Super Size Me

Everything's bigger in America,

we've got the biggest cars,

the biggest houses,

the biggest companies,

the biggest food,

and, finally,

the biggest people.

America has now become

the fattest nation in the world.

Congratulations.

Nearly 100 million Americans

are today either overweight

or obese.

That's more

than 60% of all U.S. adults.

Since 1980,

the total number of overweight

and obese Americans has doubled,

with twice as many

overweight children

and three times as many

overweight adolescents.

The fattest state in America?

Mississippi -- where one

in four people are obese.

I grew up in west Virginia,

currently the third-fattest

state in America.

When I was growing up, my mother

cooked dinner every single day.

Almost all my memories of her

are in the kitchen.

And we never ate out,

only on those few, rare

special occasions.

Today, families do it

all the time,

and they're paying for it --

not only with their wallets,

but with their waistlines.

Obesity is now

second only to smoking

as a major cause

of preventable death in America,

with more

than 400,000 deaths per year

associated

with related illnesses.

In 2002, a few Americans

got fed up with being overweight

and did what we do best.

They sued the bastards.

taking aim

at the fast-food companies

and blaming them

for their obesity and illnesses,

a lawsuit was filed in New York

on behalf of two teenage girls,

one who was 14 years old,

4'10", and 170 pounds,

the other, 19 years old,

5'6", and 270 pounds.

The unthinkable

had suddenly become reality.

People were suing the golden

arches for selling them food

that most of us know isn't

good for you to begin with

yet each day,

one in four Americans

visits a fast-food restaurant.

And this hunger for fast food

isn't just in America.

it's happening

on a global basis.

McDonalds alone operates

more than 30,000 joints

in over 100 countries

on 6 continents

and feeds more than 46 million

people worldwide every day.

That's more than

the entire population of Spain.

In the United States alone,

McDonalds accounts for 43 %

of the total fast-food market.

They're everywhere --

Wal-Mart's, airports, rest stops,

gas stations, train stations,

shopping malls,

department stores,

amusement parts, even hospitals.

That's right -- hospitals.

At least you're close

when the coronary kicks in.

Lawyers for McDonald's

called the suits "frivolous",

stating that the dangers of

its food are universally known

and that these kids can't show

that their weight problems

and health woes were caused

solely by their McDiets.

The judge states, however,

that if lawyers

for the teens can show

that McDonald's intends

for people to eat its food

for every meal of every day

and that doing so would be

unreasonably dangerous,

they may be able

to state a claim.

Are the food companies solely

to blame for this epidemic?

Where does personal

responsibility stop

and corporate responsibility

begin?

Is fast food

really that bad for you?

I mean, what would happen

if I ate nothing but McDonald's

for 30 days straight?

Would I suddenly be

on the fast track

to becoming an obese American?

Would it be

unreasonably dangerous?

Let's find out.

Im ready.

Super-size me.

I knew

if I was going to do this,

I would need some serious

medical supervision,

so I enlisted the help of

not one, but three doctors -

a cardiologist,

a gastroenterologist,

and a general practitioner.

You're feeling

quite well today, yes?

In general, any fatigue

or weight loss, weight gain,

any change in your vision?

No fever,

no earache, no cough

no shortness of breath,

no chest pain...

...nausea,

vomiting, heartburn?

Dr. Isaacs:
no hospitalizations

for illness?

Do you take

any medications of any sort?

Ive just been

taking vitamins.

Any food allergies

or anything?

No.

There's no heart disease

or diabetes or blood pressure

or cancer

in the immediate family?

My grandfather's had

a couple open-heart surgeries.

One out of four

grandparents is dead.

Yeah.

Good genes.

That's the important thing.

- Any alcohol use?

- Now? None.

You don't smoke?

I used to, but I don't.

Any drug use at all?

Not for a long time.

- Are you sexually active at present?

- Yes.

- A girlfriend?

- Yes.

Is there anything

we didn't cover?

Is there anything else

you need to tell me?

I don't think so.

"Patient is embarking

on a one-month McDonald's binge."

Very good.

You might have something

called white coats.

140 over about 95.

130 over 105.

120 over 80.

That's what it is?

The other guys

are stressing me out.

You're much more relaxed.

I tend to do that

to my patients.

Swallow, please.

Your reflexes are perfect.

Good. Back out.

Normal.

Say "ah."

Everything

looks pretty normal here.

Good.

We'll skip

checking for hernias.

We're gonna

do a rectal exam.

I like to be more

thorough than that.

And I like doctors

to be thorough.

You're gonna go downstairs

and get your bloods drawn.

So, the reason

we have you fasting

is the true cholesterol

and glucose number is fasting.

So, if you had, like,

a bacon, egg, and cheese

your cholesterol

would be way high,

or if you had orange juice,

your glucose would be high.

Three down.

Your blood tests

are excellent.

Your starting off with

a total cholesterol of 168

which is less than 200,

which is really superb

your blood level's fine.

Your iron level

is good as well.

you have no evidence

of diabetes.

Your fasting blood sugar

is very low.

the other thing

that we looked at

were all your electrolytes

in terms of salts in your blood,

your kidney function,

your liver function.

They were all perfect.

Your triglycerides, which is

your building blocks of fat --

basically, what you acquire

from eating fat --

is 43, which is low,

which is good.

Your general health,

you know...is outstanding.

Your urinalysis is great.

So, you're

starting off terrific.

I think

the worst-case scenario

is that you increase

your triglycerides

and your cholesterol level,

and if you have any he

art disease in the family --

underlying heart disease --

you're putting

your heart at risk.

I expect to see an increase

in your triglycerides,

because

that can be affected.

You're at 87 now,

and I think that will change.

I think that's the only thing

that will change.

Out of everything?

Out of everything.

There might be

some minor variations,

but the body

is extremely adaptable,

and the kidneys will handle

any extra salt you're taking in,

and your liver will be able

to metabolize additional fats.

As far as you gaining weight,

you probably will.

As far as your cholesterol

going up, it probably will.

As far as you

feeling miserable, may be.

I don't know.

Unless you start cheating

and just order the salads.

I also went to a fancy

new York wellness center

to meet a registered dietician

who would help

track my progress.

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