Super Size Me
![[ 'Trust me. You don't want fries with that' ]](http://hooverdust.com/version2/wp-content/images//supersize_this.jpg)
Stumbling around all the news sites lately, I came across this interesting documentary about one man\rquote s attempt to find out why 37% of American children and adolescents are overweight. He interviews surgeon generals, gym teachers, cooks, school kids, lawmakers and legislators to help find out the \lquote truth\rquote . It\rquote s been labelled ‘The Bowling For Columbine of Fast Food’ and took out the best director award at this years Sundance Festival.
The best part about the documentary seems to be the fact that the filmmaker himself goes on an all-McDonalds diet for month. As outlined on the official website, he has to follow three simple rules:
1) No options: he could only eat what was available over the counter (water included!)
2) No supersizing unless offered
3) No excuses: he had to eat every item on the menu at least once
As you can imagine, he starts off healthy but by the end, the doctors and dieticians aren’t impressed. Apparently he’s still fighting the battle to lose the extra kilos. The documentary looks bloody hilarious but at the same time kinda sad. I’m actually surprised someone in Australia hasn\rquote t made a documentary about the physical state of our nation. The Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle Study in 1999-2000, stated that 60% of Australians were overweight. Even scarier, was a follow-up article in the MJA stating that the obesity figures in this country might actually be higher than first reported! So we\rquote re a nation of fatties basically. Hrmmm that reminds me - I have to renew my gym membership tomorrow!
Rather than focusing on if fast food giants make us fat, maybe I should make a documentary about how the media actually forces us to look a certain way. I mean, come on - who wouldn’t want to hear about how a model goes on a ’speed diet’ for a couple weeks so that she can ‘look her best’ on the cover of Cosmo?
SuperSize Me is due out for major release in May in the US and June here in Australia.
Quick Links:
- The SuperSize Me official site.
- Direct link to the quicktime trailer (5 Meg).
- McDonalds CEO dies of heart attack. I shit you not.
Image courtesy of the official site.
