Weight control content of women's magazines: bias and accuracy

In order to assess the quality of weight control information directed at women through popular magazines, 37 issues on newsstands in January, 1982, were examined. Issues selected included approximately equal numbers of the top sellers, diet and exercise magazines, and newly established women's magazines as well as a smaller number of 'teen' magazines. The 67 articles on weight control found were evaluated by three nutritionists using a semantic differential scale based on Allon's four areas of discrimination against obesity and a 14-item test for accuracy. The 'diet' magazines devoted the highest portion of pages to weight control information, followed by the teen, top-seller, and new woman magazines in that order. Almost one-third of the articles scored perfect on accuracy of the information included; 15 percent were judged uncertain or worse. The remainder were judged largely, but not completely accurate. Judges found the articles were slightly skewed toward the negative ends of the scales assessing bias. Only 11 percent of the articles were judged pessimistic regarding success in weight control. The accuracy of this optimism must be questioned. There were no differences in accuracy, bias, or optimism among the four types of magazines.