Hello World

When we drive down the street or go out to a restaurant, it is not hard to see why 64% of adults in America are overweight or obese. There is a McDonalds on every corner, and while fast food is trying to change it’s image with “healthy choices” such as the new Taco Bell “drive through diet,” most of us are not seriously trying to be “healthy” as we sit in the McDonalds drive through and super size our order. Our meals are super sized, our population is becoming super sized, and now reality television is catching on to the trend. Reality weight loss shows are popping up on every network. NBC has “The Biggest Loser,” Oxygen has “Dance Your Ass Off,” and ABC has a new show coming tentatively titled “Obese.” Although the closest I’ve come to battling with weight issues is my battle with late night fast food cravings, I am still fascinated by these weight loss shows and often become emotionally involved with each persons struggle.

There are two different views of weight in this country. On television shows we are bombarded with unnaturally pretty and thin characters (lets be serious, not everyone can be 5’8”, 100 pounds with big boobs and blonde hair). But back in the real world over half the adults in this population are overweight, and childhood obesity is not far behind. This discrepancy between the reality of the weight epidemic in America and the celebrities shown on television and in movies has lead to unhealthy eating habits in both men and women, including anorexia and bulimia. According to Teen magazine, 35% of girls 6 to 12 have been on at least one diet, and 50% to 70% of normal weight girls believe that they are overweight. While there is no way to pin point the exact cause of this distorted body image in young girls, many studies have shown that there is a connection between the images of women in media and the perceived body image of the audience, particularly young girls.

In a landmark study, Dr. Anne Becker documented the effects television had on the eating habits and body images of the people of Fiji. Before the introduction of television, Fijians wanted to have strong and healthy bodies because it showed that they were able to take care of their families. A robust and healthy woman was the ideal, and skinny was an insult. Television was introduced in 1995, and from 1995 to 1998 the rate of dieting went from 0 in 1995 to 69% in 1998. When young people were asked about their reasons for dieting, they cited the celebrities that they saw in television shows. Since this study the amount of advertisements for weight loss supplements, diet programs, and thin women on television has only increased.

With the rise in reality TV, especially television addressing the obesity issue, can television take a turn and have a positive impact on the weight and health of Americans? Many of these shows are drawing in large audiences, and people are captivated by the emotional struggle that the contestants go through to lose the weight and the shocking results as contestants drop pounds, some losing more than half of their starting weight. These shows pick larger than life characters, such as The Biggest Losers newest largest player ever, Michael, weighing in at 526 pounds. And while these weight loss reality shows have proven themselves to be entertaining (I’m as guilty as anyone in indulging in these reality TV shows), are they sending the right message out to the 64% of overweight adults and the 30% of overweight children in America?

On the one hand, shows like The Biggest Loser attempt to inspire audiences by showing the stories of people overcoming their emotional and physical battle with weight. They give tips about healthy eating habits, and about the right way to exercise, and give the contestants and the audience information about the physical and health costs of being overweight and obese, and the economic costs that come with weight. On the other hand, weight loss shows may be setting unrealistic expectations for others who may be trying to lose weight. The contestants on these shows are given trainers and nutritionists, and because they are on a show they have nothing to do except work out. They are taken out of their lives and given a chance to focus on getting healthy, a luxury that most Americans cannot afford. Another aspect often forgotten about is that we rarely follow up with contestants once they have returned to their normal lives. While some may be able to keep the weight off, contestants must continue to eat right and exercise. Once weight is lost it is a constant struggle to remain healthy, and some contestants on these shows put all the weight they lost back on.

As the prevalence of weight loss shows increases, it will be interesting to see whether or not these shows can have a positive impact on Americans. The obesity epidemic in America is a serious issue, and while the media cannot solve obesity or eating disorders, it can hopefully create shows that will promote positive self-image and healthy eating and exercise habits to the American public.