Narratives of Obesity as Presented in the Context of a Television Talk Show

Abstract

Media representations of health and illness have come under scrutiny for their ability to mislead and misinform the public about health issues. However, the media also provide a public forum in which talk about health and illness may be circulated in a more positive fashion. This article consists of a narrative analysis of an episode of the BBC talk show Kilroy, in which the topic of obesity is discussed by the show’s host and a group of lay guests. Two narratives in particular are examined for their similarities and differences. Both are structured around the idea of a ‘turning point’ that results in successful recovery from obesity, although what constitutes recovery differs in both cases, and is linked to the overall structure of the narrative. It is argued that personal narratives are important conceptual tools for health psychologists to work with, although we cannot lose sight of the mediated context in which these data are produced.

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