268856 Food and Framing on the Biggest Loser

Wednesday, October 31, 2012 : 1:06 PM - 1:18 PM

Natalie Ingraham, MPH , Social and Behavior Sciences, School of Nursing, University of California- San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
Shari Dworkin, PhD, MS , Social and Behavioral Sciences and Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
Faye Wachs, PhD , Psychology and Sociology Department, Cal Poly Pomona, Pomona, CA
Public discourse concerning the obesity epidemic continues to grow alongside of the popularity of television shows that promote weight loss, such as ABC's The Biggest Loser. This paper will focus on a critical content analysis of how food and participants' relationship to eating are represented on the reality weight loss television program the Biggest Loser. Methods: Using quantitative content analysis of 15 episodes across a four year time period, we analyze the verbal interactions and social practices surrounding food, including the ways that individuals negotiate food choices and categories, the moral labeling of particular food choices, and food access or food cost issues. Findings: Our findings include a) analysis of the cultural and health assumptions in the show concerning weight loss, food choices, and responsibility for obesity, b) examination of what is included inside and outside of the media frame in terms of food and nutrition and c) analysis of contestants' relationship to food, and themes of agency and constraint surrounding food choices. Conclusions: We consider the ways in which neoliberal ideals of individual responsibility mask the social and structural production of obesity and the framing of food choices as individual, morally-laden decisions.. We consider ways that researchers can use critical media analysis to ensure the accuracy of health and fitness information. We also point to new social movements such as Health at Every Size, as a route through which food and obesity discourses and practices can shift in a positive direction.

Learning Areas:
Advocacy for health and health education
Diversity and culture
Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
By the end of the session, participants will be able to critique dominant cultural framings on the topics of obesity, food, and food choices that are put forward in the most popular weight loss television program. By the end of the session, participants will be able to assess how a Health At Every Size approach offers an alternative and potentially more holistic way to understand health and nutrition as opposed to the narrowly framed weight, food, and health dichotomies that are presented on The Biggest Loser.

Keywords: Obesity, Food and Nutrition

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am qualified to be an abstract author because I have been involving with the planning, research organization, data collection and data analysis for this project.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.