Overweight Teenagers in Canada
New documentary explores teenagers who are overweight
Generation XXL follows 4 young people as they deal with being heavy
They’re called fat, lazy, obese and heavy. They’re teased relentlessly for eating too much. Yet they’re only in high school and life will only become more of a challenge for them.
Following the lives of teenagers and breaking though their oftentimes steely shells, can be a difficult feat. For director Teresa MacInnes, it was a fulfilling pleasure to get to know a few teenagers who became the stars in her documentary titled, Generation XXL.
After finishing a series about youth and violence in schools, Teresa was offered the job to direct Generation XXL.
I “am fascinated in general about youth, how we perceive them, and the reality that exists behind the headlines that are written about them. I quickly came to realize these kids are a product of their environment, with a much bigger social context behind their individual circumstances.” (ZIJI Film & Television Ltd., 2007)
The story focuses on 4 teenagers in Nova Scotia who are dealing with being overweight. They are sent to a “fat camp” called Fit Intervention Program in order to improve their self-esteem.
But the camp is more than losing weight and they learn new tools and ways to express themselves. This 5 day pilot program is designed to empower kids by helping them understand themselves and societal influences.
One exercise is centered on mindful eating, where donuts are brought out and each of them has to close their eyes and express exactly how the donut smells, and then feels, in their mouths.
The camera follows each of their expressions as they start to feel confused at the new experience and way of eating.
Another part has an art therapist talking to the group about names they’ve been called. They must write down all of the horrible things people have said to them and share them with the group. The pens write furiously.
When asked to then write down positive things about themselves, the room goes silent and the pens stop moving. They look stuck and stare ahead blankly. The art therapist has to give them suggestions and prod them in order to get them writing again. It’s one of the most poignant points in the film.
Vincent is addicted to Pepsi and has a hard time adjusting when he first arrives at camp.
Greg has perfected the class clown role and uses humor of his body to make friends and keep people laughing.
Kat is searching for some sort of fulfillment in beauty products and magazines, and hates to eat salad.
Raya comes from a family where food is the comforter and nothing else but music soothes her soul.
The documentary allows viewers to take a glimpse into the life behind the “fat” label that is put upon these young and bright teenagers. We see their uniqueness, creativity, warmth and insecurities that make them up of so much more than their size.
Generation XXL permiered on CBC television on March 8th, 2007 at 8:00pm.
It will screen on April 13th and 20th at the Sprockets International Film Festival for Children (www.bell.ca/sprockets) and between April 24th and 28th, 2007, at the Viewfinders International Film Festival for Youth in Halifax.
For more information about the film: www.generationxxl.ca
