How does the media/pop culture affect our health in a negative way? By Diana Zhang
American pop culture/media derives from a multitude of sources, mainly commercial mass media. Examples include film, TV programs, commercials, video games, memes, etc. Among youth, exposure to media may affect health behaviours such as sexual activity, eating habits and substance use.The pervasiveness of the internet drastically increases the speed of communication, causing pop culture to explode in population almost instantaneously.
People come in different sizes and shapes. However, media and pop culture has influenced us so much nowadays we feel that there is a perfect body image everyone should strive for.
Body image is influenced by many factors, including fashion industry, social media, advertising, etc. Media plays a significant part in the influence of body dissatisfaction and disordered eating. Many people come across media images that display a desirable body image. They then try and get that perfect image, because to them, being "beautiful" is all about being physically attractive.
In a study, 10 year old girls and boys told researchers they were dissatisfied with their own bodies after watching a music video by Britney Spears or a clip from the TV show "Friends". Also, in a survey of girls 9 and 10 years old, 40% have tried to lose weight, according to an ongoing study funded by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI). This proves people of all ages can be dissatisfied with their bodies.
Media and pop culture definitely affect the way that people eat. For example, most food advertised to children contain high levels of fat, calories, sodium and added sugar, but are low in the nutrients children need for healthy development.
Obviously nutrition plays a big role in health and growth. There are two types of nutrients: Macronutrients and Micronutrients. There are 3 types of macronutrients: Carbohydrates, Fats, and Proteins. They provide calories or energy and are needed for growth, metabolism and other body functions. Micronutrients are known as vitamins and minerals. They are vital to disease prevention, well-being and development.
Apart from physical health issues and injuries from the effects of media, mental health (violent behaviour) is another thing to consider. Psychologists L. Rowell Huesmann, Leonard Eron and others found that by the time children who watched many hours of violence on television were teenagers, they tended to show higher levels of aggressive behaviour. As they observed participants into adulthood, Huesmann and Eron found that the ones who'd watch violent media as 8 year olds were more likely to be arrested and prosecuted for criminal acts as adults. It is also likely they will be less understanding of others' needs/feelings and feel more afraid of the environment. They may also be less sensitive to the pain and suffering of other individuals.
Many of the most popular video games, such as “Call of Duty” and “Grand Theft Auto,” are violent; however, as video game technology is relatively new, there are fewer empirical studies of video game violence than other forms of media violence. Still, several meta-analytic reviews have reported negative effects of exposure to violence in video games.
Other research has found that exposure to media violence can desensitize people to violence in the real world and that, for some people, watching violence in the media becomes enjoyable and does not result in the anxious arousal that would be expected from seeing such imagery.
There are many recommendations to ensure media/pop culture affects youth in more of a positive than negative way. It is recommended that both males and females aged 13-18 eat around 2-4 servings or dairy, 6 servings of grains, 8-11 servings of fruits and vegetables and 3-5 servings of meat&alternatives. It is also recommended that families explore the world of media together as well as criticize and analyze media viewings.
In conclusion, pop culture/media can have a negative effect on people of all ages. Media plays a significant part in the influence of body dissatisfaction and disordered eating due to pressure. Many people come across media images that display a desirable body image. Also, media and pop culture definitely affect the way that people eat. For example, most food advertised to children contain high levels of fat, calories, sodium and added sugar, but are low in the nutrients children need for healthy development. A study showed that adults who frequently watched violent media as children were more likely to be arrested and prosecuted.
