TV cooking shows can be fun to watch, showcasing amazing skills and creative recipes. Rhonda, who works at a cooking network, said, “Our viewers enjoy our programs like they’re magic shows or travel shows, not just for meal ideas.” However, research shows that not everyone is affected the same way. Studies have found that people who watch cooking shows may end up weighing more. Two main groups of viewers exist: "viewers" and "doers." Viewers are mostly women who watch the shows, while doers actually try the recipes. The viewers tend to weigh more than those who don’t watch cooking shows, but the doers weigh even more—about 11 pounds more than the viewers! TV executives believe shows featuring extreme or fancy foods are for fun and entertainment, not necessarily meant to promote healthy eating. They think people watch these shows for the excitement and laughter, similar to competitive games or travel shows. Popular shows like "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" and "Chopped" focus more on interesting stories and characters than on teaching basic cooking skills. Rhonda also notes that audiences don’t see TV chefs as nutrition experts. Some health experts think that watching cooking shows can make people feel hungrier, leading them to eat more than they would if they weren't watching. Research from Cornell University found that people who cook and eat the high-fat, high-calorie recipes from these shows often weigh more than those who don’t. What do you think about this?
