"South Park: The End of Obesity" is a 2024 American adult animated comedy television special episode, marking the seventh special in the South Park series and the 328th episode overall. The episode dives headfirst into the contemporary frenzy surrounding new weight loss medications, particularly semaglutides, and their impact on the residents of South Park. Through the lens of Eric Cartman's personal struggle with obesity, the special satirizes the American healthcare system, body image issues, and the pervasive influence of the sugar industry.
Cartman's Medical Predicament and Fantasies
The episode begins with Eric Cartman and his mother, Liane, visiting Dr. Gauche for a check-up. The doctor expresses concern about Cartman's weight and suggests semaglutides, the active ingredient in diabetes drugs like Ozempic, as a potential solution. Semaglutides work by mimicking a natural hormone that increases insulin production, reduces appetite, and promotes a feeling of fullness.
Cartman's reaction to this possibility is depicted through a fantasy sequence where he envisions himself as being the same size as the other fourth graders, and unleashing insults without fear of retaliation based on his weight. He dreams of taunting Wendy, Kyle, and even traveling to Pakistan to hurl insults, all while being immune to criticism due to his newfound physique.
However, Cartman's hopes are dashed when he learns that the drug costs $1200 a month and is not covered by his insurance. This sets the stage for a bureaucratic odyssey as Cartman and his friends attempt to navigate the complexities of the American healthcare system.
Navigating the Labyrinthine Healthcare System
Despondent about the cost of semaglutides, Cartman enlists the help of Butters Stotch and Kyle Broflovski to appeal to his insurance company. Their journey takes them to a massive Insurance building where they are ushered into a small, dusty room. They encounter a pale, soft-spoken man who types slowly and responds to almost every question slowly, including by calling his director, highlighting the inefficiency and frustration often associated with insurance claims.
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The boys are sent on a labyrinthine journey through different clinics, medical centers, specialists, and insurance companies, failing to secure coverage for Cartman's medication. This experience serves as a critique of the American healthcare system, portraying it as a maze of bureaucracy designed to discourage patients from accessing the care they need.
The DIY Semaglutide Solution
Undeterred by their failures within the traditional healthcare system, Kyle takes matters into his own hands. After discovering that raw semaglutide powder can be purchased cheaply from a factory in India and mixed with biostatic water, he decides to produce his own supply. This initiative is driven by a desire to help those who cannot afford the expensive medication, showcasing Kyle's characteristic compassion and resourcefulness.
Randy's Crop-Top Antics and Sharon's Lizzo Experiment
Meanwhile, Randy Marsh becomes entangled in the semaglutide craze. He observes the local mothers sporting crop-tops after losing weight with the drug and misinterprets it as a party drug. After seeing Randy wearing one of his daughter's crop-tops, the mothers invite him to a semaglutide-sharing party. Randy begins taking the drug himself, believing it to be a party drug that leaves him with neither a hangover nor an appetite.
Randy's newfound enthusiasm for semaglutides leads to him declining Sharon's home-cooked breakfast and bragging to Towelie about partying with "nine hot MILFs". This behavior leaves Sharon feeling self-conscious about her own weight. She begins taking Lizzo, but it causes her to develop "diabeardes", a form of diabetes that afflicts the ears.
The Sugar Industry's Counterattack
Kyle's homemade semaglutide operation attracts the attention of a sugar industry cartel, consisting of mascots of breakfast cereals and sugary snacks. The cartel views semaglutides as a threat to their profits and launches a campaign to undermine their production. The factory in India where Kyle sources the raw semaglutide powder is targeted by the Sugar Cartel, who open fire on the employees and burn the factory to the ground.
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Pharmacy Robberies and a Truckload of Semaglutide
As the government cracks down on semaglutide abuse, the local mothers find themselves without a supply. Desperate to maintain their weight loss, they resort to robbing pharmacies, doing so in disguises that expose their stomachs. Kyle purchases a truckload of semaglutide powder from another supplier in North Carolina, but it is carjacked by Randy and the mothers.
A Violent Chase and a Revelation
A violent chase ensues, involving the boys, the mothers, and the sugary mascots. Randy, covered in blood and bruises, arrives at the farm and stops Sharon from taking Ozempic for the first time. He confesses that he has been using it himself and admits that he sees semaglutides as "bad drugs."
Randy realizes how cool Sharon is and that he does not want her to change, suggesting he and Sharon go to a Holiday Inn and do some molly, like they did in college.
Kyle's Anti-Fat Shaming Speech and its Consequences
At South Park Elementary, Kyle delivers a speech calling for the end of fat shaming. He argues that the manipulation of sugar and pharmaceutical companies means it is not fair to blame people for their weight. The speech garners a positive reception, with the school agreeing not to make fun of obesity anymore or be critical of anyone for their weight.
Cartman, realizing this is what he really wanted all along and happy things worked out, tells Kyle he is a "dipshit ginger" with freckles, and that his religion is a "goddamn lie". Kyle prepares to fire back but hesitates, realizing he cannot make fun of him for his weight. Cartman then tells Wendy she has "little tiny saggy tits" and her breath stinks, and she fumes unable to say anything back.
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Social Commentary and Satire
"South Park: The End of Obesity" is rife with social commentary and satire. The episode tackles a range of issues, including:
- The American Healthcare System: The episode satirizes the complexities and inefficiencies of the American healthcare system, highlighting the difficulties people face in accessing affordable medication.
- Body Image and Societal Pressure: The episode explores the pressures individuals face to conform to societal beauty standards, particularly in relation to weight. It also touches on the issue of body positivity and the desire to be accepted regardless of size.
- The Pharmaceutical Industry: The episode critiques the pharmaceutical industry's role in promoting weight loss drugs and the potential for these drugs to be abused.
- The Sugar Industry: The episode takes aim at the sugar industry, depicting it as a powerful force that manipulates consumers and undermines public health.