Becker et al (2002)

• Becker et al (2002) - eating behaviours and attitudes following prolonged exposure to TV among ethnic Fijian adolescent girls
• Up until 1995 there was no TV in Fiji. When television was introduced a mix of British and American TV shows were broadcast such as Friends.
• The beauty standard for Fijian women was larger body types as they were seen as stronger whilst slimmer bodies were viewed as weaker.
• Becker has noticed there was nearly no eating disorders in Fiji and wanted to study if exposure to western TV shows would trigger disordered eating patterns.
• The study used an independent groups design with two groups of girls. One sample was from 1995 and the second sample was from 1998.
• Qualitative data was gathered through semi-structured interviews on self image, attitudes, purging, body image, beauty and diet.
• The EAT-26 questionnaire was used to measure eating behaviours and attitudes.
• 1998 - three years after the introduction of television.
• Data was gathered through a questionnaire and semi-structured interviews
• A translator was on hand during the interviews to explain any cultural misunderstandings to the girls.
• In the interview the girls height and weight was measured
• There were 63 girls in the 1995 group
• There were 65 girls in the 1998 group
• The girls used in the study has an average age of 16 and were fluent English speakers from 2 secondary schools in Fiji.
• Written consent was given by the student and guardian for them to take part in the study.
• The 1998 group was asked more detailed questions:

  • Do your parents ever say you should eat more?
  • Do you ever think you should eat less?
  • Have you ever tried to change your diet in order to change your weight?
• Weight didn't very much across the 1995 and 1998 group
• The average BMI was 24.5 in 1995 and 24.9 in 1998
• The number of girls using vomiting to control their weight went from 0% to 11%
• TV viewing increased - 41% had a TV in 1995 and 71% had a TV in 1998
• Becker did a chi-squared test and found the results to be significant at p<0.001 level of probability
• 12.7% had an EAT-26 score of over 20 in 1995 compare to 29.2% in 1998
• 1995 - none of the girls used purging to control their weight
• 1998 - 11.3% reported having used purging to control their weight
• Dieting was not a part of Fijian culture however in 1998 69% of the girls reported they had dieted at some point
• 1998 - 74% reported they felt to big or fat and 83% felt that TV was an influence on weight and body image
• Qualitative data gathered showed an admiration for TV characters and a desire to be like them in terms of hair, clothes and body shape
• Becker concluded that western TV characters act as role models for Fijian girls. The girls felt a pressure to imitate the slim shape of actors and model even if it went against their traditional culture.
• The qualitative data gathered suggested that the girls didn't understand the unreal nature of media - e.g. actors loosing weight for roles
• Becker concluded that TV bought an interest of dieting and the first symptoms of eating disorders that were not present in Fiji before the introduction of TV.
• The sample of girls used was only 128 and may not have been representative of the whole population of 85,000.
• The study has a high ecological validity as it observes a naturally occurring event.