How Could Reality TV Shows Like Too Hot to Handle Promote Body Insecurity?

 Photo of Too Hot to Handle cast member from US.Weekly

Reality television shows and the media, in general, frequently depict idealized or cosmetically changed bodies in three dimensions, offering audiences a clear idea of what types of physiques are acceptable. An example of these reality tv shows is Netflix’s popular reality show Too Hot to Handle. The show has little to no body diversity. More inclusivity and body diversity in these shows are needed, and the media to demonstrate the representation of all body types. Trigger Warning: This article will discuss sensitive topics such as eating disorders.

Shay Neary (@watchshayslay on Instagram) the first Transgender Plus-Size Model to land a major fashion campaign.

In an interview with Shay Neary (@watchshayslay on Instagram), the first Transgender Plus-Size Model to land a major fashion campaign, we discussed why it is essential to love yourself. We also talked about how to care about what you think of yourself first before what anyone else thinks and that “being sexy and hot” isn’t everything. There is more to life and us as people. 

  Photo of Too Hot to Handle cast from US.Weekly

How could reality tv shows like Too Hot to Handle promote body insecurity? 

The popular Netflix reality show Too Hot to Handle is about 10 “hot” singles that are notorious commitment-phobes in relationships. They are put in a tropical villa together for what they expect will be a 4-week vacation to have sex. Even the title “Too Hot to Handle” implies that the cast, where the men are perfectly ripped and the women are fit with slim bodies, are deemed hot. In all four seasons of the show, no other body types besides the ideal lean physique for women and buff figure for men were shown. 

Photo from Pexels.com. 

According to Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations, and Projects: “Research has shown that increased exposure to thin images in the media is associated with higher body dissatisfaction and eating disorder features. A form of media that has been given little research attention is reality television, specifically appearance-based reality television.” 

Many Americans are unhappy with their body image. Some of that unhappiness can stem from the underrepresentation of different body types in the media and people comparing their bodies to what they see being shown. According to Ipsos, “In America, 83% of women and 74% of men are unhappy with some aspects of their body.” 

Is there a way to help people from feeling insecure and comparing themselves with other people’s bodies?

Being sexy isn’t everything. As humans, we tend to value what other people think of us. But there comes a point where we as people have to take account of the opinions that matter and those that don’t. As Shay Neary states: “Don’t believe the media don’t believe that you need to be something else. Accept you for you. We’re not dolls. We’re not inanimate objects.” 

Photo from Pexels.com. 

As the National Library of Medicine explains: “Researchers have hypothesized that eating disorder symptoms may result from maladaptive social comparisons related to appearance. Females who compare their appearance to others too frequently are likely to experience body dissatisfaction and disordered eating. In support of this hypothesis, Tiggemann has found that adolescent boys and girls who reported spending more time watching television programs featuring attractive actors and actresses demonstrated an increased desire to be thin, purportedly due to an increased level of social comparison to attractive media icons.” 

According to Ipsos, “Roughly one in ten would consider consuming weight-loss pills (14%), committing to a severely restricted diet (12%), skipping meals (11%), and undergoing liposuction/fat reduction (10%) to achieve their perfect body, while another 10% would be willing to do anything that wouldn’t kill them. Americans are not as willing to undergo cosmetic surgery (7%), consume laxatives (4%), and purge/throw up after eating (1%).” 

What is some advice for those who may not fully love or embrace themselves yet? 

Photo from Pexels.com. 

Shay Neary recommends: “I would say that the things you hate about yourself are probably the least important things about you. One day, I looked in the mirror and saw myself laughing, and I thought, I’m so happy; I’m so beautiful. We don’t have to alter ourselves to make us happy; we don’t have to manufacture it.” 

Reality TV shows should evolve by including more cast members of various body types and showing that different body types can be considered “hot.” Constantly seeing one body type praised on tv shows and in the media can cause an effect in our brains that tells us we’re not attractive if we don’t look like those people; everyone is beautiful in their way, and as Shay Neary mentioned, there is more to us than looks and other qualities about us that make us attractive.