A Matter of Fat
1969
1 h 38 min
Coming soon
This feature-length documentary follows a man as he sheds nearly half his body weight (63.5 kg) by complete starvation under hospital observation. The film explores what brought him to so desperate a course and catalogues what actions other overweight people are taking, singly or in groups, to reduce to healthier proportions. Medical authorities comment on some misconceptions and malpractices of the slimming industry.
Details
This feature-length documentary follows a man as he sheds nearly half his body weight (63.5 kg) by complete starvation under hospital observation. The film explores what brought him to so desperate a course and catalogues what actions other overweight people are taking, singly or in groups, to reduce to healthier proportions. Medical authorities comment on some misconceptions and malpractices of the slimming industry.
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directorWilliam Weintraub
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scriptWilliam Weintraub
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producerDesmond Dew
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photographyDon VirgoEugene BoykoJacques Fogel
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soundJean-Guy Normandin
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editingLucien Marleau
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sound editingBernard Bordeleau
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re-recordingRoger LamoureuxMichel Descombes
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narratorLorne Greene
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musicRobert Fleming
Education
Ages 15 to 17
Family Studies/Home Economics - Food and Nutrition
Health/Personal Development - Healthy Eating, Nutrition
Media Education - Body Image
Students today might find some of the 1960's strategies to battle obesity surprising, such as the man who spends 7 months starving himself. What do students think of the scientific advice throughout the film? Have attitudes about body image changed since the film was made? What else do they notice about that era compared to the one in which they live? Have we made advances? Are we a healthier society today -- or not?