Are Diet Reality Shows a Good Thing?
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If you ask someone what happened on Survivor, Big Brother, or American Idol the average person on the street can tell you every thing. If you ask those same people about the Biggest Loser I don’t think that you will get the same response.
When I think about “diet reality shows” the first thing that comes to my mind is D List celebrities on Celebrity Fit Club or struggling average people on The Biggest Loser. If there are other shows out there I am guilty of not knowing a thing about them.
Back to the question of diet reality shows being a good thing. You would think with all the talk that obesity in America is the next black plauge then there would be more interest in this type of television. I think the reason that these type shows are not more popular is becuase diet reality shows are too real.
The typical person that tunes into reality shows wants to root for the underdog or hate the villian. Seeing a real individual that is similar to you and me makes some of us uncomfortable. Hearing on television some of the things that we as individuals already know is not entertainment and is in fact too painful for many to deal with.
I am a big man and married to a beautiful plus size woman. When it comes to reality television if it does not end in the contestant getting a job then I am not the audience. The few times I tried watching diet reality it was painful in a bad way for me because I just did not want to hear the whining of the particular contestant, but I did think about my own weight issues and what I need to do to be more healthy.
The answer to the question then for me is diet reality shows are a good thing, but they are relegated to such poor time slots that they will never reach the notority of some of the other shows even though they have a good message.
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3 Comments on this post
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Bob Toovey said:
I personally think diet shows are a bad thing. While they do bring the whole healthy eating thing to the fore, most of the time it is another excuse to laugh at ‘fat people who can’t control their eating’.
People are fat for many reasons, genetics, disease, life style etc. The reality diet shows concentrate mainly on eating habits. Does this not enforce the view that big people sit around all day eating? It would be nice to see these shows examining more than just that.
Bob
October 2nd, 2008 at 3:42 am -
Glen L Johnson said:
Bob,
You make a good point, but I do not think that we will ever see that type of show because the whole point of reality television is to mock and add drama to attract viewers. Which is one of the reasons I have never been a follower of these shows.
October 2nd, 2008 at 8:33 am -
Olgaplusmodel said:
Dear Bob and Glen,
I think DIET ‘Reality’ shows are a good thing. People are going to make fun of the ‘Chubby’ person walking down the street regardless or the next time you are sitting at a mall eating a meal the looks of ‘ Disgust’ will still be given by ignorants passing by.I am a ‘Big’ woman but I go for walks, spend hours in my garden, take my daughter to the park and keep up with her and she is 3! But now every over weight individual lives an active life. There are some plus size people that don’t even bother, are too lazy or just can’t get around to committing to that extra 30 minute walk that can help our bodies stay healthy or even save their lives one day. This shows takes a lazy person and challenges them and for the most part at the end of the show, that person is ‘Healthier’ bottom line. I now have type 2 Diabetes from my last pregnancy. I can get rid of it by losing about 50 pounds and having some daily activity routine. I am all for this until last year when I had re-constructive surgery on my left knee. Now I am limited to the what I can or cannot do. My goals are still strong and I walk better and can stay standing for hours at a time now.
These reality shows are delivering positive results that are helping the plus size person live a healthier and longer life span. Reality shows will always be negative, and tend to bring out our weak side. But the big picture here and the ‘Biggest’ price that only a ‘Diet’ reality show can bring is a HEALTHIER life and for a person that has 100 or more pounds to lose, it has just saved their life. That is the best prize anyone can ever ask for.
The winners and contestants of these ‘Diet’ shows don’t really care right now what they went through, they are ‘Thin’ and society sees them as ‘Perfect’ and now ‘Beautiful’. With results like that there will always be a strong audience.
“Don’t hate me because I am ‘Fat’ and ‘BEAUTIFUL”
OlgaOctober 3rd, 2008 at 6:49 am
