Saturday May 14, 2011 2:45 PM NZT
Reality TV: Why it's not so
bad for Kiwi children The children also recognised that their parents
had a role to play in shaping health behaviour.
By Alanah Eriksen and Alanah May Eriksen
Talking about Honey We're Killing the Kids, which
Reality television has been accused of dumbing shows how people will look if they continue with
down the nation, but a study suggests some a lifestyle of poor diet and exercise, children said
shows could be good for children. they developed attitudes from their family's
habits.
Massey University PhD student Jacinta Hawkins
looked at the influence of TV programmes on One child said: "People are giving their kids way
children's health knowledge, attitudes and too much junk food".
behaviour.
Ms Hawkins said children recalled what they had
She said programmes which featured obese seen and talked about it being the parents'
people, such as The Biggest Loser, seem to be responsibility to lead by example.
putting children off eating junk food.
Auckland University child psychologist Ian Lambie
"The grotesque appearance of overweight people said reality shows often used bright colours,
on television is making children say 'I don't want sounds and language that appealed to
to grow up like that'. What they see on screen is a youngsters.
potentially powerful influence."
"Children model off the behaviour they see from
The research was part of Ms Hawkins' thesis on adults in real life and in the media," he said.
how schools promote health.
"They say 'Okay, if I eat a certain type of food, I
She spoke to 92 children, aged from 7 to 13, from will end up being a certain weight'."
six Auckland primary schools to find out how they
received information on nutrition and physical
activity.
Some said they learnt from television news
programmes, but most mentioned reality shows
such as Fat Chance, Honey We're Killing the Kids
and Downsize Me.
Earlier studies had considered the effect junk-
food advertising had on children, Ms Hawkins
said, but messages within TV programmes had
not been explored.
"Children at all six schools identified programme
content, as opposed to advertising, as a source of
food and physical activity messages. They are
learning patterns of eating and exercise from
television programmes."