Fat Head

Fat Head sees comedian Tom Naughton examine and attempt to refute Morgan Spurlock’s documentary Super Size Me, critically analysing the science and information presented in that film. Having watched it as part of his research for a comedy piece he was working on, Naughton became sceptical of the claims made, such as the assertion by Spurlock’s doctor that Spurlock was consuming 5,000 calories a day, and the implication that the American public is unaware that fast food is high in calories. Furthermore, Naughton demonstrates that it is possible to lose weight while consuming fast food, embarking on a diet consisting largely of burgers and fries.

Fat Head also addresses the Lipid Hypothesis, a nutritional theory widespread in the Western world that proposes a link between cholesterol levels and heart disease. The film asserts that there has never been a single scientific study providing clear evidence that a high-fat diet increases the risk of heart disease. Several doctors and dietitians are interviewed to support this view, stating that current science indicates inflammation to be the primary cause of heart disease, rather than a diet high in saturated fat. This directly contradicts much of the information presented in Super Size Me.