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Before you start any diet plan, you may want to change your TV watching schedule. A recent study published in the Journal of Consumer Research has some surprising findings.
This may seem like a strange thing to study, so bear with me. Basically, a recent study concluded TV shows like "CSI,""Law and Order" and "Cold Case" may make people fat.
Some TV critics are asking, "Huh?"
Scott Pierce said, "I just think this is so dumb. It just seems ridiculous."
Researchers from Arizona State University and The Netherlands say people who watch shows depicting murder are reminded of their own mortality. Then consumers, especially those with low self-esteem, become more prone to over-consume. Deseret News Television Editor Scott Pierce has seen a lot of these shows and never once has he thought, "I could die one day. I should stock up on munchies."
"I have seen I don't know how many serial killers and murderers. I don't think I've ever sat there and thought, 'Whoa. That could be me,'" he said.
He says, if anything, shows like this could make people nauseous, and after seeing one drama, he wonders if people could ever be hungry again.
"If you are still hungry after watching an episode of "Dexter," which, of course, appears on Showtime so it has gallons of blood, then I would believe this study," he said.
The study says over-consumption stems from "heightened self-awareness," where people think about their lives. For people with low self-esteem, this is bad, so they buy things to escape self-awareness. Advertisers like Richter 7 Partner Peggy Lander say that makes some sense.
"Having food in your home and being able to go into your kitchen and make yourself something when something has been disturbing on TV makes you feel better. Food is comfort," she said.
Lander says advertisers who promote grocery stores or restaurants might focus their ads on murder shows.
"It depends on the restaurant. If it's upscale and if that's your audience. If it's a family restaurant, you probably wouldn't advertise a family restaurant on a crime show," she said.
TV critics say the number of crime dramas is comparable to last season, so the fall lineup won't be any more fattening than before.
E-mail: pnelson@ksl.com
