Overweight UK teens are being shipped down under to participate in a new reality show, “Fat Teens Can't Hunt.â€
The show will follow 10 British boys and girls aged 16 to 19 as they hunt for their own food. The only nourishment they'll receive is from the animals they catch and the vegetation (“bush tuckerâ€) they gather.
The show, which has been described as “Survivor†meets “The Biggest Loserâ€, will be filmed in the Australian outback. The teens will learn to live in Aboriginal communities, learning traditional ways of life and survival from the native Australians.
Produced by the same company as “Big Brotherâ€, the show is aimed at targeting the obesity epidemic. The show's producer, Bridget Sneyd, is concerned about the growing waistlines of UK teens and hopes the show will help fight this weighty issue.
“Britain has the fattest teenagers in Europe with one in three overweight or obese. Doctors warn that if we don't tackle this problem, generations of kids face a drastic reduction in the quality and longevity of their lives,†she said.
The show may be successful, but some UK nutritionists are voicing their concerns that the show will psychologically damage the teens. They stress that public humiliation is not the way and suggest that parents of overweight teens provide good nourishment in the home, not blame them, or make them feel ashamed of themselves.
Tune in to find out how the show unfolds, watch the teens fend for themselves in the outback, and stay tuned to find out if their weight boomerangs when they return home. Filming starts this August.
Fat Teens Can't Hunt
New Aussie Reality Show
Trend Themes
1. Bush Tucker Food Trend - There is an opportunity to promote the consumption of unique food items present in the Australian outback, commonly known as bush tucker food.
2. Survival Learning Trend - Opportunity to promote learning survival skills and living in the wild in a structured way that can help in fighting obesity as well.
3. Reality TV for Educational and Social Gains Trend - There is an opportunity for new reality shows that combine entertainment and learning for educational and social gains in society.
Industry Implications
1. Food and Beverage Industry - Industry leaders can leverage the trend towards bush tucker foods by promoting unique Australian outback ingredients in their products.
2. Fitness and Health Coaching Industry - Fitness and health coaches can promote survival learning and living in the wild as a fun and engaging way of fighting obesity while acquiring new skills.
3. Entertainment and Media Industry - The industry can take innovative initiatives to produce reality shows that combine both entertainment and education as well as social benefits.