Not Just Commercials, Media Influenced Body Image Ideals Among Black Adolescents

Research interventions designed to reduce obesity in African-American children and youth often focus on eating habit adjustment, adjusting how families (parents) prepare meals, reduction of fast food outlets in urban communities that have dense African American populations, increasing physical activity, and improving school lunch and breakfast menus to include healthier options. Although these are all important strategies for childhood obesity reduction, for teens, body image and attractiveness are important variables to consider when developing obesity intervention and prevention programs. Phenotypic diversity among media images of Black women and body image ideals of African Americans is an under-investigated area of research.

The authors of this paper conducted a mixed-method study of television and print media content with African-American youth ages 14-to-21 years to explore exposure to media content that features Black artists. Black television viewers, adults and children, prefer to watch TV shows and movies that feature all Black or majority Black casts. Television shows that feature majority Black characters often include a cast of actresses that vary in shape, size, and skin color. Characters, although often stereotypical, include at least 1-2 overweight/obese cast members. One hundred eighteen youth completed a survey packet of measures that were designed to investigate what relationships exist among media exposure, body image, identity, self-esteem and racial socialization experiences. Qualitative data was collected from seven focus groups about media content. Images of overweight female characters were included in the focus groups discussions; analysis of focus group data suggests youth do not regard these characters unfavorably.

When viewing images of overweight Black women, focus group participants did not perceive obesity as unattractive, unappealing or negative. During the discussions, several youths referenced family members, or friends, who are overweight or obese, as examples of beauty within their communities. With the exception of the Let’s Move Campaign, healthy weight interventions often include messages that imply obesity is unattractive and/or unappealing, not just unhealthy. Additionally, quantitative analyses resulted in statistically significant relationships between television viewing hours and body image ideals for some participants.

The results of this study indicate adolescent definitions of an ideal body image is influenced by exposure to media images of Black women and by cultural norms--which could be associated with body type preference. We propose obesity interventions that target Black youth integrate culturally relevant messages that are informed by body image and beauty standards within African-American communities.