I have to say, often I am unable to watch those obesity documentaries all the way through. I can only watch them in spurts until something either in the editing, or the camera shots, or in the narrations bothers me to the point where I have to change the channel. This is probably because I see too much of my situation in these documentaries.
There was quite a few of these shows on TLC recently, for example "Living Large" and "I eat 33, 000 calories a day" these shows are toting themselves as trying to show how difficult it is to live as an obese person, that they are just like every one else, that obesity is a disease, not a weakness etc. I agree that their intentions are good, however I don't believe the message requires 10 minutes of up close footage of a super morbidly obese man chewing large quantities of food, or distance shots of the ass and thighs of a morbidly obese women who carries most of her weight in her lower body. Also the shots of them without a shirt on or only a towel covering their private parts are totally unnecessary and dehumanizing, as well as disrespectful. I mean obviously these people signed releases but it equates to the same thing as going to the circus to see the fat lady at the sideshow. Oh does this help or lot in society. It certainly doesn't improve my feelings of self esteem and worth, and it certainly doesn't change how others in society treat or view me.
They also like to mention how very unlikely it is that anyone featured on that particular show or any obese person will lose a substantial amount of weight and keep it off. I mean if they really want to help people stop telling them how they are never going to accomplish anything and actually encourage them. Sure it is rare, but their are successes, no matter how that is accomplished, either by surgery or not.
So there are my pet peeves regarding these documentaries, sure I know the producers have to include these things in the show, its sensationalism, no one would watch without a little sensationalism or hint of something taboo, its the same as why you can't take your eyes away from a car wreck. Okay that last comparison may have been a bit extreme.
There was quite a few of these shows on TLC recently, for example "Living Large" and "I eat 33, 000 calories a day" these shows are toting themselves as trying to show how difficult it is to live as an obese person, that they are just like every one else, that obesity is a disease, not a weakness etc. I agree that their intentions are good, however I don't believe the message requires 10 minutes of up close footage of a super morbidly obese man chewing large quantities of food, or distance shots of the ass and thighs of a morbidly obese women who carries most of her weight in her lower body. Also the shots of them without a shirt on or only a towel covering their private parts are totally unnecessary and dehumanizing, as well as disrespectful. I mean obviously these people signed releases but it equates to the same thing as going to the circus to see the fat lady at the sideshow. Oh does this help or lot in society. It certainly doesn't improve my feelings of self esteem and worth, and it certainly doesn't change how others in society treat or view me.
They also like to mention how very unlikely it is that anyone featured on that particular show or any obese person will lose a substantial amount of weight and keep it off. I mean if they really want to help people stop telling them how they are never going to accomplish anything and actually encourage them. Sure it is rare, but their are successes, no matter how that is accomplished, either by surgery or not.
So there are my pet peeves regarding these documentaries, sure I know the producers have to include these things in the show, its sensationalism, no one would watch without a little sensationalism or hint of something taboo, its the same as why you can't take your eyes away from a car wreck. Okay that last comparison may have been a bit extreme.
