The DOI matches its Crossref record; 1 of the 1 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Obesity Stigma in Online News: A Visual Content Analysis
Abstract
This study conducted a content analysis to examine the types of images that accompany online news stories about obesity and to determine how obese people are portrayed in news photographs. Images were selected from news articles about obesity obtained from 5 major news Web sites, during a 2-week period in September of 2009. Images accompanying news stories about obesity (N = 549) were systematically coded. Of 441 individuals identified in news photographs, 65% were overweight/obese and 27% were nonoverweight. Overall, 72% of images that depicted an overweight or obese person were portrayed in a negative, stigmatizing manner. Overweight/obese individuals were significantly more likely to have their heads cut out of the photos, to be portrayed showing only their abdomens or lower bodies, and to be shown eating or drinking than were nonoverweight individuals. Overweight/obese individuals were significantly less likely to be shown fully clothed, wearing professional clothing, or exercising than were nonoverweight individuals. Obese individuals are frequently stigmatized in online news photographs; this phenomenon has important implications for public perceptions of obese persons and may reinforce pervasive prejudice and discrimination.
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The media is a pervasive source of weight bias and can reinforce stigma through inaccurate framing of obesity and inappropriate images, language, and terminology that attribute obesity entirely to personal responsibility.
“Evidence suggests that the media is a pervasive source of weight bias and can reinforce stigma through the use of inaccurate framing of obesity and inappropriate images, language, and terminology that attribute obesity entirely to personal responsibility15.”
From Joint international consensus statement for ending stigma of obesity (2020) · cites this paper as [15]
Citations
Cites
The Stigma of Obesity: A Review and Update
Puhl, R. M., & Heuer, C. A. (2009) · Obesity · doi:10.1038/oby.2008.636 · Cited by 3,323
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Joint international consensus statement for ending stigma of obesity
Rubino, F., Puhl, R. M., Cummings, D. E., Eckel, R. H., Ryan, D. H., Mechanick, J. I., Nadglowski, J., Ramos Salas, X., Schauer, P. R., Twenefour, D., et al. (2020) · Nature Medicine · doi:10.1038/s41591-020-0803-x · Cited by 1,152
“Evidence suggests that the media is a pervasive source of weight bias and can reinforce stigma through the use of inaccurate framing of obesity and inappropriate images, language, and terminology that attribute obesity entirely to personal responsibility 15 .”
BackgroundMajor, B., Rathbone, J. A., Blodorn, A., & Hunger, J. M. (2020) · Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin · doi:10.1177/0146167220903184 · Cited by 54
The Discrepant visual representation of inflammatory bowel diseases in the internet and media
Kahn-Boesel, O., Araka, E., Anyane-Yeboa, A., Ufere, N. N., & Kochar, B. (2024) · Gastroenterology · doi:10.1053/j.gastro.2024.06.001 · Cited by 2
Metadata
- Authors
- Heuer, C. A., McClure, K. J., & Puhl, R. M.
- Affiliations
- Yale University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Puhl, Rebecca M.
- ORCID
- Puhl, Rebecca M.
- Venue
- Journal of Health Communication
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2011-10
- Volume
- 16
- Issue
- 9
- Pages
- 976-987
- ISSN
- 1081-0730 (ISSN-L)
- 1087-0415
- OpenAlex
- W2089614744
- Cited by
- 342
- References
- 1
- Citations by year
- 2026: 9 · 2025: 52 · 2024: 15 · 2023: 27 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 20 · 2020: 59 · 2019: 14 · 2018: 27 · 2017: 22 · 2016: 17 · 2015: 16 · 2014: 19 · 2013: 19 · 2012: 9
- FWCI
- 14.73
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Health Communication (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Obesity and Health Practices
- Social Sciences › Communication › Media Influence and Health
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet
- Keywords
- weight stigma, photojournalism, online news, media representation of obesity, overweight individuals, body image, prejudice and discrimination, news images
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Female, Humans, Male, Mass Media, Obesity, Photography, Public Opinion, Stereotyping, United States, Internet, Young Adult
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