Ever wondered why Americans’ waistlines seem to be growing at a startling rate? What would happen if you ate nothing but fast food for an entire month? Award-winning director Morgan Spurlock provides an insider’s look at the legal, financial and physical costs of America’s hunger for fast food. CBC NEWS: THE PASSIONATE EYE airs the two-hour documentary Super Size Me on Sunday, Jan. 7 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on CBC Newsworld. Super Size Me premieres on Monday, January 1 at 8 p.m. on CBC Television.

Spurlock embarks on a risky journey to prove the physical and mental effects of consuming fast food when he vows to live solely on McDonald’s, eating three meals a day for one month. He establishes three basic rules: to only eat and drink items available over the counter, to eat every item on the menu at least once, and to only super-size an order when offered. As the food bills add up, so do the doctor’s visits, as Spurlock puts his health on the line.

Travelling across America, Spurlock interviews a variety of health professionals and captures the opinions of the general public, while dining at McDonald’s and uncovering shocking information. Most alarming is a visit to a public school to examine the school lunch program, where it is discovered that kids eat nothing but french fries and soda for lunch. Super Size Me also explores the declining health and physical education classes, food addictions and extreme measures people take to lose weight. Spurlock’s gruelling journey is cleverly amusing and will make viewers think twice about picking up another burger and fries.

Super Size Me has received numerous awards, including Best Director at the Sundance Film Festival, the Documentary Screenplay Award at the Writer’s Guild of America and the Best Documentary by the International Press Academy at the Satellite Awards. It was also nominated for an Academy Award.