Parents' Guide to

Human Body: Pushing the Limits

By Emily Ashby, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 8+

Fascinating docu literally gets under your skin.

TV Discovery Channel Educational 2008
Human Body: Pushing the Limits Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.

Community Reviews

See all

There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.

What's the Story?

How does the human body respond to extreme physical challenges like fear, exertion, and starvation? What hidden instincts kick in to help us cope under stressful circumstances? Using cutting-edge 3-D computer imagery and re-enactments of real-life events, this docuseries explores the inner workings of the human body when it's put to the toughest physical and mental tests, demonstrating how instinctual responses to stress help ensure our survival.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say: Not yet rated
Kids say: Not yet rated

If you're at all intrigued by the mysteries of the human body, then HUMAN BODY: PUSHING THE LIMITS is right up your alley. Each episode offers a unique glimpse into how we function, with computer images literally peeling back the skin on our physical structures to reveal internal systems (muscular, skeletal, nervous, etc.) and demonstrate how they work. The best part is that the wealth of information is thorough, yet presented in a way that's appropriate for average (a.k.a. non-scientist) viewers, making it a worthwhile series to share with tweens and teens.

That said, younger kids and/or particularly sensitive ones may be frightened or made squeamish by the computer-generated skinless bodies and the graphic discussions of real-life stories of extreme survival.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about media's value as an educational tool. Did you learn something new from this show? How could you find out more if you wanted to? What aspects of television make it a good learning tool? Can you tell which shows take their educational function seriously? How?

TV Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate