Same old song and dance: an exploratory study of portrayal of physical activity in television programmes aimed at young adolescents

Remote Acculturation and Physical Activity Among Adolescent-Mother Dyads in Jamaica: A Developmental Dyadic Moderation

This study examined the associations between remote acculturation to European American culture of the United States (U.S.), and physical activity levels among Jamaican mother-adolescent dyads. Remote acculturation, a modern type of globalization-facilitated acculturation to a distant non-native culture, is a demonstrated risk factor for some health outcomes, but the association with physical activity has not previously been examined. Mothers and adolescents ( N = 660; 330 dyads) were recruited from schools in Kingston, Jamaica. Actor-Partner Interdependence Moderation Models tested hypotheses about actor and partner effects of U.S. cultural orientation on moderate and vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and the moderation of these effects by developmental stage, socioeconomic status (SES), and gender. We observed a contrast pattern of moderation consistent with increased autonomy granting across adolescence, such that the signs (positive/negative) of the actor and partner effects depended on adolescent developmental stage. The actor effect of adolescents’ U.S. orientation on their own MVPA was negative for early adolescents (unexpected) and positive for mid-adolescents (expected); by contrast, the partner effect of mother’s U.S. orientation on adolescents’ MVPA was positive for early adolescents (expected) and negative for mid-adolescents (unexpected). SES and gender did not moderate the associations. This study contributes to an emerging body of literature on the health correlates of remote acculturation. Our results suggest that whether remote cultural orientation is a risk or protective factor varies based on the health domain in question, developmental stage, the remote culture, and the context.

Audience Responses to Physical Activity in the Biggest Loser Australia

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.