Part 1: Social Behavior Media
The biggest loser is the show I have chosen to comment on. It is a competition whereby participants are rewards each week for losing the most weight. The ones whom loose the least are eliminated each week and the winner becomes the person who loses the most during the competition.
Do you feel these shows help or hurt public health?
These shows in my opinion have nothing to do with a public health agenda. They are pure entertainment, but producers feel that they have a moral, obligation to the public to indulge in popular issue. Obesity is popular whether from a public health perspective or not. Beauty perception is consistent a particular weight, shape and vital statistic regarding waist, breast and hips measurements. In this respect, I do not feel it hurt public health since it is beyond having a healthy body, but an emphasis on beauty as well (The biggest loser, 2014).
Why do viewers watch these type shows?
In my opinion viewers who have the time and seek entertainment, which is free, look at these shows. Many of these shows have embedded humor which is entertaining. Psychologically, once the audience can laugh while they may even miss the message, but still keep looking is the achievement producers are focused on gaining (Lotz, 2007).
Do you believe viewers watch because of a "morbid curiosity" behavior, not unlike gawking at a car accident?
Certainly the morbid curiosity in watching televisions shows is not universal. If people watch these shows out of morbid curiosity just like rushing to the scene of an accident or abuse then most of these shows would not continue for years since the viewing audience would have continually been diminished. Shows like ‘One Big Happy Family’ have been aired several years with modifications. Essentially, the motivator is entertainment and humor (Lotz, 2007).
Do show producers have a social or public service agenda motivation, or are shows produced strictly for the revenue?
References
Lotz, Amanda (2007). The Television will be Revolutionized. New York and London: New York
The Biggest Loser (2014). The biggest looser booth Camp Retrieved on February 25th, 2014
Part 11
View the first five clips of One Big Happy Family. Note the social aspects of obesity and the behaviors of the family.
The social aspects of obesity in this family are depicted as extreme obesity related to family members’ weights. Tameka Coles age 36 years weighs 380 pounds and Amber and Shayne’ mother as well as Norris’ wife. Her excuse for gaining weight is giving birth to her two children apart from having very little time for exercise because of working two jobs. Husband/ Father Norris Coles is 41 years of age weighing 340 pounds. He is considered home employed. He trades in garage merchandise for profits. Amber Coles weighs 348 pounds and is 17 years old 17 years of age being the older of two children in the family. She participates in the flag corps at her high school. Shayne, who is the younger of the two children and 14 years of age weighs 336 pounds and is very introverted with a few friends (Episode Detail, 2014).
The social aspects of obesity as depicted in these episodes clearly highlight that the condition might be hereditary as well as social. All family members are obese. The mother has an excuse for her obesity, but he children seem not seem to understand that it is an abnormality. However, Shayne seems very conscious of his condition and has become an introvert because he has very few friends obviously due to his weight. At the beginning of the series, they appear to be one big clumsy family as they march on into the scenes (Episode Detail, 2014).
Identify and discuss the key comments, images, and behaviors you witnessed.
Season 1 episode 1, entitled ‘troubling times’ when the family is introduced to the audience they are feasting lavishly with much high calorie foods and are very happy about the interaction as the feasting moves from their dining room to the park. Shayne’s blood sugar is high and if he does not lose weight will develop type 11 diabetes. In episode 2, they consider changing their eating habits. While Tameka and Shayne are anxious to lose weight and be in better health their parents, Amber and Norris are reluctant since they have not realized the impact of obesity on their health. Shayne began throwing away groceries his father brought just the day before in an attempt to reduce his intake of sweets and fats. His father is furious (One big Family , 2014).
Episode 4, showed Norris’ proposal to Tameka who gave him the ultimatum to marry or leave. He married her without a proposal. At a fiends’ home Norris, and the children expressed how much they loved Tameka by sharing sentiments. Clumsily Amber broke the chair because it was too small for her weight. Interestingly, Shayne did not laugh, but felt sorry about what had happened. In episode 5 the family goes camping, and Shayne takes his regular size friend along with them. It became quite obvious and he was not a part of the family (One big Family 2014)
References
Episode Detail (2014). Troubling News - One Big Happy Family Retrieved on February 26th,
2014 from
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=one+big+happy+family&sm=12
One Big Happy Family (2014). Comic Strip. Retrieved on February, 26th, 2014 fromhttp://www.gocomics.com/onebighappy#.Uw3a4oX43T4
