Body Image Task

Secret Eaters (series 3: episode 2)
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/secret-eaters/4od

This programme follows people all over Britain, and shows how their secret eating habits have caused them to gain weight. The presenter states that being in a relationship is the single biggest cause of weight gain. The start of the programme shows an older married couple from Essex, who want to find out why they have been putting on so much weight. They are a middle aged couple, and both state that the do not feel that they eat much, therefore, they do not understand why they have been putting on so much weight. They introduce the couple and show the woman in the kitchen cooking, and the man sitting on the sofa, this shows how their are creating stereotypes, and showing how this couple live up to the usual stereotypes given to men and women. 

This programme uses a lot of visual codes to help aid the problems it is addressing. This shot is used to first introduce the husband. The use of a close up on his stomach and thighs help to aid the point that this man is overweight, and they are showing how much weight he has put on through eating the junk food that he does. This show wants to address the issue of secret eating, and wants to shock the audience by showing just how much you weight you can put on, and how unhealthy the majority of the populations diet is. So by using close up camera angles such as this, the audience will realise how much of a problem excessive eating is, and how eating in this way can lead to looking like this. This programme appeals to the audience, as they know the audience will take certain uses and gratifications from it, for example, they may find is entertaining, or may find personal identity within the programme, by being able to relate to their problem. 

Masterchef (series 10: episode 1)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b03zdx14/MasterChef_Series_10_Episode_1/

This show presents body image in a very different way to secret eaters. although this show is not solely focused on the issue of excess eating, much like secret eaters was, it does discuss food and this programme presents body image indirectly. At the start of the programme we are introduced to the six contestants, all wanting to be crowned the winner, and straight away we are able to see that these people are of all shapes and sizes. Instead of talking directly about how eating is affecting body image, this programme presents body image, but displays it as being normal for people to be of different sizes. They are all competing for the same thing, and nobody has an advantage due to their weight.