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What Do You Think About Media Coverage of the Obese?

by

Joseph

Researchers from Yale University recently published a report about online media's use of negative images when writing stories about obesity. Chelsea Heuer and colleagues from the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity selected 549 images from news stories about obesity from 5 online news outlets. They identified 441 people from the images, 65 % were overweight or obese, and 27% were not overweight. Nearly three quarters of images accompanying news stories about obesity portrayed obese and overweight people in a negative manner.

According to researchers, overweight and obese people were more likely to be portrayed headless, showing only the lower body or engaging in stereotypical behavior e.g. eating or drinking than nonoverweight persons. Heuer's team concluded that online news organization photographs stigmatize the overweight and obese. They caution that such photographs may "reinforce pervasive prejudice and discrimination [against obese persons]."

  

Quality News vs. Sensationalism

In recent years, media has faced increasing scrutiny about the methods used to report their stories. Often times news organizations use eye catching phrases and images because those are most effective in capturing attention. It's a thin line between providing quality news and merely sensationalizing an issue that can be taken as media bias.

Media must always acknowledge that news stories shape public opinion, and can have unintended consequences, so it's important to always provide accurate information that takes readers and society as a whole into account. 

 

Why We are Different than Other Media Outlets

As publisher and administrator of Living Fit, Healthy and Happy(SM), I balance the importance and value of the information with how it will best serve my readers. Even though we weren't included in the study, I am confident that the articles published on this website portray people in a fair and realistic manner. That's why I painstakingly consider how photos used on this website will best convey the message of the story and choose only those photos which satisfy that requirement.

A photo that best fits this topic is the one featured in my article "The Healthy Obese? Don't Bet Your Life On It" which depicts a big man being fitted for a suit. I selected the photo from Allposters.com, an online stock photography company with whom this website is an affiliate member. I wrote the story to point out the dangers associated with obesity and the accompanying photo best illustrated those points. 

I believe that anyone who reports a story should always consider how it will affect the hearts and minds of others. That should be the foundation of good reporting. And that is what we will always do here at Living Fit, Healthy and Happy(SM).

 

How Do You Feel About It?

What do you think about this topic? Can the media do a better job of portraying individuals used in their news stories? Do you think that photos (such as the one featuring the big man being fitted for a suit) present overweight and obese people in a positive and unbiased manner?

Share your thoughts in the comments.

 

Without the saving grace of the living God, we would be headed to eternal death. Bless the Father, Son and Holy Spirit for Their steadfast love and devotion to the human race.

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Article Source

Heuer CA, McClure KJ, & Puhl RM. (2011) Obesity stigma in online news: a visual content analysis. Journal of health communication, 16(9), 976-87. PMID: 21541876

 

"What Do You Think About Media Coverage of the Obese?" copyright © 2011 Living Fit, Healthy and Happy(SM). All Rights Reserved.

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