Mechanisms of influence for weight loss in popular women’s health media: a content analysis of health and fitness magazines

ABSTRACT

The present study identifies persuasive message variables from social cognitive and persuasion theories in top-selling women’s health and fitness magazines. Findings from a content analysis of articles (n = 240) reveal that message efficacy, evidence types (narrative and statistical), and issue-relevant sources were widespread throughout the sample with at least one persuasive element appearing in 84% of the articles examined. Results suggest magazine messages may be instilling false confidence in one’s ability to achieve unattainable results through impractical strategies and time periods. The current study informs health message design by defining and operationalizing intrinsic message properties representing theoretical constructs central to health-behavior change.

KEYWORDS:

• Persuasive communication
• health behavior
• women’s health
• weight loss
• intrinsic message properties

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Ethics approval

This study did not involve human subjects and therefore did not require ethics review.

Notes on contributors

Melanie A. Sarge earned her PhD in Communication from The Ohio State University. She is currently an Assistant Professor in the College of Media and Communication at Texas Tech University.

Silvia Knobloch-Westerwick earned her PhD in Communication from the University of Music, Drama, & Media in Hannover, Germany. She is a Professor in the School of Communication at The Ohio State University.