The film Super Size Me is a documentary-style film directed by Morgan Spurlock, released in 2004. The movie follows Spurlock as he embarks on a 30-day journey to eat only McDonald's fast food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. During this time, he also completely cuts out all exercise from his routine.
Spurlock begins his challenge by undergoing a thorough medical examination to establish his starting point. At the start of his journey, he is a healthy man, weighing 84.1 kg (185 lbs), with a body mass index (BMI) of 28.6 (categorized as overweight). He is declared to be in good health by his doctors, who express concern and warn him about the potential risks of his experiment.
During the 30 days, Spurlock consumes three meals per day at McDonald's and must accept the option to super size his meals, increasing the calorie and fat count in his meals. At some points, he experiences problems like a drop in energy, mood swings, and cravings, which were all associated with his diet. By the end of his journey, he gained almost 11 kg (24.5 lbs), totaling 94.5 kg (208lbs). He gained 13% body mass, and his BMI increased to 30.2, which is classified as obese.
Throughout the movie, Spurlock interviews a range of experts in the areas of food and nutrition, including doctors, dietitians, and lawyers. He discusses topics such as the influence and power of the fast-food industry, the alarming rate of obesity in America, marketing tactics, and the food industry's relationship with young children.
The film's conclusion is a warning about the potential dangers of a diet that is primarily based on fast food. As a result and as a social experiment, McDonald's has discontinued super-sizing their meals.