In this paper I interrogate one of the seldom examined resources that children and adults alike have
available to draw on when trying to make sense of obesity imperatives - reality television. I offer a brief
analysis of the key messages, strategies and affects evident in two New Zealand fat-busing programmes
- 'Downsize Me' and 'Eat Yourself Whole'. I conclude by suggesting that these programmes, troubling
as they are, may well be regarded as a powerful pedagogical resource for teachers who are trying to
engage their students in socially critical enquiry around bodies, health and weight.