Supersize vs Superskinny
Supersize vs Superskinny | |
---|---|
Title card from most recent episode of Series 4 | |
Presented by | Dr Christian Jessen (2008–) |
Starring | Anna Richardson (2008–2010) |
Narrated by |
Daisy Donovan Liza Tarbuck (2008–) |
Country of origin | United Kingdom |
No. of series | 7 |
No. of episodes | 55 (as of 12 March 2013) |
Production | |
Running time | 60 minutes (inc. adverts) |
Production company(s) | Remarkable Television |
Release | |
Original network | Channel 4 |
Original release | 22 January 2008 – present |
External links | |
Website |
Supersize vs Superskinny is a British television programme on Channel 4 that features information about dieting and extreme eating lifestyles. One of the main show features is a weekly comparison between an overweight person, and an underweight person. The two are brought to a feeding clinic, and live together for five days (later on two days), swapping diets all supervised by Dr Christian Jessen.
The overweight person swaps diets with the underweight person. While the underweight person is suddenly given more food than they would usually eat in a few days at one meal, the overweight person is usually given tea, coffee, a small snack, or nothing sometimes. Most of the underweight people are unable to finish their meal.
In earlier series, the show featured a food tube for each person. The tube contained what each person ate and drank in the span of one week.
In later series, the "supersizer" was sent to the United States to visit someone that was heavier than they were. It was used as a shock tactic to show the "supersizer" what they could become if they did not stop their unhealthy lifestyles.
The show also featured Anna Richardson in the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd series, who examined new methods to lose weight by trying diets she found on the Internet, some of which have shocking side effects. For example, Anna attempted Laser lipolysis, which went drastically wrong and resulted in severe bruising. Also, she discovered Diabulimia and spoke to Isabelle Caro, a French actress, renowned for her underweight figure and anorexia campaign.
During the first series in 2008, one feature involved Gillian McKeith, who tried to find a way to "ban big bums" in the UK. She tested out different exercises to tone the buttocks of different groups of ladies, and made a leader board for the most effective.
Transmissions
Series | Episodes | Originally aired | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Series premiere | Series finale | |||
1 | 8 | 22 January 2008 | 11 March 2008 | |
2 | 10 | 20 January 2009 | 8 March 2009 | |
3 | 9 | 23 March 2010 | 18 May 2010 | |
4 | 8 | 29 March 2011 | 17 May 2011 | |
5 | 10 | 28 February 2012 | 1 May 2012 | |
6 | 10 | 8 January 2013 | 12 March 2013 | |
7 | 8 | 9 January 2014 | 2014 | |
In 2011, a 4-episode children's version titled Supersize vs Superskinny Kids was produced and aired between 21 and 25 March 2011.
External links
- 'Supersize vs Superskinny' at channel4.com
- 'Supersize vs Superskinny Kids' at channel4.com
- Supersize vs Superskinny at the Internet Movie Database
- Review, Leicester Mercury