Marla E Eisenberg1,2, Ashley Carlson-McGuire1, Sarah E Gollust3, Dianne Neumark-Sztainer1. 1. Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota. 2. Division of General Pediatrics and Adolescent Health, Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota. 3. Division of Health Policy and Management, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This study provides updated information regarding the prevalence and characteristics of weight stigma in popular adolescent television programming, using a sample of favorite shows named by diverse adolescents. METHOD: Participants in a large, population-based study of Minnesota adolescents (N = 2,793, mean age = 14.4) listed their top three favorite television shows. A coding instrument was developed to analyze randomly selected episodes from the most popular 10 programs. Weight-stigmatizing incidents were compared across television show characteristics and characters' gender and weight status. RESULTS: Half (50%) of the 30 episodes analyzed contained at least one weight-stigmatizing incident. Both youth- and adult-targeted shows contained weight-stigmatizing comments, but the percent of these comments was much higher for youth-targeted (55.6%) than general audience-targeted shows (8.3%). Male characters were more likely than females to engage in (72.7% vs. 27.3%), and be the targets of, weight stigma (63.6% vs. 36.4%), and there was no difference in the amount of weight stigmatizing directed at average weight females compared to overweight females. Targets of these instances showed a negative response in only about one-third of cases, but audience laughter followed 40.9% of cases. DISCUSSION: The portrayal of weight stigmatization on popular television shows-including targeting women of average weight-sends signals to adolescents about the wide acceptability of this behavior and the expected response, which may be harmful. Prevention of weight stigmatization should take a multi-faceted approach and include the media. Future research should explore the impact that weight-related stigma in television content has on viewers.
OBJECTIVE: This study provides updated information regarding the prevalence and characteristics of weight stigma in popular adolescent television programming, using a sample of favorite shows named by diverse adolescents. METHOD:Participants in a large, population-based study of Minnesota adolescents (N = 2,793, mean age = 14.4) listed their top three favorite television shows. A coding instrument was developed to analyze randomly selected episodes from the most popular 10 programs. Weight-stigmatizing incidents were compared across television show characteristics and characters' gender and weight status. RESULTS: Half (50%) of the 30 episodes analyzed contained at least one weight-stigmatizing incident. Both youth- and adult-targeted shows contained weight-stigmatizing comments, but the percent of these comments was much higher for youth-targeted (55.6%) than general audience-targeted shows (8.3%). Male characters were more likely than females to engage in (72.7% vs. 27.3%), and be the targets of, weight stigma (63.6% vs. 36.4%), and there was no difference in the amount of weight stigmatizing directed at average weight females compared to overweight females. Targets of these instances showed a negative response in only about one-third of cases, but audience laughter followed 40.9% of cases. DISCUSSION: The portrayal of weight stigmatization on popular television shows-including targeting women of average weight-sends signals to adolescents about the wide acceptability of this behavior and the expected response, which may be harmful. Prevention of weight stigmatization should take a multi-faceted approach and include the media. Future research should explore the impact that weight-related stigma in television content has on viewers.
Authors: Dianne Neumark-Sztainer; Melanie M Wall; Nicole Larson; Mary Story; Jayne A Fulkerson; Marla E Eisenberg; Peter J Hannan Journal: Prev Med Date: 2011-10-15 Impact factor: 4.018
Authors: Nicole Larson; Jonathan M Miller; Marla E Eisenberg; Allison W Watts; Mary Story; Dianne Neumark-Sztainer Journal: Appetite Date: 2017-01-09 Impact factor: 3.868
Authors: Megan S Gietzen; Sarah E Gollust; Jennifer A Linde; Dianne Neumark-Sztainer; Marla E Eisenberg Journal: Res Q Exerc Sport Date: 2017-02-02 Impact factor: 2.500
Authors: Janet A Lydecker; Elizabeth W Cotter; Allison A Palmberg; Courtney Simpson; Melissa Kwitowski; Kelly White; Suzanne E Mazzeo Journal: Eat Weight Disord Date: 2016-04-11 Impact factor: 4.652
Authors: Marla E Eisenberg; Ellen Ward; Jennifer A Linde; Sarah E Gollust; Dianne Neumark-Sztainer Journal: J Psychosom Res Date: 2017-09-27 Impact factor: 3.006