Documentarian Morgan Spurlock, who rose to fame exposing the dangers of the fast food industry in his eye-opening 2004 film, Super Size Me, has died at age 53.
According to a statement released by his family, he died from cancer complications in his home state of New York.
“It was a sad day, as we said goodbye to my brother Morgan,” Craig Spurlock said. “Morgan gave so much thought through his art, ideas and generosity. The world has lost a true creative genius and a special man.”
“I am so proud to have worked together with him,” he added of the Oscar nominee, who also has a brother Barry. Spurlock, who pointedly listed his role as “Father” first, then “Storyteller” on his social media, is also survived by his parents, Phyllis and Ben Spurlock, his wife Sara Bernstein and kids, Laken James, 17, and Kalen Marcus, 8. The eldest is the son of Spurlock’s ex, Alexandra Jamieson, 49.
Further details of his medical issues and the specific type of cancer are unclear.
A Healthy Foods Advocate
In Spurlock’s pivotal first project Super Size Me, Spurlock “examined the influence of the fast food industry,” as his website states, while personally exploring “the consequences on his health” on a diet solely consisting of McDonald’s food for one month.
Spurlock’s journey was eye-opening and marked a pivotal change in our day-to-day food-consuming society, improving awareness on the dangers of the health industry.
During his mission to expose these big businesses and what they were doing to our bodies, along with eating every item on the McDonald’s menu, he also eliminated a lot of the exercise he was getting in, limiting his steps to 5,000 a day or less, which was the recommended amount at the time.
The staggering results led to an 18-lb weight increase and major increase in his cholesterol. He also documented his mental health, noting his depression and changes in sexual performance.
“If you decide to keep eating this way, go ahead,” Spurlock said at the conclusion of the film. “Over time, you may find yourself getting as sick as I did.”
When once asked whether or not nutrition has improved, he responded, “The marketing sure has.”
Cancer Impacting Younger People
While the average age of people getting diagnosed with cancers like colon cancer is 68 for men and 72 for women, according to the American Cancer Society, researchers are sounding the alarm on a growing and concerning trend.
The National Cancer Institute reports that since the 1990s colorectal cancer cases have been rising among adults younger than 50. Research published inCA: A Cancer Journal for Cliniciansfound that the proportion of cases in people younger than 55 “increased from 11% in 1995 to 20% in 2019.”
“We know rates are increasing in young people, but it’s alarming to see how rapidly the whole patient population is shifting younger, despite shrinking numbers in the overall population,” cancer epidemiologist and lead study authorRebecca Siegelsaid.
Researchers are still trying to determine why younger people are being diagnosed in greater numbers. Some experts point to risk factors which include obesity, physical inactivity, and smoking as a possible explanation for the increase.
Prevention Is Key
Back in 2020, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recently drafted new recommended guidelines which state colon cancerscreenings should beginat 45-years-old. This was in response to the increase we are seeing of colon cancer diagnoses in younger adults.
However, many insurance companies still do not cover the cost of screenings for those below the age of 50. In the past, the disease had predominantly been found in adults 50-years or older, but for those predisposed to get it at a younger age, these new guidelines could potentially help catch it at an earlier stage.
The best and most complete way ofscreening is acolonoscopyevery 10 years. In general, you should get your first colonoscopy at age 45 but theguidelines differdepending on your risk category.
If you have a close relative who had colon cancer, a rule of thumb is to get screened 10 years prior to their age of diagnosis to make sure any growths or cancers are caught early.
If you have several family members who had colon cancer, or family members who got it at a young age (less than 50 years old), it may be necessary to undergo genetic screening.
And if you have a lot of polyps on your colonoscopy or if you yourself have had colon cancer previously, you will need a colonoscopy every 3 to 5 years.
Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff
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