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Biggest losers may be overweight Australians

14 February 2007

Dr Samantha Thomas believes obese Australians are socially disadvantaged through the culture of reality weight-loss programs.

Research from the Centre for Ethics in Medicine and Society concludes that reality television shows focusing on weight loss may have a detrimental impact on the health and social experiences of obese Australians.

The study, which included 75 people between the ages of 16-72, found that reality-based television programs that focused on weight loss perpetuated negative stereotypes of people with obesity as lazy and unmotivated.

Dr Samantha Thomas, medical sociologist at the Centre for Ethics in Medicine and Society, believes reality television can be quite effective with the messages it presents to the public.

"By focusing on 'weight loss', shows like The Biggest Loser may not be doing enough to bring attention to the daily discrimination and societal disapproval that people with obesity face on a daily basis." Dr Thomas said.

"Rather, these programs may only be reinforcing the message that obesity is an individual's own fault, one that can be easily overcome if you have a bit of willpower. However, this isn't the case for most people who are obese."

Survey participants agreed that although the core concept of weight loss programs were well intentioned, in modifying weight loss through exercise, they were also criticised for placing unrealistic expectations on obese people, highlighting the personal training programs used in the show as financially inaccessible to average Australians.

Several of the participants have also claimed that they have been the victim of discrimination, name-calling and teasing from members of the general public as a result of weight loss television programmes.

The study, conducted by Dr Samantha Thomas and Professor Paul Komesaroff at the Centre involved the assistance of human research ethics company Bellberry Ltd.

Outcomes from the study will be used to develop effective strategies within the Australian public health sector later this year.