Supersize Me!

You are going to 

• watch a clip from the film "Supersize Me" about fast food
• do a gap-fill listening exercise
• discuss the health aspects of eating fast food
• discuss whether the state should prohibit unhealthy activities
• write an argument essay based on the topic

1) Discuss

• Do you ever eat in fast food restaurants?  Why / Why not?
• What does “Super size me” mean?
• Have you seen the film?
• Is Fast Food good for you?  Why / Why not?
• Do you think Fast Food restaurants are responsible for making people fat or ill?
• What would happen if you only ate Fast Food for 1 month?

You are going to watch 2 clips from Morgan Spurlock's documentary Supersize Me. For 30 days Morgan Spurlock only ate at McDonald's, eating everything on the menu at least once. At the end of the film he examines what effect this diet has had on him.
You can buy the DVD on amazon here




2) Before you watch / Vocabulary Check
Do you know these words?
OBESE = FAT
SUED (To Sue) = To take someone to court for damages
CORONARY = Heart attack
JOINTS = Restaurants
FRIVOLOUS = Silly
STRAIGHT = Consecutively, following = 30 days straight.

3) Watch the clip

Why did 2 girls try to sue McDonalds?
What is Morgan Spurlock going to do for 1 month?

4) Gap-fill

Now do the gap-fill. Fill in the gaps with the right number or word.
Watch the clip again if you need to.

5) Discuss
What do you think happened after 30 days of eating nothing but fast food?

• Did he get fatter?
• Was he ill?
• How did he feel?

6) Watch
Watch the end of the film.

1. How much weight did he gain?
2. What happened to his liver?
3. What happened to his cholesterol?
4. Did he get fatter?
5. How much more likely is he to have a heart failure?
6. How did he feel?
7. What happened to his sex life?
8. Did he become addicted to fast food?

Answers and printable exercises - here

7) Discuss

• If fast food is unhealthy, should it be banned or restricted or is eating it a matter of personal choice?
• If you think it is a matter of personal choice, should people also be allowed to do other unhealthy or addictive things like drink alcohol, smoke or take illegal drugs? Where do you draw the line between allowing one unhealthy activity and prohibiting or restricting another?
• Should the government or state tell us what not to eat, drink, smoke or do with our bodies? Is the state trying to interfere with the individual's personal freedom and choice? Can these initiatives ever be successful or are they a waste of money?
• How do a person's unhealthy habits affect the state or society?

8) Write
Write an answer to this question.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statement? "Fast food is addictive and unhealthy and it should be restricted in the same way that alcohol, cigarettes and drugs are."

More
 

Originally via: OnlineSchools.org

Fast food facts
http://www.vivavegie.org/101book/text/nolink/social/supersizeme.htm