Abstract
Mass media coverage of child obesity is rising, paralleling the child obesity epidemic's
growth, and there is evidence that parents seek parenting advice from media sources.
Yet little to no research has examined the coverage of child obesity in parenting
magazines or Spanish-language media. The purpose of this study was to use qualitative
and quantitative content analysis methods to identify, quantify, and compare strategies
for child obesity prevention and control presented in mainstream and Spanish-language
US parenting magazines. Child obesity−related editorial content in 68 mainstream and
20 Spanish-language magazine issues published over 32 months was gathered. Magazine
content was coded with a manual developed by refining themes from the sample and from
an evidence-based child obesity prevention action plan. Seventy-three articles related
to child obesity prevention and control were identified. Most focused on parental
behavior change rather than environmental change, and only 3 in 10 articles referred
to the social context in which parental behavior change takes place. Child obesity−focused
articles were not given high prominence; only one in four articles in the entire sample
referred to child obesity as a growing problem or epidemic. Key differences between
genres reflect culturally important Latino themes, including family focus and changing
health beliefs around child weight status. Given mass media's potential influence
on parenting practices and public perceptions, nutrition communication professionals
and registered dietitians need to work to reframe media coverage of childhood obesity
as an environmental problem that requires broad-based policy solutions. Spanish-speaking
media can be an ally in helping Latina women change cultural health beliefs around
child weight status.
Keywords
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Biography
S. R. Kalin is director of Obesity Prevention and Wellness Programs, South End Community Health Center, Boston, MA; at the time of the study, she was an MS candidate, Nutrition and Health Promotion, Department of Nutrition, Simmons College, Boston, MA.
Biography
T. T. Fung is a professor, Department of Nutrition, Simmons College, and an adjunct associate professor, Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA.
Article info
Publication history
Published online: December 20, 2012
Accepted:
September 21,
2012
Footnotes
STATEMENT OF POTENTIAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
FUNDING/SUPPORT There is no funding to disclose.
NEW INVESTIGATOR SUBMISSION This article is an outgrowth of the New Investigator Publication Initiative (NIPI), which was developed to support and promote new investigators in their scientific communication efforts. NIPI provides a supportive venue for new investigators to submit their work for consideration for publication in the Journal. This program exposes new investigators to the process of publication and offers them editorial attention and expertise to help them hone and sharpen skills related to manuscript preparation, revision, and publication. The overarching goal of NIPI is to cultivate professional relationships that will mentor and benefit the new author, enhance the breadth and depth of the Journal, and promote the science and practice of nutrition.
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Copyright
© 2013 Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
