Weight watching

Abstract

I could not have finished this without the support of my parents, Tom and Karla Zimdars, my brothers, John and Zach Zimdars; and my good friend, Jenna Marchant. I also feel so grateful for my Communication Studies colleagues-for-life, who put up with me being "two-points Mish," humbled me with their intelligence, and made me laugh and smile during my lowest points. Thank you, thank you, thank you, Adam Rugg

“Mend this fractured family”: sin, redemption, and familial citizenship on NBC’s “The Biggest Loser”

“…Reality television has tackled the obesity epidemic and the national obsession with weight loss in a number of popular television shows. Zimdars (2015) notes reality television reinforce messages of “self-discipline, self-control, self-governance, self-help” and reinforce the obesity epidemic messaging (p. 27). One of the most popular reality television shows directly addressing obesity is NBC’s The Biggest Loser (TBL).…”

“…In fact, TBL is one of the longest running weight-loss focused reality shows, beginning its run in 2004. Its influence can be seen a rash of weight-focused television shows such as, Heavy (2009), Australia’s Big: Extreme Makeover (2011), the UK’s Supersize vs Superskinny (2008-), and dozens of others including several international versions of TBL in 32 countries (Zimdars, 2015).…”