Media stories about celebrities leading healthy lives could cause women to change their own habits, for example by encouraging them to exercise more in their gym clothing, recent research has suggested.

Amanda Hinnant, assistant professor of magazine journalism in the University of Missouri's School of Journalism, held focus groups in which celebrity health news stories were discussed.

She found that, after a person reads a general health news story, they tend to seek out interpersonal advice from a friend or family member before changing their own health behaviours.

However, when celebrity health stories are read, this advice is not sought and the individuals make their own decisions to change their health habits.

"The presence of a celebrity in a health story could serve as that interpersonal contact for the reader," Ms Hinnant explained.

Last month, research conducted by the University of Michigan Cardiovascular Center suggested that the advice patients gain from their GPs about dieting and exercise can be affected by their doctor's own personal habits.

Posted by Tina Wilson ADNFCR-2569-ID-800126017-ADNFCR

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