A Fresh Look at Health Representation in Media

The entertainment industry is getting a wake-up call. A recent study revealed that people with health conditions are not well represented in TV and movies. This is a big deal because millions of Americans live with various diseases, and their stories aren't being told accurately. Imagine Entertainment and MACRO have joined forces with Eli Lilly to change this. They want to make sure that when health conditions are shown on screen, they are portrayed truthfully and with respect. This partnership aims to reduce the stigma around different conditions by showing real-life experiences. The study found some shocking things. For example, only 2. 8% of speaking characters in popular TV shows and films had obesity, even though nearly 40% of Americans live with it. And when these characters were shown, they were often portrayed negatively. Nearly half were depicted as "unlikable, " and many were shown in low-status jobs or as unemployed. This is far from the reality of many people living with obesity. Cancer portrayals are another issue. They often focus on the fear and sadness, ignoring the real-world survival rates and medical advancements. This can give viewers a skewed view of what living with cancer is really like. Eli Lilly, with the help of the study's findings, will work on taking action to improve this representation. Imagine Entertainment and MACRO are committed to telling stories that reflect the full range of human experiences, including those with health conditions. They believe that inclusive storytelling can make a big difference in how people see and understand different health conditions. The goal is to ensure that everyone, including people of color, sees their experiences reflected accurately and with dignity. This partnership is a step towards a more inclusive and realistic portrayal of health conditions in media. It's about time the entertainment industry started telling these important stories right.