Pass the popcorn: "Obesogenic" behaviors and stigma in children's movies. (6th December 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Throop, Elizabeth M.; Skinner, Asheley Cockrell; Perrin, Andrew J.; Steiner, Michael J.; Odulana, Adebowale; Perrin, Eliana M.
• Is Part Of: Obesity. Volume 22:Number 7(2014:Jul.)
• Page Start: 1694
• Page End: 1700
• Publication Date: 2013-12-06
• Subjects: Obesity -- Periodicals; 616.398005
• DOI: 10.1002/oby.20652
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1930-7381

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="oby20652-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Objective</title> <p>To determine the prevalence of obesity‐related behaviors and attitudes in children's movies.</p> </sec> <sec id="oby20652-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>A mixed‐methods study of the top‐grossing G‐ and PG‐rated movies, 2006‐2010 (4 per year) was performed. For each 10‐min movie segment, the following were assessed: 1) prevalence of key nutrition and physical activity behaviors corresponding to the American Academy of Pediatrics obesity prevention recommendations for families; 2) prevalence of weight stigma; 3) assessment as healthy, unhealthy, or neutral; 3) free‐text interpretations of stigma.</p> </sec> <sec id="oby20652-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Agreement between coders was >85% (Cohen's kappa = 0.7), good for binary responses. Segments with food depicted: exaggerated portion size (26%); unhealthy snacks (51%); sugar‐sweetened beverages (19%). Screen time was also prevalent (40% of movies showed television; 35% computer; 20% video games). Unhealthy segments outnumbered healthy segments 2:1. Most (70%) of the movies included weight‐related stigmatizing content (e.g., "That fat butt! Flabby arms! And this ridiculous belly!").</p> </sec> <sec id="oby20652-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>These popular children's movies had significant "obesogenic" content, and most contained weight‐based stigma. They present a mixed message to children, promoting unhealthy behaviors while stigmatizing the behaviors' possible effects. Further research is needed to determine the effects of such messages on children.</p> </sec> </abstract>