Media's Infulence on Fitness

Being fit and at the right weight is important to people. The media recognizes this need and market for it. The media plays a huge role in the way people see fitness and nutrition.

Fitness is sold and advertised all over television, DVD, and radio. It is not uncommon to see advertisements for public gyms between television shows. They are normally a turn off for obese people; the commercial shows a sea of very fit people working out as if they’re at a party. Hatfield Fitness has the best commercial I’ve seen with regular people on the machines and a display of the gym’s extra features such as classes, child care, and equipment. Besides television, many workouts are sold on DVD. These DVDs vary from yoga to dance routines. Sweating to the Oldies by Richard Simmons is a great example of how many obese people got back into better shape. Fitness Made Easy by Kathy Smith is one of my choices because her exercise program is done by “training your muscles functionally – as they’re used in everyday life” (Smith). Also, radio gets many sponsors from weight loss centers. Kim Douglas and Joe Mama frequently talk about their successful weight loss at LA Fitness Center. Even after the New Year resolution phase has gone away, advertisers continue to move on for “preparing for summer and swimsuits… I might get a two piece this year.” (Douglas).

Nutrition is the first step to many fitness programs. Many of these come in the form of diets, points, and supplements. The most popular diet right now is the Atkins diet. The bases of the diet is cutting out carbohydrates: potatoes, sweets, grains, pasta, and fruits. A high protein diet is substituted in instead. Food distributors and restaurants now have “Atkins friendly” food. However many others turn to points than the extreme Atkins diet. Counting calories and assigning a point value to food help people keep down how much they eat on a daily basis. It also helps people choose wisely what foods to eat with a limited amount of points. If a cake is 5 points but broccoli and cheese are only 2, they’re a much more satisfying meal with less points used. Another useful nutrition booster is supplements. Herb extracts and vitamins help everything from allergies to yeast infections as well as weight loss. Dr. McBarron from Duke and the Doctor on AM 1440 talks everyday about the importance of herbal use. She also discourages the use of advertised drugs with numerous side effects.
People get many different ideas on fitness from the varied sources of media and the needs in their life. All sources here generally say the same thing on a healthy life: have a balanced diet of all foods, limit how many meals or hunger, exercise regularly, and modify behavior slowly to accept and like these lifestyle changes.