Television and Health
How Television Motivates Individuals to Live Healthier Lifestyles
In 1926, Lee De Forest, a highly credited American inventor who is considered father of the radio, made a bold statement that, “commercially and financially, [television] is an impossibility, a development of which we need waste little time dreaming" (Cerf and Navasky Par. 14). After 90 years, it is clear that De Forest’s prediction was incorrect; television is one of the most influential inventions to date. Various inventers from the 1800s had a part in the creation of television, but it was officially introduced in the 1900s. Throughout history, television has had numerous impactful roles in society. During the 1980s and 1990s, television programs such as The Cosby Show and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air helped to curtail color barriers as these programs portray affluent, hard-working, and highly respected African Americans. Today, one of the major controversies of television is its impact on the health of individuals.
The argument between the relationship of television viewing and one’s health is comprised of various components. Some studies indicate a negative correlation between the two factors, as television viewing increases, overall health decrease. Other studies display contradictory results. The most effective experimental studies about the correlation of television viewing and health, takes into account multiple factors, such as age, race, gender, and socio-economical background. This paper aims to explain and justify how television motivates adults to live healthier lifestyles through main character roles, educational television programs, and exercise campaigns.
Male and female television characters, especially in television dramas, have particular physical characteristics that attract the audience to them. These main characters typically appear robust and lean. Viewers who aim to begin a healthier lifestyle can use certain television programs as educational resources. Specific reality-based and informational programs provide medical expertise encouraging viewers to establish healthier practices. Individual practices or routines can also be altered through mass media exercise campaigns. These campaigns are able to reach a broad range of people and influence the way they think about health.
The physical characteristics of most actors in leading roles on television are distinct. Actors and actresses of main character roles are typically slim, strong, and fit. Allie Kovar from Health Psychology and author of “Effects of the Media on Body Image” affirms, “fictional characters in television shows and movies are almost always portrayed as thin and beautiful” (Par. 4). Directors and producers generally recruit actors and actresses of lean and healthy body shapes. The appearance and personality traits of these fictional characters make them loose representations of the ideal individual. According to the study, “Young Adults’ Wishful Identification With Television Characters: The Role of Perceived Similarity and Character Attributes,” conducted by Cynthia Hoffner of George State University and Martha Buchanan of Fairmont, West Virginia, “Research has also shown that perceived similarity is related to the desire to emulate the behavior and characteristics of others” (Par. 10). Individuals who relate or enjoy particular television characters tend to try to mimic their appearance. For example, Olivia Pope is the powerful and educated lawyer from the popular television program, Scandal. While she works day and night to win her cases and make her clients happy, Pope has maintained her slim figure throughout her stressful lifestyle. Pope’s persistent and hard-working personality gives Scandal viewers the desire to mirror her appearance and behaviors. Similar leading character roles typically have the same effects on viewers.
Television characters that are considered obese or overweight are typically perceived differently the average main character role. Authors Bradley S. Greenberg et al, from the article, “Portrayals of Overweight and Obese Individuals on Commercial Television,” support this idea claiming, “television… may perpetuate negative stereotypes of obese persons because of its idealization of thin characters” (Par. 4). The common portrayal of thin characters on television may create negative connotations to characters considered plump or overweight. Greenberg et al. conduct an experimental study to analyze their claim. The results indicate that characters considered to have larger body shapes were seen as less attractive than their thin counterparts (Greenberg et al. par. 19). Viewers generally find characters of thin body shapes more attractive than charters of heavier body shapes. Unfortunately, overweight characters are commonly ridiculed on television programs. Alex Cohen, author of the article, “Big, Fat Stereotypes Play out on the Small Screen,” addresses the role of over-weight television characters declaring that overweight characters are usually the “fat, funny best friend” (Par. 6). Although these characters may have a large comedic role in the television program, most viewers find their appearances unappealing. Viewers have little to no desire to mirror the images of characters that are considered overweight. Main character roles have a large impact on individual perception, but television impacts health in various other ways as well.
Educational television programs about health change the way adults feel about their wellbeing. Exercise programs encourage individuals to work out even when they are not able to go to the gym due to allocation of resources such as a car or a gym membership. Sarkae- Jonae Miller, author of “TV Exercise Programs for Seniors,” addresses the benefits of television exercise programs specifically for senior citizens. Miller affirms, “Exercising with TV programs at home eliminates the need for gym membership, a huge plus if you’re on a budget, and it also means no transportation complications” (Par. 2). Television exercise programs eliminate the need for different resources that may be required when using other means of exercise besides television. These programs display various exercises that individuals can do in the comfort of their own home at anytime.
Similarly, television programs that provide medical advice aid individuals with certain procedures to follow in order to ensure and maintain their wellbeing. For example, Dr. Oz from The Dr. Oz Show provides viewers with health tips about various parts of the body and exemplifies ways in which viewers can live healthier lifestyles. These types of programs give the audience easy assess to authority advice from experts such as Dr. Oz. According to Emma Rich, author of “I See Her Being Obese! A Public Pedagogy, Reality Media, and the Obesity Crisis,” reality television programs starring real people about their journey to living healthier lifestyles “have sought not only to entertain audiences, but also to operate as pedagogical sites through which to encourage populations to undertake surveillance of their own and others’ bodies…”( Par.1). In other words, television programs such as The Biggest Loser and Extreme Weight Lost, allow individuals to understand and relate to the stories of contestants on the program and recognize the importance of healthy habits. Reality-based television programs represent average people who are accomplishing their goals. Author of “Effects of Media on Body Image,” Allie Kovar addresses reality television shows that “have real life women, not actresses or models, symbolizing the ‘average woman’ in America.” These programs motivate viewers to achieve the same results, as they know it is possible.
Mass media fitness campaigns encourage adults to eat healthier and engage in more physical activity. Authors to Nick Cavil and Adrian Bauman of “Changing the Way People Think about Health Enhancing Physical Activity: Do Mass Media Campaigns Have a Role?” mass media campaigns provide educational resources teaching participants about the dangers of practicing unhealthy lifestyle habits and influencing community social norms about health behaviors (Par.1). Components of effective mass media health campaigns, including education on recommended dietary intake, recommended activity levels, psychology methods, and recommended eating behaviors, have proven to lead to healthier lifestyle choices. A. Miles, et al., authors of “Using the mass-media to target obesity: an analysis of the characteristics and reported behavior change of participants in the BBC’s ‘Fighting Fat Fighting Fit’ campaign,” conducted an experiment indicating “significant changes in all dietary behaviors [of participants]” and “significant increases in brisk walking, moderate activity, and vigorous activity” (A. Miles et. Al. Par. 31). Their findings signify substantial modifications in individual habits creating healthier lifestyles.
Likewise, mass media campaigns are able to reach large numbers of people at one time; according to Nick Cavil and Adrian Bauman, mass media campaigns are considered “essential first steps in developing integrated, sustained approaches to encouraging physical activity behavior” (Par. 7). Fitness campaigns have the power to positively influence a large amount of people by demonstrating lifestyle tactics to enhance the lives of the community. A mass media campaign about the negative effects of sugary drinks conducted in Portland, Oregon indicated that media campaigns about health are effective for raising awareness, increasing knowledge, and changing behavior (Boise. M et al). Another mass media campaign conducted in New Orleans aimed to promote physical activity and a healthier diet consisting of fruits and vegetables. After 5 months of the study, participants indicated having more positive attitudes towards increase physical activity and eating more produce (Beaudoin et al.).
Critiques of using television as a source to creating healthier lifestyles emphasize the various advertisement campaigns promoting food lacking in nutrient and high in calories. The article, “Television Watching and Sit Time,” from the Harvard School of Public Health Organization, demonstrates the negative effects of television as it focuses on studies indicating that television viewing is associated with poorer diet quality. According to a comprehensive review by the institute of medicine, “The thousands of food-related TV ads that children and youth see each year are primarily for high-calorie, low-nutrient foods and drinks…”(Par. 8). This study, along with various other studies, portrays the negative influence that children come in contact with while watching television. Studies indicate that these television food advertisements easily influence children to establish poorer diets, but there is a lack of studies showing the same results for adults. Karen Sternheimer, author of the book “Connecting Social Problems and Popular Culture: Why Media is not the Answer,” responds to similar statistics by asking “why adults are more likely to be overweight and obese than children or teens and why their rates rose even faster?” (199). Adults are less likely to be influenced by food advertisements promoting unhealthy food than children are. Similarly, the link between obesity and television viewing is rather weak. In her book, Sternheimer asks the question, “what factors lead to more television watching and other sedentary activities in the first place?” In other words, why do some individuals tend to interact in more sedentary activities? While some experts believe that television watching causes obesity, obesity is actually more likely to cause an increase in television watching. Individuals who are obese or overweight tend to enjoy sedentary activities such as taking a nap or playing videogames more than they do taking a walk or playing basketball. Those who are less motivated to perform different physical activities use platforms such as television to relax. In this case, television is not the cause of sedentary activity, rather, it is used as a resource for inactive individuals.
Critiques also address the negative influence that television can have on body image. In her article, Kovar discuss the negative effects of the “thin ideal” to individual self-esteem declaring, “Body image and self-esteem are definitely affected by the media, in that people compare their actual physical body to those in the media and experience guilt or shame and thus body dissatisfaction.” Viewers of various television programs view main characters’ bodies as the ideal shape to have. The thin body shapes of television characters create dissatisfactory viewers who are unable to mirror their bodies and more prone to develop eating disorders. While these statistics are alarming, the connection of television viewing and eating disorders is undeveloped. In her book, Sternheimer addresses psychologist Ian Frampton who objects that “We need to move away from this idea that supermodels are to blame…for anorexics, the desire not to eat and to be thin seems to be already in them and not something they can pick up…” (206-207). Frampton asserts that individuals who obtain eating disorders have specific experiences or lifestyles that are the leading impact of their disorder. While individuals who have eating disorders should limit the time they spend watching television and indulged in other mass media platforms, these components typically do not lead individuals to developing disorders or diseases.
Also, experts associate television viewing with sedentary behaviors. Television is commonly a sedentary activity in which viewers are typically relaxed. Experts claim that individuals should decrease television time in order to encourage a more active lifestyle. However, decrease in television watching is not a solution to an increase in physical activity. Sternheimer addresses a study in which authors conclude “there is no evidence that television viewing displaces educational activities; instead, it is likely that television viewing replaces other leisure activities, like listening to music, playing video games, and so forth” (76). The findings of the study indicate that television viewing does not negatively correlate with active behaviors as there are various other sedentary activities that can replace television viewing.
Television is one of the most powerful resources of the modern world, but its impact on health depends on how it is used. While television can be used negatively, it can also be used to enhance individual lives, its ultimate role is determined by the individual. Television in and of itself does not create poor diet behaviors, decrease self-satisfaction, or encourage a sedentary lifestyle. The determining factor of television is the choices made by the individual. Overall, television viewing often promotes physical activity and healthier behaviors. Main characters on television are seen as role models. Educational health programs, and mass media campaigns have proven to be effective in getting individuals motivated to improve their health. The physical appearances of healthy television characters create positive body image role models for viewers. Various television programs that aim to educate viewers of different health conditions assist in creating a healthier habits and bringing awareness to the community. Mass media campaigns have also been associated with promoting healthier lifestyles and educating viewers about different health resources available to them. Society should not instantly associate television with unhealthy behaviors. Every individual has the ability to use the television as a resource that promotes health rather than prevents it.