Audience Responses to Physical Activity in the Biggest Loser Australia

Smith, BJ; Bonfiglioli, C

Audience Responses to Physical Activity in the Biggest Loser Australia

Smith, BJ Bonfiglioli, C

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Journal of Health Communication, 2019, 24 (1), pp. 21 - 28
Issue Date:: 2019-01-02

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Full metadata record

Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Smith, BJ	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Bonfiglioli, C https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9634-7302	en_US
dc.date.issued	2019-01-02	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Journal of Health Communication, 2019, 24 (1), pp. 21 - 28	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	1081-0730	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/134914
dc.description.abstract	©, Copyright © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. The popular reality television show The Biggest Loser Australia (TBL) is a significant source of media content about physical activity. This study examined audience responses to and interpretations of physical activity in TBL. A qualitative study using in-depth interviews was conducted in New South Wales, Australia. A sample of 46 viewers of TBL was recruited, stratified by gender, age group, area of residence, and body mass index. Interview data were thematically analyzed to identify how viewers evaluated TBL. Respondents were most positive about TBL as public health education, premised on personal responsibility, the need for extreme action, and the possibilities of human agency (individually and collectively). Conversely, they were critical about whether the portrayal of physical activity could guide and inspire them personally. They expressed feelings of disgust and fear in response to the exercise challenges, questioned the practicality of the behavior change process in light of their own experience, and were skeptical about the purpose of the program itself. TBL’s representation of physical activity may be limited in its capacity to encourage physical activity. Despite the wide viewership of this program, encouraging physical requires innovation in the development of practical, persuasive and evidence based media messages about physical activity.	en_US
dc.relation	http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/DP1096251
dc.relation.ispartof	Journal of Health Communication	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1080/10810730.2018.1558314	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Public Health	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Humans	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Weight Loss	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Exercise	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Qualitative Research	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Public Opinion	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Television	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Adolescent	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Adult	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Aged	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Middle Aged	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Australia	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Female	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Male	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Young Adult	en_US
dc.title	Audience Responses to Physical Activity in the Biggest Loser Australia	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	1	en_US
utslib.citation.volume	24	en_US
utslib.for	2001 Communication and Media Studies	en_US
utslib.for	0807 Library and Information Studies	en_US
utslib.for	1117 Public Health and Health Services	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences/Journalism Program
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access
pubs.issue	1	en_US
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	24	en_US

Abstract:

©, Copyright © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. The popular reality television show The Biggest Loser Australia (TBL) is a significant source of media content about physical activity. This study examined audience responses to and interpretations of physical activity in TBL. A qualitative study using in-depth interviews was conducted in New South Wales, Australia. A sample of 46 viewers of TBL was recruited, stratified by gender, age group, area of residence, and body mass index. Interview data were thematically analyzed to identify how viewers evaluated TBL. Respondents were most positive about TBL as public health education, premised on personal responsibility, the need for extreme action, and the possibilities of human agency (individually and collectively). Conversely, they were critical about whether the portrayal of physical activity could guide and inspire them personally. They expressed feelings of disgust and fear in response to the exercise challenges, questioned the practicality of the behavior change process in light of their own experience, and were skeptical about the purpose of the program itself. TBL’s representation of physical activity may be limited in its capacity to encourage physical activity. Despite the wide viewership of this program, encouraging physical requires innovation in the development of practical, persuasive and evidence based media messages about physical activity.

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:

http://hdl.handle.net/10453/134914