Journal
Article Analysis
Meagan
Morton
Popular
Culture
Professor
Omar Alomari
September
6, 2014
I
chose a Biggest Loser article on obesity for my Journal Article Analysis
assignment. The author goes through
different theories, feelings, success stories, denial stories, and motives.
Starting off with an overview of the popular television series, the Biggest
Loser. Also, other media stories such as Jared from Subway. I love health and
fitness, but I had never really showed an interest in these media sources to
popularize fat and weight loss. The Biggest Loser seemed too vulgar for me and
I always wondered how these people working out all day would adjust to a
healthy lifestyle after the show. Not everyone can afford to work out that much
and it’s not always healthy to drop weight that fast.
The
article also brings to light that not all weight loss desires are stemmed from
wanting to be healthy. The first theory is to, ‘control the body, and control
the life’. Many overweight people think that they are unsuccessful in life,
because their weight is always on their mind. There is the assumption that if you
are fat, you must be a loser in other areas of your life too. And sadly many
overweight people feel this way.
The
article explains many weight loss motives such as their approval in the mirror,
not being able to fit in clothes any more, to keep up with fashion trends,
pictures, etc. There are stores such as someone being told they cannot share a
seat on the subway because they are fat. Some people do not realize their
weight until it becomes unavoidably obvious. The self-esteem is lowered and
life feels miserable.
One
of the final reasons people want to lose weight is the fear of death. The
heavier you are, of course the more life threatening health issues you will
have. High blood pressure, diabetes, heart problems, and more.
I
agree with all the main points. Obesity is escalating in America and every
person has a different reason as to how they have become overweight. And they
have different reasons to want to overcome the weight. I can see how people
would look at success stories on television and want to change their lives. I
could see how every time they look in the mirror or cannot fit in a chair would
make them feel miserable.
This
article is important to me because I value health and fitness. I work out daily
and feed my family fresh healthy food. We always stay active. I wish that it
did not hit such a high level of low self-esteem for people to realize that
they need to change their lives. I had read a study once that said your mind is
connected to your weight loss. If you are doing a work out that makes you
happy, the better the results. Every individual needs to find something that
they can enjoy working out with. And, we do not all have to be super skinny
models. We need to be happy and healthy.
I
have hypothyroidism and have never been overweight. With this condition, I
should be overweight. But, I have focused hard on building muscle because I
have no metabolism. I enjoy lifting weights and jogging. I love hiking and
hunting, being a part of nature. I think people need to find their ‘happy’
before they push themselves to keep hitting a fitness wall.
I
also wish obese people would realize they can eat all they want! If it is
fresh! Whipping up something fresh really isn’t any harder than something
processed. And there is really no price difference. I eat and I enjoy it. No
one should have to kill themselves to fit some kind of model figure, or please
anyone else. There are so many insecurities in the world and television makes
it worse. Stories in this article explain that some motivation is to become
attractive to the opposite sex, or become like someone else. I don’t think the
obesity problem in America will ever be solved because everyone wants to be
what the media wants. Not what makes them a happy, healthy, functioning, human
being. The media keeps them on the couch, wishing they were skinny, not
healthy.
References
A Journal of Popular Culture, Vol. 47, No. 1. (2014) Wiley Productions
Great job Meagan! I am glad you chose this article! I also try to feed my family healthy food. I have watched the show before, and read articles after the taping is over to see what happened to some of the people on there. It showed some of them had gained the weight back, and some of them developed eating disorders. It would be physically and financially impossible to work out all day everyday. Insecurities are a huge part of our society. I think the goal should be to be healthy, not necessarily stick thin. Great work
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