There is an uncomfortable truth about kids' movies. For all their shiny cartoon cuteness, catchy tunes and lovable characters, they are sending mixed messages to the very youngsters they seek to entertain, say researchers from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Would you allow your child to tease someone with names like "fatty ratty," or make fun of a chum with names like "fat butt," or comment on their "ridiculous belly"?
Probably not, but according to the dialogue of many movies - these comments come from Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakuel and Kung Fu Panda - this way of communicating is perfectly acceptable.
It seems that political correctness has not trickled down to the cartoon kingdom. Insults, violence and unhealthy choices abound in the world of bright colors and squeaky voices. But researchers have shown that even live action films are guilty of PC indiscretions.
Dr. Eliana M. Perrin, associate professor of pediatrics in the University of North Carolina (UNC) School of Medicine and corresponding author of the study, which is published in the journal Obesity, examined the world of popular kids' movies released in the US between 2006 and 2010.
For the study, Dr. Perrin and colleagues examined 20 top grossing G- and PG-rated films, selecting four from each year studied. They analyzed segments from each movie, looking for messages that relate to lifestyle options, particularly those concerning obesity prevention information and the prevalence of weight stigma.
She explains:
"These children's movies offer a discordant presentation about food, exercise and weight status, glamorizing unhealthy eating and sedentary behavior yet condemning obesity itself."
The American Academy of Pediatrics' Recommendations for Prevention of Childhood Obesity states that today's children have a shorter life expectancy than their parents, thanks to the threat of obesity.
No comments:
Post a Comment