title: Promoting weight loss methods in parenting magazines: Implications for women.
abstract: Weight gain before and after pregnancy is important for women's health. The purpose of this study was to assess articles and advertisements related to weight loss in three widely read parenting magazines, "Parenting School Years," "Parenting Early Years," and "Parenting," which have an estimated combined readership of approximately 24 million (mainly women readers). Almost a quarter (23.7%, n = 32) of the 135 magazine issues over a four year period included at least one feature article on weight loss. A variety of topics were covered in the featured articles, with the most frequent topics being on losing weight to please yourself (25.2%), healthy ways to lose weight (21.1%), and how to keep the weight off (14.7%). Less than half (45.9%) of the articles displayed author credentials, such as their degree, qualifications, or expertise. A fifth (20.0%, n = 27) of the magazines included at least one prominent advertisement for weight loss products. Almost half (46.9%) of the weight loss advertisements were for weight loss programs followed by weight loss food products (25.0%), weight loss aids (21.9%), and only 6.2% of the advertisements for weight loss were on fitness. Parenting magazines should advocate for healthy weight loss, including lifestyle changes for sustained health.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Public Health , William Paterson University , Wayne , New Jersey , USA.
authors.forename: Corey H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Basch
authors.affiliation: b Department of Health and Behavior Studies, Teachers College , Columbia University , New York , New York , USA.
authors.forename: Katherine J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.affiliation: a Department of Public Health , William Paterson University , Wayne , New Jersey , USA.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Samayoa-Kozlowsky
authors.affiliation: c Department of Health and Physical Education , York College of The City University of New York , New York , New York , USA.
authors.forename: Debra B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Glaser
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000329:Advertising / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001835:Body Weight; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D016487:Parenting; D010506:Periodicals as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015431:Weight Loss; D016387:Women's Health
keywords: advertisements; magazines; obesity; parenting; postpartum