Table 1 Media framing of obesity
Frame | Description | Articles n (%) |
|---|---|---|
Structural determinants | • Obesogenic environments, external/extrinsic factors and/or structural determinants represented as causes/solutions of obesity • Indigenous Australians identified as not lacking motivation to be healthy; framed as facing many hurdles/challenges beyond their control preventing them from being healthy | 17 (45) |
‘Good news’ stories | • Positive stories reporting on donations, or successful programs, trials or studies • Promoting efforts of governments (state, local) or other organisations | 15 (40) |
‘Lifestyle’ issue | • ‘Lifestyle’ identified or alluded to as the solution to Indigenous obesity • Most common suggestions were dietary changes and increasing physical activity/exercise | 12 (32) |
Risk factor of other diseases | • Obesity identified as a risk factor or cause of other diseases (e.g. diabetes, cancer, kidney disease) • Some articles used emotive, sensationalising or alarmist language, and/or statistics to emphasise frame | 12 (32) |
Willpower and determination | • Obesity framed as an individual issue and a matter of choice • Willpower presented as the only prerequisite to overcome obesity; and that it is lacking • Frame conversely applied to laud individuals/communities for successfully ‘taking control’; framed as possessing such a strong desire to resolve obesity that they defied the odds and succeeded | 7 (18) |
Statistics | • Statistics used to bolster message of article and frequently highlighted with language features; often described as ‘alarming’ • Indigenous obesity represented as an important issue, however the small number of articles published did not reflect this importance | 5 (13) |
Working together | • Focus on multi-sectoral approaches to addressing Indigenous obesity • Highlighted governments, organisations, or study/trial coordinators working with local communities; or individuals within communities working together | 5 (13) |
Back to basics | • Focus on simple, commonsense ‘lifestyle’ changes, food and nutrition, preparing healthy meals, and increasing physical activity • Included encouragement to return to traditional roots and lifestyle | 4 (11) |
Benefits of weight loss | • Positive results of weight loss or ‘lifestyle’ change highlighted • Success stories featuring emotive language to emotionally draw-in reader and emphasise benefits (e.g. social, psychological, etc.) experienced by individuals | 4 (11) |
Surgery solution | • Lap-band surgery represented as the solution to obesity; identified as a simple yet effective solution with very positive results • Also included a contested representation where both benefits and risks/concerns were raised | 3 (8) |
The saviour | • Individuals represented as rescuing Indigenous communities from obesity through financial or other support; portrayed as significantly contributing to addressing Indigenous obesity | 2 (5) |
Race | • Included both positive and negative representations of the racial frame; race identified as both a source of pride and the cause of ill-treatment | 2 (5) |