How Many Overweight People Do You See In Commercials?
Feb 7th, 2008 by Frances Lewis
There are many contradictory messages we receive everyday while watching American’s favorite form of entertainment, television. There are ads for fat-filled foods, all you can eat buffets, “comfort” foods that are not necessarily healthy, and calorie rich snack foods. The next ad may be for a weight loss program, whether it is a food program or a pill that you can take and solve all your problems. The “dieting” actor or actress is usually portrayed by a nice looking, slim person. Maybe the next advertisement is a parody of an unwanted service (satellite versus cable), a laughable but stupid misguided consumer, or a bad character portrayed by a heavy, slovenly man. So does slim equals good, and heavy mean bad? There seems to be a subliminal message here somewhere.
Even on the news shows, the anchors are slim. There have been some overweight ones; did you ever notice them getting to report on a really hot story? No, they are usually relegated to the public feel good stories, like someone’s 100th birthday. It seems that even the networks classify as slim equals smart and heavy equals loveable but slow.
It is no wonder that so many people have such skewed, self-defeating and unrealistic ideas of food versus beauty. Don’t you think we get stuck into trying to be like the images we see in this ideal, unreal world rather than enjoying our individuality and unique features?
Perhaps this is one of the underlying causes of many of the eating disorders our society suffers from like anorexia nervosa, binge eating, and bulimia. It is so easy to get lost in this “dream world” of perfect bodies, beautiful homes, lovely clothes, and uncomplicated lives. How much better it would be to teach everyone to cherish their place in this world as a unique individual!
The reality of the situation is that losing weight in a healthy way and learning how to keep it off for years is a real challenge and not easy. It takes a new way of thinking, a new way of being. To lose weight and fat you need to decrease the calories you eat and add exercise as a weekly routine along with changing your lifestyle. There is no quick fix book, tea, pill, or diet.
There are ways to decrease calories but still consume the foods you enjoy. It is important to remember that losing even a relatively small amount of weight can make a real improvement in reducing your risk for diabetes, heart disease, and other serious conditions.
You can earn the benefits of being physically active without going to a gym, playing sports, or using fancy equipment. Exercise (physical activity) includes anything that gets you moving, such as walking, dancing, or working in the yard. When you’re physically fit, you have the strength, flexibility, and endurance needed for your daily activities. Being physically active helps you feel better physically and mentally.
So, wherever you may be in life right now, you can lose weight and become healthier! Forget what family or friends say, forget about what’s “supposed” to happen and just believe. When you do that, miracles happen. So, hold on to your dreams and work everyday to achieve them…because they really do come true. Here’s To Your Success!
Take care of yourself, love yourself, and let me hear from you.
Frances Lewis







Hi Frances
I just finished your article about over weight people in commercials and couldn’t agree more. Keep up the GREAT work.
John
Thank you John. Please feel free to visit often and leave me your comments. It is always nice to hear what people are interested in and what may help them in their quest for a more healthy life.
Frances Lewis