Who embodies the obesity “epidemic”?
Shifting representation in Spanish news media across two decades
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.20318/recs.2026.10177Keywords:
Obesity, media, images, representation, stigmaAbstract
Introduction: This study analyses media coverage of obesity in the Spanish press from a visual perspective, examining not only how obesity is framed as an epidemic but also how bodies associated with this issue are represented in two periods (2000–2005 and 2015–2020). Methodology: A content analysis was conducted on a sample of 149 news items published in the Spanish press across both periods. The study coded the characteristics of individuals depicted in images, considering gender, age, body type and associated activities. Results: Findings indicate that while the first period shows a balanced representation of men and women, the second period features a higher presence of men, particularly adult men. Although some progress in visual diversity is observed, imagery remains largely stigmatising, especially due to the persistence of the “headless fatty” trope. A paradoxical pattern also emerges: activities linked to negative stereotypes about fatness are more frequently portrayed through normal-weight bodies than fat bodies. Conclusions: Visual coverage functions not merely as illustration but as a normative device reproducing stereotypes and reinforcing stigmatising discourses about body, health and individual responsibility.
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