How Healthy is Prime Time? An Analysis of Health Content in Popular Prime Time Television Programs


 

Publication Date: September 2008

Publisher: Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation

Author(s):

Research Area: Health; Media, telecommunications, and information

Type: Report

Coverage: United States

Abstract:

The Foundation and the USC Annenberg Norman Lear Center’s Hollywood, Health & Society examined three seasons (2004-2006) of top-ten-rated prime time scripted shows to measure the prevalence of health content on entertainment shows and to categorize the type of health content on prime time television. The analysis reveals that an average of six out of ten episodes (59%) had at least one health storyline.