Health

Alcohol, tobacco, and junk food common on reality TV shows

A new paper in the Journal of Public Health, published by Oxford University Press, indicates that alcohol and tobacco products, in addition to foods high in sugar and fat, appear frequently in reality TV programs.

Psychology & Psychiatry

The reality of watching reality TV

(HealthDay)—When it comes to analyzing the effects of watching reality TV, well, it's complicated. While some see these shows as a brief escape from daily life, they can have negative effects on some viewers, including ...

Overweight & Obesity

The Biggest Loser a big turnoff

The Biggest Loser might be a TV ratings winner, but its extreme depiction of exercise is more likely to turn people off than get them off the couch, according to new research from the University of Alberta.

Psychology & Psychiatry

Social acceptance and rejection: The sweet and the bitter

For proof that rejection, exclusion, and acceptance are central to our lives, look no farther than the living room, says Nathan Dewall, a psychologist at the University of Kentucky. "If you turn on the television set, and ...