Media+Lit+Project

Here's the link to our project blog: http://weightlosscheckup.wordpress.com/

[|Body Mass Index Calculator] [|BETTER, GENDER specific BMI calculator] [|That's Fit BlogFood Claims Study Link] http://www.didweloseweight.com/FatLoss4Idiots-01.htm [|Proposed Federal Rules Changes for food labeling link] [|Link to book about Portion Control] [|Spot the Block nutrition program for tweens link] [|Spot the block video] [|Link to site with mistakes on spaghetti sauce label] [|Link to page with top 10 food label mistakes] [|Link to article with nutrition label mistakes] [|Similar site with mistakes on labels] [|A Blog Entry about mistakes on food labels] [|GMA Video about mistakes on nutrition labels] http://abcnews.go.com/video/playerIndex?id=4602602 [|Low calorie/high soduim: lean cusine macaroni and cheese] [|Low calorie/high soduim: regular stouffer's macaroni and cheese] [|low calorie/high sodium: healthy choice macaroni and cheese] [|low calorie/high sodium: weight watchers macaroni and cheese] [|low calorie/ high sodium: boston market macaroni and cheese] [|low calorie/high sodium coca-cola] [|low calorie/ high sodium diet coca-cola] [|low calorie/ high sodium pepsi] [|low calorie/ high sodium diet pepsi] [|sodium article] [|processed food=soduim article]

Can America //REALLY// Lose Weight:Fallacies in Media Images in Media: Packing/Advertisement Introduction Many messages in the media today revolve around being healthy--not just feeling it, but looking the part as well. Through television and the Internet, we are inundated with photo after photo of before and after shots with regards to the newest fad diet, supplement pill, or workout equipment. According to them (the media) it shouldn't be too difficult to lose that bulge and tone those flabby arms. Just pop a pill before you head to the gym (or hey, if you don't have time for that---your //home// gym) and eat a sensible, pre-packaged frozen meal before six in the evening.
 * weight loss pills/diet supplements -Leah
 * diet plans -Leah
 * exercise remedies- Leah
 * portions on packaging (misleading math) -Debbie
 * low fat/high caloric intake -Megan
 * low-no fat/high sodium -Jill
 * "healthy" fast food: i.e. salads, yogurt -Andy
 * 100% labels: fruit juice... blend -Andy
 * soda... natural?--high fructose corn syrup -Megan
 * organic certified...truly? -Debbie
 * FORMAT:**

Though they do make it sound simple enough and many of it is motivation and self control- the products are often conflicting with one another. If companies are competing and working against one another, will America ever be able to lose weight?

Target Audience Many of the messages are targeted towards young adult to middle-aged men and women. The men are told they can be "ripped" in 90 days or less if they use this video--//and// get the hot girl. These targeted women are often mothers who simply don't have the time or energy for a gym or to cook a decent meal, so they are suggested a "quick fix" to their dieting woes. Little to none of the media targets the fitness of children and adolescents, regardless of the statistics that show that obesity starts here. Even less do we see the emphasis or parental involvement in this aspect, even though they buy, prepare and cook the food.

Often we see celebrities advertising these products. It may not even be someone you were remotely interested in prior, but the advertisements allow us to see them as "flawed" and we allow ourselves to identify with the Anna Nicole Smith's and Jenny McCarthy's. If they use it and it worked for them, why not me? Of course the ads fail to mention that they have a personal chef, personal trainer, and the money to employ anyone to support their cause. Many of these ads will claim "results not typical" in fine print.

(... but I'm your typical celebrity) (...because //before// I was a disgusting hog!)

(...because you have //always// __envied__ me)

Message The messages that are often conveyed in these ads are those of becoming "hotter" and "desired" by the opposite sex. Sometimes we are encouraged to use the project for a boost in energy and overall loss in weight, but rarely is it emphasizing the "health" part of the diet and exercise. Again, America's obsession with looks is what sells products. Unless it is immediate death hovering, we won't get healthy unless that means hot. If we were to become healthy, but stayed fat---we would rather eat what we wanted than have a healthier body.

(...and how quickly I snagged this hot chic!") Misconceptions Many theories have developed about these dramatic transformations. Are these just fitness models who were already in good shape begin with then asked to gain weight? Some people have been obese for most of their life, or at least fought the battle of the bulge. Is it possible that they are being swayed by someone who was //asked// or //paid// to gain weight to tell this product? I think if America knew the truth, they may be offended. Did the person who used this exercise machine also pay for a diet plan in order to lose the weight?

Low Calorie/ High Sodium In our fast-paced society, everyone wants to eat healthfully but quickly. People often times eat fast food to save time. Sometimes these meals come in the form of frozen dinners. These frozen dinners are okay every once and a while, but they are not as healthy as they may appear to be. They are processed foods, and this means they are often times loaded with salt. The manufacturers use this extra salt in the meals for a number of reasons. Salt is added for flavor in some food, but sometimes it is added to cover up other flavors which may be too metallic or chemical tasting. Salt is also used to cut down on moisture which prevents the spread of bacteria.

We need sodium in our bodies to maintain the right balance of fluids. Sodium helps with muscle contractions and relaxation, and it also helps with the transmition of nerve impulses. We should be consuming 1500-2400 milligrams of sodium a day. One teaspoon of salt has 2325 milligrams of sodium. Are you consuming too much?

For comparison purposes, we have found the nutritional information for several major brands of frozen macaroni and cheese dinners. We chose macaroni and cheese because it is a classic comfort food that is loved by millions.

Stouffer's Regular Macaroni and Cheese Cal. 350 Fat 17 Sodium 920 mg Boston Market Macaroni and Cheese Cal. 340 Fat 9 Sodium 960 mg Stouffer's Lean Cusisne Cal. 290 Fat 7 Sodium 620 mg Healthy Choice Macaroni and Cheese Cal. 290 Fat 7 Sodium 600 mg Weight Watchers Macaroni and Cheese Cal. 300 Fat 6 Sodium 570 mg

The numbers show that the full fat versions of the meal have the most calories and almost enough sodium to cover your daily allowance in just one meal. The lower fat versions are slighty better, but they still contain half the daily recommended amount of sodium.

The best way to lower your sodium intake is to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables and less processed foods. Getting in 6-8 glasses of water every day can help too.

High Fructose Corn Syrup, Is It Ever Okay? It is rare to find anyone pass by with out a drink in their hands, often Coke, Pepsi, fruit drinks, or even Kool-Aid. Everyone knows the drinks are high in caloric intake, but often they do not see the risks associated with drinking and eating what is convenient in American culture.

Americans have been jumping on the corn syrup, mainly high fructose corn syrup bandwagon since 1970. It is cheap to produce, sweet to the tongue, and easy to store safely. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, the average American consumed 1/2 pound of high fructose corn syrup in 1970. Today that average has jumped to over 55.3 pounds per person.

The recommended daily intake of sugar, based on a 2,000 calorie diet, averages around 12 teaspoons. It is recommended that a person should consume no more than 40 teaspoons in a day, ever.

The following is a list of popular brands with their sugar content, per single serving: Sunkist soda: 10 1/2 teaspoons of sugar Berkeley Farms low-fat yogurt with fruit: 10 teaspoons of sugar Mott's applesauce: 5 teaspoons of sugar Slim-Fast chocolate cookie dough meal bar: 5 teaspoons of sugar 1 tablespoon ketchup: 1 teaspoon of sugar

How do you lessen your consumption of high fructose corn syrup?


 * Limit processed foods.
 * Avoid foods that contain added sugar.
 * Choose fresh fruit rather than fruit juice or fruit-flavored drinks. Even 100 percent fruit juice has a high concentration of sugar.
 * Choose fruit canned in its own juices instead of heavy syrup.
 * Drink less soda.
 * Don't allow sweetened beverages to replace milk, especially for children.