Supersize vs Superskinny Season 1 Episode 3 Amy-Jo and Andy
- February 5, 2008
- 47 min
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(7)
In the third episode of Supersize vs Superskinny season 1, viewers are introduced to Amy-Jo and Andy, two individuals with polar opposite eating habits. Amy-Jo is a 27-year-old woman who consumes a diet that consists mainly of takeaways, sugary drinks, and junk food. At 5 feet 5 inches tall and weighing in at 19 stone 4 pounds, Amy-Jo is classified as morbidly obese and has developed a myriad of health problems, including high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, and sleep apnea.
On the other end of the spectrum is Andy, a 33-year-old man who suffers from an extreme eating disorder known as anorexia nervosa. Standing at 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighing just 7 stone 9 pounds, Andy's diet is restricted to a small selection of very low-calorie foods, which has left him malnourished and fragile.
In this episode, Amy-Jo and Andy are brought together to participate in a nutritional experiment that aims to help them see the damaging effects of their current eating habits. The pair is swapped onto the opposite diets, meaning that Amy-Jo must survive exclusively on the very low-calorie diet that Andy follows, while Andy indulges in Amy-Jo's high-calorie, high-fat diet.
The exchange is a shock for both participants, with Andy struggling to consume the large amounts of food that Amy-Jo had been eating, while Amy-Jo found herself feeling constantly hungry and unsatisfied on Andy's diet. Through monitoring and counseling, the pair is guided through the process, and their insightful journey helps them both see the reality of their unhealthy lifestyles.
Viewers also get to see how Amy-Jo and Andy's physical bodies react to the extreme changes in their diets. With Andy's brain and body starved of the nutrients he had been so lacking, the show observes how his weight and energy levels improve significantly. In contrast, Amy-Jo's body desperately craved the sugar and fat she had become accustomed to consuming, leading to increased emotions and exhaustion.
Alongside this central experiment, the episode also features a segment called "The Food Clinic." In this component, presenter Dr. Christian Jessen meets with a range of patients to investigate their eating behaviors. Jessen addresses the various reasons these participants approach food in the way they do, and together they begin to work towards healthier lifestyles.
Finally, the episode concludes with a "Feed the Good" challenge, where both Amy-Jo and Andy are challenged to prepare and cook a healthy meal that swaps out fatty, sugary ingredients with more nutritious counterparts. Jessen is on hand to offer guidance and resources to help the pair learn to prepare healthy, tasty meals that they can enjoy long-term.
Overall, the third episode of Supersize vs Superskinny season 1 offers an insightful look into the extremes of eating disorders, from obesity to anorexia, and how they can have severe and distressing consequences on our mental and physical health. The episode highlights that it's essential to adopt a more balanced approach to nutrition and emphasizes the importance of a healthy and enjoyable relationship with food.