The ethics behind ‘Supersize vs Superskinny’- Estelle L
(Please keep in mind that Supersize vs Superskinny does surround the topic of weight and disordered eating)
In the late 2000’s, a controversial new hit reality tv show graced British television and got everybody talking. Documenting diet swaps between extremely overweight and underweight contestants, the show in question was, of course, Supersize vs Superskinny. Presented by Dr Christian Jessen, the show aimed to help contestants break their unhealthy habits with food. But did it manage to do this ethically? In fact, did it manage to do this at all?
For those unfamiliar with the popular Channel 4 show, each episode worked like this: two contestants would meet in a ‘feeding clinic’ to swap diets for a week. Some of the most memorable (and shocking) scenes were the food tubes, dumping a weeks worth of each participants diets. Yes, it made for gripping entertainment, but it begs the question of whether the line was crossed into exploitation. Was Supersize vs Superskinny about helping people, or was it just for our entertainment?
One aspect of the show particularly bemusing was the fact that the participants are expected to be one another’s eating ‘mentors’ by Dr Jessen – can two people struggling with unhealthy eating patterns really guide one another? And it did not help that some participants in the ‘Superskinny’ camp would express fat-phobic views. Comments such as these would surely have affected those participants on the receiving end, but it is likely that they were kept in, once again, for the entertainment factor.
Meanwhile, throughout each episode, Dr Jessen regularly warns of the damages caused by extreme diets, however, is ready to swoop in after a few days with a 3-month diet plan. The problem? The contents of these plans are never explained, or even showed to viewers leaving the audience with more questions than answered. The takeaway from this is that while we are no doubt entertained by the otherworldly shock value of the show, has anyone learned how to eat the wright way? Or are people chosen for the show who are eating the ‘wrong’ way simply to be exploited for entertainment?
While the show may be entertaining it also raises clear ethical red flags. If we consider the potential emotional toll to participants – subjected to public scrutiny, extreme diet change, and harsh body comparisons – appears worrying. Was it worth it?
The ethical conflict in Supersize vs Superskinny grows from the tug-of-war between entertainment and education. By 2014, after seven seasons and a fair amount of criticism, the show was pulled off the air, supporting the popular theory that the ethics behind its entertainment value were more than questionable. Given its history, I think we can all agree that Supersize vs Superskinny will not be making a return to screens anytime soon.
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