Watching Our Weights: The Contradictions of Televising Fatness in the "Obesity Epidemic

Watching Our Weights explores the competing and contradictory fat representations on television that are related to weight-loss and health,medicalization and disease,and body positivity and fat acceptance. It examines the resistance inherent within TV representations and narratives of fatness as a global health issue,the inherent and overt resistance found across stories of medicalized fatness,and programs that actively avoid dieting narratives in favor of less oppressive ways of thinking about the fat body.

Format: Hardback
Length: 206 pages
Publication date: 28 February 2019
Publisher: Rutgers University Press

Winner of the 2020 Gourmand Awards, Food Writing Section, USA, Watching Our Weights delves into the complex and often conflicting fat representations on television that revolve around weight loss, health, medicalization, disease, and body positivity and fat acceptance. While television, particularly reality television, is often perceived as promoting individual self-discipline and expert interventions as crucial for transforming fat bodies into thin bodies, fat representations and narratives on television also create space for alternative and resistant discourses of the body. In her examination, Melissa Zimdars explores the inherent resistance within TV representations and narratives of fatness as a global health issue, the inherent and overt resistance found across stories of medicalized fatness, and programs that actively avoid dieting narratives in favor of less oppressive ways of thinking about the fat body.

Watching Our Weights intricately weaves together analyses of media industry lore, decisions, communication and health policies, medical research, activist projects, popular culture, and media texts to establish two interconnected aspects. Firstly, it demonstrates how television shapes our understanding of fatness, influencing societal attitudes and beliefs about the body. Secondly, it highlights how fatness enriches our interpretation of contemporary television, offering insights into the complex interplay between media and society.

Through its comprehensive exploration, Watching Our Weights sheds light on the ways in which television contributes to the perpetuation of harmful stereotypes and biases about fatness. It challenges the notion that fatness is solely a personal responsibility and highlights the societal and cultural factors that contribute to its stigmatization. The program also exposes the ways in which medicalized fatness is often portrayed in a negative light, perpetuating harmful myths and misconceptions about health and wellness.

At the same time, Watching Our Weights showcases programs and initiatives that promote body positivity and fat acceptance. It highlights the work of activists, artists, and media professionals who are challenging traditional notions of beauty and promoting diverse representations of the body. These programs offer alternative narratives that challenge fatphobia and promote self-love and body acceptance, fostering a more inclusive and positive view of fatness.

In conclusion, Watching Our Weights is a groundbreaking program that provides a comprehensive analysis of fat representations and narratives on television. Through its interdisciplinary approach, it offers valuable insights into the complex interplay between media, society, and the body. By challenging dominant narratives and promoting alternative perspectives, the program contributes to the ongoing efforts to promote body positivity, health, and diversity in media representation.

Weight: 408g
Dimension: 236 x 157 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780813593555