Abstract
Introduction: Mass media plays a vital role in health communication. The target audience of mass media ranges from children, to geriatric population. Mass media often gives least priority to certain science topics for a variety of reasons, mostly to protect commercial interests. In this context, the present study is attempted to elicit teenagers understanding of diet and health-related content through mass media. Objectives: To study the influence of mass media content on teenagers. To analyze how teenagers are influenced by media messages on their diet and health-related behaviours. Methodology: Cross-sectional method with stratified random sampling consisting of 3 types of economic groups viz., lower-income, middle-income and higher income. Results and conclusion: Media content on diet and health-related behaviour motivates teenagers, particularly those messages laced with celebrities’ endorsements. Commercial food and beverage products endorsed by celebrities are being consumed by majority of teenagers. Majority teenagers say that, they tend to take one or other kind of physical fitness activity whenever they see a fit body of film actors/ actress and sportspersons in media.
Highlights
Mass media plays a vital role in health communication
Commercial food and beverage products endorsed by celebrities are being consumed by majority of teenagers
Among the diet and health related information appeared in media, commercial food advertisements are mostly watched by teenagers
Summary
Mass media plays a vital role in health communication. The target audience of mass media ranges from children, to geriatric population. Mass media often gives least priority to certain science topics for a variety of reasons, mostly to protect commercial interests. In this context, the present study is attempted to elicit teenagers understanding of diet and health-related content through mass media. Mass media plays a crucial role in health communication by disseminating information and knowledge on various aspects relevant to the target groups [1]. It should be considered as a tool that may influence behaviour of the community [2,3]. What if youth get media messages that tell them, "people will like you more if you have the perfect body" or "being perfect makes people like you”? How female teenagers would interpret these messages that the media is projecting?
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