The Game Changers Fact Check: An Evidence-Based Review of the Documentary

Since its release on Netflix, “The Game Changers” has sparked intense debate in the nutrition and fitness communities. The documentary follows elite athletes who adopt plant-based diets, making bold claims about the superiority of vegan eating patterns for performance, health, and longevity.

While the film has inspired many to reconsider their dietary choices, critics argue it presents a one-sided narrative that cherry-picks scientific evidence. This comprehensive fact-check examines the documentary’s claims through an objective, evidence-based lens to help you separate fact from fiction.

Overview of The Game Changers Documentary

“The Game Changers” follows former UFC fighter James Wilks as he investigates plant-based diets after sustaining an injury. The documentary features several high-profile vegan athletes, including strongman Patrik Baboumian, cyclist Dotsie Bausch, and Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton.

The film’s central thesis is straightforward: plant-based diets are superior to omnivorous diets for athletic performance, health outcomes, and disease prevention. It takes an unambiguous stance against all animal products, including those traditionally considered healthy like fish, chicken, and eggs.

Throughout its runtime, the documentary presents various studies, expert interviews, and demonstrations to support its pro-vegan position. However, the question remains: does the science truly support all of these claims?

What The Game Changers Gets Right

Despite legitimate criticisms, the documentary accurately presents several facts about plant-based nutrition that deserve recognition.

Plant-Based Protein Can Be Adequate

The film correctly states that well-planned vegan diets can provide sufficient protein for athletes and active individuals. Plant sources like legumes, quinoa, tofu, tempeh, seitan, and nuts can collectively supply all nine essential amino acids necessary for muscle growth and recovery.

Research confirms that athletes can meet their elevated protein needs through plant sources alone, though it typically requires more careful planning and potentially higher total food volume compared to omnivorous diets.

Cardiovascular Benefits of Plant-Based Diets

The documentary’s emphasis on heart health benefits associated with plant-based eating has merit. Multiple large-scale studies have found that diets rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes while low in saturated fat correlate with reduced cardiovascular disease risk.

Plant-based diets typically contain higher amounts of fiber, antioxidants, and phytonutrients that support cardiovascular function. They also tend to be lower in saturated fat when compared to typical Western omnivorous diets.

Environmental and Ethical Considerations

While not the primary focus of this health-centered review, the film’s points about the environmental impact of animal agriculture and ethical concerns are generally well-founded. These are valid considerations for individuals making dietary choices, even if they fall outside the scope of nutritional science.

Critical Examination of the Film’s Major Claims

Claim: All Animal Products Are Unhealthy

One of the documentary’s most controversial assertions is that all animal products, including lean meats, fish, and eggs, negatively impact health. This claim doesn’t hold up under scientific scrutiny.

The evidence shows significant differences between processed meats and unprocessed animal foods. While processed meats like bacon, sausage, and deli meats have been associated with increased disease risk, the same cannot be said for fresh fish, poultry, or eggs when consumed as part of a balanced diet.

Fatty fish like salmon, for instance, are rich in omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA) that support brain health, reduce inflammation, and protect cardiovascular function. These specific forms of omega-3s are difficult to obtain from plant sources alone, as the body must convert plant-based ALA to EPA and DHA—a process that is inefficient in many people.

Claim: Plant-Based Diets Are Anti-Inflammatory, Animal Foods Are Inflammatory

The documentary presents inflammation as a simple binary: plant foods reduce it, animal foods cause it. Reality is more nuanced.

Inflammation depends on multiple factors including overall diet quality, food processing methods, cooking techniques, and individual metabolic health—not simply whether food comes from plants or animals.

Many animal foods demonstrate anti-inflammatory properties. Fatty fish rich in omega-3s, for example, are among the most well-researched anti-inflammatory foods. Conversely, highly processed vegan foods containing refined oils, added sugars, and artificial ingredients can be quite inflammatory.

The quality and processing level of foods matters more than their origin. A diet emphasizing whole, minimally processed foods—whether entirely plant-based or including some animal products—will generally have superior anti-inflammatory effects compared to a diet heavy in processed items.

Claim: Meat Eating Directly Causes Cancer

The film suggests that eating meat causes cancer, but this oversimplifies complex epidemiological data.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer classified processed meats as Group 1 carcinogens and red meat as Group 2A (probably carcinogenic). However, this classification reflects the strength of evidence for an association, not the magnitude of risk or the mechanism of action.

Importantly, when studies separate unprocessed red meat from processed varieties, the cancer associations typically weaken or disappear. The cancer risk appears primarily linked to processing methods, high-temperature cooking that creates harmful compounds, and the overall dietary pattern rather than meat consumption per se.

Furthermore, cancer development involves numerous factors including genetics, lifestyle habits, environmental exposures, and overall diet quality. Attributing cancer risk to a single food category is scientifically inaccurate.

Claim: Vegan Diets Are Superior for Athletic Performance

Perhaps the documentary’s most prominent claim is that plant-based diets enhance athletic performance beyond what omnivorous diets can achieve. However, the evidence doesn’t strongly support this assertion.

The film relies heavily on anecdotal testimonials from featured athletes rather than controlled scientific studies. When researchers conduct rigorous comparisons between well-planned vegan and omnivorous diets with matched macronutrients and calories, they generally find no significant performance differences.

Athletic performance depends on numerous variables: total caloric intake, macronutrient ratios, micronutrient sufficiency, hydration status, training regimen, recovery practices, sleep quality, and genetic factors. Diet composition matters, but the plant-versus-animal distinction is not the decisive factor when diets are otherwise optimized.

The athletes featured in the documentary have access to professional nutritionists, personal chefs, and supplements to ensure their vegan diets are perfectly calibrated. This level of support isn’t representative of what most people can achieve, making these examples poor evidence for the average person.

The Blood Flow and Erection Studies: Scientific or Sensational?

The documentary features two demonstrations that have garnered significant attention and criticism: measuring cloudiness in football players’ blood after eating animal products and monitoring nighttime erections after meat versus plant-based meals.

These demonstrations, while visually compelling for film purposes, don’t constitute rigorous scientific studies. They lack proper controls, sufficient sample sizes, randomization, blinding, and peer review—all essential elements of credible research.

The blood turbidity test, which supposedly shows fat in the bloodstream after eating animal products, doesn’t distinguish between different types of lipids or their health implications. Postprandial lipemia (temporary fat elevation after eating) is a normal physiological response that occurs after consuming any fat-containing meal, plant-based or not.

The erection quality study, while attention-grabbing, involved too few subjects and too many uncontrolled variables to draw meaningful conclusions. Erectile function depends on cardiovascular health, hormone levels, psychological factors, sleep quality, and stress—not just a single meal.

Important Nutritional Considerations for Vegan Diets

The documentary downplays the challenges of obtaining certain nutrients on a vegan diet, particularly for those without access to professional nutrition guidance.

Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12 exists naturally only in animal products. Vegans must obtain it through fortified foods or supplements. Deficiency can lead to anemia, neurological problems, and irreversible nerve damage if left untreated. This is a serious concern that the film glosses over.

Iron

While plant foods contain iron, it’s in the non-heme form, which is less bioavailable than the heme iron found in animal products. Vegans need to consume significantly more iron and pair it with vitamin C to enhance absorption. Iron deficiency remains more common among those following plant-based diets.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Plant sources provide ALA (alpha-linolenic acid), but the body’s conversion to the more beneficial EPA and DHA is limited and variable. Some individuals, particularly those with certain genetic variants, convert very little ALA to EPA and DHA, potentially putting them at risk for deficiency on a vegan diet.

Vitamin D

Few foods naturally contain vitamin D, and most dietary sources are animal-based. While sun exposure can provide vitamin D, those in northern climates or with limited sun exposure may need supplementation, especially on a vegan diet.

Zinc and Calcium

Both minerals are present in plant foods but in forms that are less easily absorbed than those from animal sources. Vegans need to pay careful attention to consuming adequate amounts from fortified foods or supplements.

The Film’s Research Bias and Conflicts of Interest

The documentary criticizes the beef industry for funding research that supports meat consumption. This is a valid concern about potential research bias and conflicts of interest.

However, the film doesn’t apply the same scrutiny to plant-based industry funding. Several featured experts and the film’s executive producer James Cameron (who owns a pea protein company) have financial interests in promoting plant-based products. This represents a significant conflict of interest that goes unacknowledged.

Credible nutritional science requires examining evidence from all sources while accounting for potential biases, not selectively applying skepticism only to opposing viewpoints.

What About Ancestral and Traditional Diets?

The documentary claims that humans are anatomically unsuited for eating meat and that ancestral humans primarily ate plant-based diets. Archaeological and anthropological evidence contradicts this assertion.

Human evolution involved increasing meat consumption, which many researchers believe contributed to brain development. Evidence of hunting, butchering, and meat consumption extends back hundreds of thousands of years. Humans evolved as omnivores with the ability to thrive on diverse diets adapted to local environments.

Traditional diets worldwide vary enormously in their plant-to-animal food ratios. Some populations have historically consumed mostly animal products (like the Inuit and Maasai), while others emphasized plant foods (like traditional Okinawans). Yet members of these diverse populations exhibited excellent health outcomes, suggesting humans can adapt to various dietary patterns.

Is a Vegan Diet Right for You?

Despite the documentary’s universal prescription, the optimal diet varies based on individual factors.

Life Stage Considerations

Pregnant and breastfeeding women have increased nutrient needs that may be challenging to meet on a vegan diet without careful planning and supplementation. Growing children and adolescents similarly require adequate protein, calcium, iron, zinc, and vitamin B12 for proper development.

While vegan diets can work for these populations with meticulous planning, the consequences of nutritional deficiencies during critical developmental periods are serious. Parents considering vegan diets for children should work closely with pediatricians and registered dietitians.

Athletic and Fitness Goals

Athletes can absolutely thrive on plant-based diets, but they’re not inherently superior for performance. The key is meeting total caloric needs, optimizing macronutrient ratios, ensuring micronutrient adequacy, and timing nutrition around training.

Some athletes may find it easier to meet their elevated protein needs (potentially 1.6-2.2 grams per kilogram of body weight) through diets that include animal products, simply due to the protein density and bioavailability of these foods.

Pre-existing Health Conditions

For certain medical conditions, plant-based diets may be therapeutic. People with chronic kidney disease, for instance, may benefit from lower protein intake from plant sources. Those with inflammatory conditions might experience improvements on anti-inflammatory eating patterns.

However, individuals with a history of eating disorders, digestive conditions, or nutrient deficiencies should approach restrictive diets cautiously and under medical supervision.

A Balanced, Evidence-Based Perspective on Healthy Eating

Rather than adhering to dogmatic nutritional ideologies, current evidence supports a more flexible, individualized approach to healthy eating.

Principles of Healthy Diets

Whether plant-based or omnivorous, healthful diets share common characteristics:

• Emphasis on whole, minimally processed foods
• Abundant vegetables and fruits providing fiber, vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients
• Adequate protein from quality sources, plant-based or animal-based
• Healthy fats from sources like nuts, seeds, avocados, olive oil, and potentially fatty fish
• Whole grains and legumes providing complex carbohydrates and fiber
• Limited added sugars and highly processed foods
• Appropriate caloric intake for individual energy needs

The Mediterranean and Other Proven Dietary Patterns

Interestingly, the documentary doesn’t mention the Mediterranean diet, one of the most well-researched eating patterns with demonstrated health benefits. This diet includes moderate amounts of fish, poultry, eggs, and dairy alongside abundant plant foods.

The Mediterranean diet has been associated with reduced cardiovascular disease, improved cognitive function, decreased cancer risk, and increased longevity—benefits similar to those claimed for vegan diets, but with a substantial evidence base from long-term studies.

The Role of Food Quality Over Food Category

Perhaps the most important nuance missing from “The Game Changers” is the distinction between food quality and food category.

A vegan diet consisting of refined grains, vegan junk food, processed meat alternatives, and sugary beverages will not produce the same health outcomes as a thoughtfully planned vegan diet rich in whole plant foods. Similarly, an omnivorous diet can be extremely healthful or quite detrimental depending on food choices.

The comparative studies showing health benefits of plant-based diets typically compare them against standard Western omnivorous diets high in processed foods, not against omnivorous diets emphasizing whole foods and including modest amounts of quality animal products.

Practical Takeaways for Readers

If you’re considering dietary changes after watching “The Game Changers,” here are evidence-based recommendations:

If You Want to Try Plant-Based Eating

• Start gradually rather than making abrupt changes
• Focus on whole plant foods rather than processed vegan products
• Plan meals carefully to include diverse protein sources providing all essential amino acids
• Consider B12 supplementation immediately—this is non-negotiable for vegans
• Monitor iron, zinc, calcium, vitamin D, and omega-3 status through blood work
• Work with a registered dietitian, especially if you’re an athlete, pregnant, or feeding children

If You Prefer Including Animal Products

• Emphasize whole, unprocessed animal foods over processed meats
• Include fatty fish regularly for omega-3 fatty acids
• Still prioritize vegetables, fruits, and whole grains as dietary foundations
• Choose quality animal products when possible (grass-fed, wild-caught, pasture-raised)
• Monitor portion sizes—animal products don’t need to dominate every meal

Universal Recommendations

• Minimize highly processed foods regardless of whether they’re vegan or animal-based
• Limit added sugars, which pose health risks regardless of dietary pattern
• Stay hydrated and maintain regular physical activity
• Focus on overall dietary patterns rather than individual foods
• Consider your individual health status, preferences, values, and lifestyle when choosing a dietary approach

The Bottom Line: An Objective Verdict

“The Game Changers” succeeds as a compelling piece of filmmaking that has sparked important conversations about nutrition, health, and sustainability. It correctly highlights that well-planned vegan diets can be healthful and that many people would benefit from eating more plant foods.

However, the documentary fails as an objective presentation of nutritional science. It cherry-picks research, overstates the certainty of evidence, ignores contrary findings, dismisses legitimate nutritional concerns, and presents testimonials as proof of causation.

The film’s black-and-white stance—that vegan diets are superior and all animal products are harmful—doesn’t reflect the nuanced reality of nutritional science. Both plant-based and omnivorous diets can support excellent health when well-planned, and both can be detrimental when poorly executed.

Rather than viewing “The Game Changers” as definitive nutritional guidance, consider it one perspective in an ongoing scientific discussion. Use it as motivation to evaluate your diet quality, increase plant food consumption if appropriate, and seek personalized nutrition advice from qualified professionals.

The best diet isn’t the one prescribed by a documentary—it’s the one that meets your nutritional needs, supports your health goals, aligns with your values, and is sustainable for your individual circumstances. If you’re considering significant dietary changes, consult with your healthcare provider or a registered dietitian who can provide personalized guidance based on your specific situation.

Ultimately, nutritional science continues evolving, and what matters most is making informed choices based on the totality of evidence rather than selective presentations designed to promote a particular viewpoint, however well-intentioned.

Sources:

• National Center for Biotechnology Information – Plant-Based Diets and Cardiovascular Health
• National Institutes of Health – Research on Processed Foods
• Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health – Protein Sources
• American Heart Association – Mediterranean Diet
• Office of Dietary Supplements – Vitamin B12 Fact Sheet
• NCBI – Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Plant Sources
• World Health Organization – Healthy Diet Fact Sheet
• NCBI – Nutritional Considerations for Vegetarian and Vegan Diets