Ep 1. Obesity

In season 5 episode 1 of Penn and Teller Bullshit, the topic under scrutiny is obesity. The dynamic duo dives into the myth that every overweight person is unhealthy, and that obesity is always a direct result of poor lifestyle choices, such as overeating and laziness. They contend that the fitness industry advocates a one-size-fits-all approach to weight and body image, and takes a rather one-dimensional view of the various factors that contribute to the obesity epidemic.

The episode begins with Penn and Teller looking at the entire industry that has been built around promoting weight loss products like diet pills, supplements, and various exercise equipment. The two magicians open with some insightful commentary about how people around the world want to feel good about their bodies, but the constant advertising that promotes unrealistic standards of beauty only serves to exacerbate body image issues.

Penn and Teller then take a closer look at the diet and fitness industry and contend that the industry is not promoting healthier individuals, but rather, it’s just generating revenue by exploiting people's insecurities. They also explore the psychological factors that lead to compulsive eating habits and refute the notion that people are overweight because they simply lack willpower.

Throughout the episode, the Penn and Teller team compares the obesity epidemic in America to that in Japan, a country with a very high rate of smoking but considerably lower rates of obesity. They look at the cultural differences between the East and West, which have significant differences in the makeup of their urban vs rural populations. Japan, despite being considered a high-income country like America, has a significantly lower rate of brand-name and fast food chains compared to the United States.

Furthermore, they demonstrate that there are many variables that cause obesity, including genetics, environmental factors, and poverty. These variables, they stress, should be taken seriously when facilitating preventative measures for obesity. They argue that the solution to the obesity epidemic must be holistic and that every part of society must work together to promote healthy weight management instead of promoting fad diets and fitness hacks.

Penn and Teller even delve into the issue of corporate profit motives and the impact on public health, seeking to expose the conflicts of interest that exist between health organizations, such as the American Heart Association, and the companies whose products they mark with a ‘seal of approval.’. The heart associations awarded seals of approval to products that are high in fructose corn syrup and other sugary ingredients, which they argue only contribute to the obesity epidemic.

Ultimately, Penn and Teller call for an end to body shaming and unhealthy standards of beauty and advocate for a more compassionate approach to weight issues. They argue for people to normalize healthy eating habits and exercise routines instead of blindly using weight watchers or fad diet products.

Penn and Teller’s intellectual and humorous approach to taking down consumerist attitudes towards weight management shines brightly in this episode. The two charismatic magicians unravel the myth that weight loss products are the only solution to obesity while opening up a healthy discourse that promotes holistic health.