Can't Stop Eating (documentary)
Encyclopedia
Can't Stop Eating is a 2006 documentary
film that follows the lives of several people with Prader-Willi Syndrome
(PWS).
The film is set in Gretton House, near Kettering
in England
, which is a government-funded care home deliberately constructed to assist people with PWS.
s, which have been exploited for humorous value on such sites as YouTube
.
The second resident that the documentary focuses on is Tamara Allwood, who was at one point close to death from overeating
but by the time of filming has gained enough autonomy to gain the rights to visit her mother in London. 27-year-old Tamara has become estranged
from her mother, who has never properly understood Tamara's illness, which was diagnosed relatively late in her life. The meeting is unsuccessful. However, Tamara is hopeful by the end of the documentary, as she gets back together with an old boyfriend
, who vows to protect her from her desire to eat. They get engaged and she has high hopes for the future.
Documentary
A documentary is a creative work of non-fiction, including:* Documentary film, including television* Radio documentary* Documentary photographyRelated terms include:...
film that follows the lives of several people with Prader-Willi Syndrome
Prader-Willi syndrome
Prader–Willi syndrome is a rare genetic disorder in which seven genes on chromosome 15 are deleted or unexpressed on the paternal chromosome...
(PWS).
The film is set in Gretton House, near Kettering
Kettering
Kettering is a market town in the Borough of Kettering, Northamptonshire, England. It is situated about from London. Kettering is mainly situated on the west side of the River Ise, a tributary of the River Nene which meets at Wellingborough...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, which is a government-funded care home deliberately constructed to assist people with PWS.
Plot summary
The film focuses on a new resident, Joe Blackburn, who is 21 and begins the documentary weighing over 30 stone (190 kg, 420 lbs) and with fears for his health. The plot follows his struggle to integrate with existing members of the home. Since PWS often causes immaturity, the early stages of the documentary show Joe having a variety of tantrumTantrum
A tantrum is an emotional outburst, usually associated with children or those in emotional distress, that is typically characterized by stubbornness, crying, screaming, yelling, shrieking, defiance, angry ranting, a resistance to attempts at pacification and, in some cases, violence...
s, which have been exploited for humorous value on such sites as YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
.
The second resident that the documentary focuses on is Tamara Allwood, who was at one point close to death from overeating
Overeating
Overeating generally refers to the long-term consumption of excess food in relation to the energy that an organism expends , leading to weight gainingand often obesity. It may be regarded as an eating disorder....
but by the time of filming has gained enough autonomy to gain the rights to visit her mother in London. 27-year-old Tamara has become estranged
Estrangement
Estrangement is the sixth album by Ukrainian black metal band Drudkh, released in August 2007. The album was previously known under the title River of Tears, but then had a name change. Its songs have a minimalistic influence and also features the band's first prominent use of blast beats since...
from her mother, who has never properly understood Tamara's illness, which was diagnosed relatively late in her life. The meeting is unsuccessful. However, Tamara is hopeful by the end of the documentary, as she gets back together with an old boyfriend
Boyfriend
A boyfriend is a person's regular male companion in a romantic or sexual relationship, although normally not in long-term committed relationships, where other titles A boyfriend is a person's regular male companion in a romantic or sexual relationship, although normally not in long-term committed...
, who vows to protect her from her desire to eat. They get engaged and she has high hopes for the future.
See also
- ROHHADROHHADRapid-onset Obesity with Hypothalamic dysfunction, Hypoventilation and Autonomic Dysregulation is a very rare disease affecting approximately only 75 cases worldwide. Patients with ROHHAD, as well as patients with Congenital Central Hypoventilation Syndrome have damaged the mechanism governing...
, Rapid-onset Obesity with Hypothalamic dysfunction, Hypoventilation and Autonomic Dysregulation