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. I want to look into why Americans are so invested in the battle to lose weight, and to see if these shows are positively influencing our nation, or if they are simply good television.
There are two different views of weight in this country. Television shows bombarded us with unnaturally pretty and thin characters (lets be serious, not everyone in this country can be a Victoria's Secret model). 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 viewed as 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 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 overweight adults and 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 at times shamelessly promote products), about the right way to exercise, and give the contestants and the audience information about the health costs of being overweight. 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 losing weight and regaining their health, a luxury that most Americans cannot afford. Another aspect often forgotten about is what happens to these 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 stay 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. For now, at least we know we'll be entertained.
Thoughts on Effective Weight Loss
While surfing the Internet this weekend, I stumbled upon a blog offering motivation to the many Americans trying to lose weight. This blog was called Effective Weight Loss, and I thought it did a great job of offering advice to people trying to lose weight, keeping people motivated and answering questions that those looking to start dieting and exercising might have. I am not sure who the author of this blog was, but it seemed as if they had a great deal of knowledge on diet and exercise (maybe a trainer?), and it also seemed as if they had once struggled with weight loss. The author was able to relate to the audience while offering solid advice. They had a great deal of knowledge about supplements that may or may not help with weight loss, and may have even had experience trying out different ways to lose weight. There is a new post every couple days, which is great, because even if you are not trying to lose weight, there are tips on ways to start exercising and eating better, areas I know a lot of us could use some help in.
One post I really enjoyed was “Weight Loss Breakfast Recipes.” Although I am not personally trying to lose weight, I am always trying to find ways to eat healthy (which is difficult between my massive sweet tooth and endless appetite). We are always hearing about how breakfast is the most important meal of the day, for everyone, regardless of size, and I thought that these tips were really helpful. The video posted at the bottom of each blog post adds some pizzazz, especially since not everyone likes to read. This video shows that healthy breakfast can look good (I’m really excited to try the peanut butter banana wrap), and can be made even if you’re in a rush in the morning. The foods listed in the actual blog can be had at any time of the day, and the author references medical journals that explain why these foods burn more fat than others. This gives readers a list of good foods to eat, and a starting point when they go to the store. Being overweight can often come with a love of food, and this blog post opens readers up to the idea that healthy food can also be tasty food.
Another post I enjoyed was one about weight loss reality shows. This is a topic that I plan on covering in my blog, and I was interested in seeing another opinion about the inspirational quality (or lack thereof) of reality weight loss television shows. This blog post focuses on “The Biggest Loser”, and the author mentions that this is one of his favorite shows because it proves that surgery is not the only option for people who are obese. This show proves that diet and exercise can be used to get healthy, no matter how big a person may be. Although I think that reality weight loss shows may prove to be a real inspiration to the overweight and obese people in this country, I also wonder if the dramatic results that these shows are able to produce may be discouraging to people. This blog highlights that issue, providing a disclaimer that although weight loss can be achieved through diet and exercise, it isn’t realistic, or for that matter healthy, to lose 5-15 pounds a week. The author notes that the people on reality shows have trainers, nutritionists, gyms, and not to mention the allure of money and the pressures of the audience. In the real world you have to be able to motivate yourself.
So to the writer of Effective Weight Loss, I will definitely be checking in to see what other postings you’re going to have. Although this blog is geared toward people who are trying to lose weight, I think that there are great tips about living a healthy lifestyle that anybody would benefit from. There are a lot of different posts about exercise, eating right, and the best ways to chart and keep track of weight loss, and this blog covers many different issues of weight loss, including the risks and benefits of surgery. I think it promotes losing weight naturally, and answers the questions that people have about the best ways to lose weight and stay motivated. The clips at the end of most posts were a great addition to the usually information rich content as well. My favorite was the audition tape for a reality weight loss show, it was lighthearted, while also addressing the very serious issue that this man was 530 pounds. He was definitely a contestant I would be rooting for on “The Biggest Loser.”
Humor and Sarcasm as Weight Loss Motivators
I stumbled upon a blog with another interesting take on what can motivate people to lose weight, and although I’ve been looking into whether or not weight loss TV shows can play a role in motivating people to lose weight, it might benefit me to see what else can inspire people. Geoff Williams, like many Americans, made a new years resolution to lose weight, and he knew that he would need some extra motivation to work out and eat healthy. There are different motivating factors for each individual, and Geoff decided that saving money would be his motivation to lose weight. He created “The Money Diet,” and recorded all the foods he resisted buying, then calculated how much not buying junk food and fast food saved him. Although this may not be saving much in the long run (organic and healthy food tends to be more expensive than fast food), it makes the weight loss tangible in a different way. Plus, money is usually a much better motivator than salad and the treadmill.
What I found intriguing, along with the use of money as motivator, was the overall cynicism and sarcastic attitude that the blog took on. Most diet blogs are meant to be motivating, and in order to inspire others, you often must be inspired yourself. But, if we’re being serious with ourselves, thousands of people pledge every January first to lose weight, and yet the waistline of our country seems to be growing every year. This overall skepticism and the use of self-deprecating humor allow Geoff to relate to others out there. Most of us are not able to achieve all the goals we set, especially when they require a complete lifestyle change. Eating healthy and exercising are hard habits to get into, and it can be discouraging to go to the gym and jump on the elliptical next to the gorgeous, perfectly toned girl who doesn’t sweat, or to completely change your eating habits and not see immediate results. This cynicism draws an audience in and makes them wonder if this “money diet” is something that can work. If it works for Geoff (and it has for 4 weeks), then maybe it will work for others out there.
Like many (or should I say most?) Americans, I'm going to go on a diet, starting today, Jan. 1, 2010. And I'm going to stick to it this time. If no one believes me, I understand. Even I don't entirely believe what I'm writing right now.From the beginning, Geoff makes it clear that although he is making a pledge to himself and his audience, if he is being completely honest he doesn’t know if he will be able to stick to it. It’s the same for many Americans every year, and I am totally guilty of this too. We make pledges to lose weight, to exercise, to eat healthy, but it is so much easier to go to the drive thru, to sit on the couch, and to avoid the scale. With this cynicism and sarcasm, Geoff is able to relate to the audience. Geoff is also able to acknowledge his shortcomings in a humorous way. While many fast food companies are trying to include healthy options in their menus, this isn’t the reason most of us are going there (I’m usually in the drive thru with a serious craving for fries and a shake). We know that those options would be better for us, but the temptations are too great, and Geoff sums this feeling up perfectly.
(And, yes, I know that McDonald's has salads and I'm envisioning the email I'm going to get from their marketing department, but historically, my willpower in bypassing the non-healthy fare for the healthier stuff isn't that great ...take that as a culinary compliment, McDonald's).In this first post he is able to map out what his plan is, why he thinks it will work, and some of the fears he has for why it won’t work.
I'm thinking that if I can start training myself to say, "Hey, don't buy that eighty-nine-cent candy bar," when I'm at, say, a Walgreen's (no offense, Walgreen's), and I jot down that 89 cents in a journal, maybe I'll start to see some progress, not just on my scale, but in my bank account, too.
As the diet continues, Geoff is able to praise himself for what he has done right, while also coming to grips with the realities of dieting and weight loss. He knows that all that old food will still be calling out to him. He also knows that his weight loss is not going to be as dramatic as all the reality shows make it seem. Weight loss is a slow process, especially when factors like work, family and the junk food that we are constantly surrounded with come into the mix. Geoff is not only able to relate to the audience, but he is able to make the audience laugh.
It's slow progress, yes, but I'm at least convinced that this diet is working. Granted, nobody's going to make a reality TV series based on my diet experiences. I did have a comical moment when I went to the gym the first week, climbed aboard one of those StairMaster-like contraptions and almost fell off. Maybe there would be some melodramatic footage if someone filmed me every time I went through a McDonald's drive-thru to buy my kids the occasional Happy Meal or ice cream. I'm sure that I look like a tragic romantic figure every time I pass by the posters and pictures of McDonald's Angus burger.
-Angus, I only met you several months before I began this diet. Angus, I hardly knew ye.
-"Dad, would you stop kissing the menu?"
-Angus, call me--
-"Dad!"With this scenario, the temptations of dieting are exaggerated, and the food personified. The angus burger becomes an old lover, someone you shouldn’t be seeing but you just can’t resist. Food has taken on a persona, and when it is taken away from you, food really can start to have this effect.
With his blog, Geoff is able to add humor, realism, and a touch of skeptism to the issue of weight loss. He relates to others in the same situation, but also gives people some motivation. Geoff is not only losing weight, but he is also saving about $100 a month. And when you really think about it, wouldn’t you rather spend that money on a fabulous pair of shoes instead of that burger at In n’ Out?
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