Media use and information needs of the disabled during a natural disaster.

This study examined differences in evacuation, crisis preparation, information-seeking patterns, and media use among the communities of disabled and non-disabled evacuees in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Surveys were collected from 554 Katrina evacuees temporarily relocated in different areas of the United States. Results indicate differences in crisis preparation and evacuation plans, with disabled subpopulations being more likely to prepare emergency supplies but less likely to have an evacuation plan.

Portrayals of overweight and obese individuals on commercial television.

Objectives: This study examined the distribution and individual characteristics of body types on prime-time television.

Methods: Five episodes of each of the 10 top-rated prime-time fictional programs on 6 broadcast networks during the 1999-2000 season were quantitatively analyzed.

Results: Of 1018 major television characters, 14% of females and 24% of males were overweight or obese, less than half their percentages in the general population.