only drink it with sugar. Can't stand the unsweetened.

Ah, okay. Around here (at McDonalds anyway) they only seem to have diet drinks for Coke but not the others.

Same here. Restaurants may offer a diet or unsweetened iced tea, but fast food places generally only offer one diet soft drink, which is Diet Coke.

The Midwest (at least Michigan and Wisconsin) say "pop" as well.

This chart shows a pretty good distribution of the soda vs. pop vs. coke terminology throughout the country. I tend to use the two former, depending on what sounds right at the time.

You know what's funny, Mike? The only instance of that word being used in recent memory was the episode of Roseanne in which she, her sister and friend started up a loose meat sandwich diner, and one of them (I think her sister Jackie) referred to soda as "pop", but I didn't think it was anything other than an exception. It's interesting, however, that you mention the Midwest, because that show was set in Illionis, not too far from Chicago, IIRC. Thanks for the info.

Jesus, Josh, someone actually put a chart together for this? Sheesh.

I've found regarding soda/pop, if you say "soda" in a pop community, they generally will think you're being high-falutin' but will understand what you mean. Saying "pop" in a soda community might prompt mocking or blank stares.

I am just lazy and say pop because it is only one sylable. Where soda is two.

Some say Soda-Pop

I had a trainee at my restaurant (in South Florida) who was from New Jersey. Someone wanted a "Scotch and soda," she was about to ring in a scotch and Coca-Cola, rather than carbonated water. Where she lived, soda means Coke/Pepsi and carbonated is called seltzer.