BodyLove
Encyclopedia
BodyLove is a radio soap opera
in which the characters face common health
problems and attempt to deal with them using practical solutions and healthier eating
. Billed as "the soap opera that's good for you", BodyLove uses fictional drama to reach African American
listeners with messages that promote healthy lifestyles. The program is based upon the principles of "entertainment-education" that have been recommended for reaching audiences not reached by traditional health education
and health promotion messages.
The show is aimed at an African American
audience which struggles with many of these health problems in disproportionate numbers. (For example, the diabetes death rate for blacks is more than double that for whites.) Betsy Hunter, executive director of the non-profit Media for Health, told The Birmingham News, "If you can't entertain, you can't possibly change health behavior."
, beauty salon
called "BodyLove". BodyLove focuses on the family of Vanessa Love, an African American
woman in early middle-age who owns the salon and struggles with issues of diet, high blood pressure, weight gain, substance abuse
, stress, and death. Vanessa is also raising three children with little help from her husband, a recovering alcoholic. The characters make progress through modest lifestyle changes.
. The show began in 2002 as a single 10-episode series on Birmingham
station WJLD
(1400 AM). It quickly expanded in scope and affiliate coverage to a multi-year saga heard in all of Alabama
's population centers.
The first 80 episodes of BodyLove aired across the state of Alabama
in four 20-episode seasons between 2003 and 2007. After a fundraising break, Kohler and her partners resumed writing and producing new episodes, which began airing in late 2008 after local stations cycled through reruns of the earlier seasons. The show's episodes were written by UAB faculty and UAB students in screen-writing classes taught by Lee Shackleford.
BodyLove is currently a project of Media for Health and the UAB School of Public Health. Media for Health is a private non-profit organization
formed in September 2006 to produce, promote, and distribute BodyLove. Funding for BodyLove is provided by local and national charitable foundations, in partnership with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Local Initiative Funding Partners Program.
in Marion, Alabama
, the program is hosted locally by registered nurse Frances Ford who bookends the show with a listener call-in show offering advice, support, and "practical steps to better health". Since nearly one-third of Perry County
residents live in poverty, Ford tailors her on-air nutrition tips to suit local budgets. On WJJN
in Dothan, Alabama
, the call-in program following each episode is hosted by Dr. Harriett Searcy, medical director at the Alfred Saliba Family Services Center's Family Health Clinic.
and WEUV
in Huntsville
, WHBB
in Selma
, WHIY
in Moulton
, WJDB
in Thomasville
, WJJN
in Dothan
, WJLD
in Birmingham
, WJUS
in Marion
, WMFC
in Monroeville
, WRJX
in Jackson
, WSYA
in Anniston
, WTLS in Tallassee
, WTSK
in Tuscaloosa
, WVAS
in Montgomery
, and WZZA
in Tuscumbia
. The show is also carried by stations in Atlanta, Georgia
, Jackson, Mississippi
, and Port St. Lucie, Florida
.
Off the air, the episodes can be streamed online from the website of WBHJ
in Birmingham, Alabama.
. That series is set to air on radio stations in urban areas with large African American populations and will be funded in part by the National Institutes of Health
.
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
in which the characters face common health
Health
Health is the level of functional or metabolic efficiency of a living being. In humans, it is the general condition of a person's mind, body and spirit, usually meaning to be free from illness, injury or pain...
problems and attempt to deal with them using practical solutions and healthier eating
Healthy diet
A healthy diet is one that helps maintain or improve general health. It is important for lowering many chronic health risks, such as obesity, heart disease, diabetes, hypertension and cancer. A healthy diet involves consuming appropriate amounts of all essential nutrients and an adequate amount of...
. Billed as "the soap opera that's good for you", BodyLove uses fictional drama to reach African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
listeners with messages that promote healthy lifestyles. The program is based upon the principles of "entertainment-education" that have been recommended for reaching audiences not reached by traditional health education
Health education
Health education is the profession of educating people about health. Areas within this profession encompass environmental health, physical health, social health, emotional health, intellectual health, and spiritual health...
and health promotion messages.
The show is aimed at an African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
audience which struggles with many of these health problems in disproportionate numbers. (For example, the diabetes death rate for blacks is more than double that for whites.) Betsy Hunter, executive director of the non-profit Media for Health, told The Birmingham News, "If you can't entertain, you can't possibly change health behavior."
Summary
In each weekly 15-minute episode, characters deal with a variety of health problems while trying to navigate personal relationships and deal with strains both financial and emotional. The drama revolves around characters who work and spend their time at a fictitious Birmingham, AlabamaBirmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
, beauty salon
Beauty salon
A beauty salon or beauty parlor is an establishment dealing with cosmetic treatments for men and women...
called "BodyLove". BodyLove focuses on the family of Vanessa Love, an African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
woman in early middle-age who owns the salon and struggles with issues of diet, high blood pressure, weight gain, substance abuse
Substance abuse
A substance-related disorder is an umbrella term used to describe several different conditions associated with several different substances .A substance related disorder is a condition in which an individual uses or abuses a...
, stress, and death. Vanessa is also raising three children with little help from her husband, a recovering alcoholic. The characters make progress through modest lifestyle changes.
History
BodyLove was created by Dr. Connie Kohler, a public-health professor at the University of Alabama at BirminghamUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham
The University of Alabama at Birmingham is a public university in Birmingham in the U.S. state of Alabama. Developing from an extension center established in 1936, the institution became an autonomous institution in 1969 and is today one of three institutions in the University of Alabama System...
. The show began in 2002 as a single 10-episode series on Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
station WJLD
WJLD
WJLD is a radio station licensed to Fairfield, Alabama, that serves most of the Birmingham metropolitan area. The station offers talk and music programming targeted towards African-American listeners, including a mixture of locally originated talk programming and urban oldies music. The station...
(1400 AM). It quickly expanded in scope and affiliate coverage to a multi-year saga heard in all of Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
's population centers.
The first 80 episodes of BodyLove aired across the state of Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
in four 20-episode seasons between 2003 and 2007. After a fundraising break, Kohler and her partners resumed writing and producing new episodes, which began airing in late 2008 after local stations cycled through reruns of the earlier seasons. The show's episodes were written by UAB faculty and UAB students in screen-writing classes taught by Lee Shackleford.
BodyLove is currently a project of Media for Health and the UAB School of Public Health. Media for Health is a private non-profit organization
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
formed in September 2006 to produce, promote, and distribute BodyLove. Funding for BodyLove is provided by local and national charitable foundations, in partnership with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Local Initiative Funding Partners Program.
Presentation
On most affiliate stations, each episode is followed by a 45-minute talk period where listeners may speak to local health experts and get information about local health resources. For example, on WJUSWJUS
WJUS is a radio station licensed to serve Marion, Alabama. The station is owned by Grace Baptist Temple Church of Selma, Alabama. WJUS is the only AM radio station licensed to the city of Marion.-Programming:...
in Marion, Alabama
Marion, Alabama
Marion is the county seat of Perry County, Alabama. As of the 2000 census, the population of the city is 3,511. First called Muckle Ridge, the city was renamed after a hero of the American Revolution, Francis Marion.-Geography:...
, the program is hosted locally by registered nurse Frances Ford who bookends the show with a listener call-in show offering advice, support, and "practical steps to better health". Since nearly one-third of Perry County
Perry County, Alabama
Perry County is a county of the U.S. state of Alabama. It was established in 1819, and is named in honor of Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry of Rhode Island and the United States Navy. As of 2010 the population was 10,591...
residents live in poverty, Ford tailors her on-air nutrition tips to suit local budgets. On WJJN
WJJN (FM)
WJJN is a radio station licensed to serve Columbia, Alabama, USA. The station is owned by Wilson Broadcasting Co., Inc....
in Dothan, Alabama
Dothan, Alabama
Dothan is a city located in the southeastern corner of the US state of Alabama, situated approximately west of the Georgia state line and north of Florida. It is the seat of Houston County, with portions extending into nearby Dale County and Henry County...
, the call-in program following each episode is hosted by Dr. Harriett Searcy, medical director at the Alfred Saliba Family Services Center's Family Health Clinic.
Affiliates
Stations in Alabama that have broadcast BodyLove include WEUP-FMWEUP-FM
-External links:*...
and WEUV
WEUV
WEUV is an urban contemporary gospel formatted radio station licensed to Moulton, Alabama, that serves Huntsville, Alabama, and northwest Alabama, United States.Its programming is a simulcast of sister station WEUP...
in Huntsville
Huntsville, Alabama
Huntsville is a city located primarily in Madison County in the central part of the far northern region of the U.S. state of Alabama. Huntsville is the county seat of Madison County. The city extends west into neighboring Limestone County. Huntsville's population was 180,105 as of the 2010 Census....
, WHBB
WHBB
WHBB is a radio station licensed to serve Selma, Alabama, USA. The station is owned by Broadsouth Communications, Inc. WHBB serves the greater Central Alabama region with a 1,000 watt signal at 1490 kHz.-Programming:...
in Selma
Selma, Alabama
Selma is a city in and the county seat of Dallas County, Alabama, United States, located on the banks of the Alabama River. The population was 20,512 at the 2000 census....
, WHIY
WHIY
WHIY is an Urban oldies and Blues music formatted radio station that serves Huntsville, Alabama, and the majority of the Tennessee Valley in north Alabama, United States....
in Moulton
Moulton, Alabama
Moulton is a city in Lawrence County, Alabama, and is included in the Decatur Metropolitan Area, as well as the Huntsville-Decatur Combined Statistical Area. As of the 2000 census, the population of the city is 3,260. The city is the county seat of Lawrence County.-Geography:Moulton is located at ...
, WJDB
WJDB (AM)
WJDB is a radio station licensed to serve Thomasville, Alabama. The station, the only AM station licensed to Thomasville, is owned by Griffin Broadcasting Corporation...
in Thomasville
Thomasville, Alabama
Thomasville is a city in Clarke County, Alabama, United States. At the 2010 census the population was 4,209. Founded as a late 19th century railroad town, it has transitioned over the course of more than a century into a 21st century commercial hub...
, WJJN
WJJN (FM)
WJJN is a radio station licensed to serve Columbia, Alabama, USA. The station is owned by Wilson Broadcasting Co., Inc....
in Dothan
Dothan, Alabama
Dothan is a city located in the southeastern corner of the US state of Alabama, situated approximately west of the Georgia state line and north of Florida. It is the seat of Houston County, with portions extending into nearby Dale County and Henry County...
, WJLD
WJLD
WJLD is a radio station licensed to Fairfield, Alabama, that serves most of the Birmingham metropolitan area. The station offers talk and music programming targeted towards African-American listeners, including a mixture of locally originated talk programming and urban oldies music. The station...
in Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
, WJUS
WJUS
WJUS is a radio station licensed to serve Marion, Alabama. The station is owned by Grace Baptist Temple Church of Selma, Alabama. WJUS is the only AM radio station licensed to the city of Marion.-Programming:...
in Marion
Marion, Alabama
Marion is the county seat of Perry County, Alabama. As of the 2000 census, the population of the city is 3,511. First called Muckle Ridge, the city was renamed after a hero of the American Revolution, Francis Marion.-Geography:...
, WMFC
WMFC (AM)
WMFC was a daytime-only AM broadcasting station on 1360 kHz at Monroeville, Alabama, USA. The station, launched in 1952, was owned by Monroe Broadcasting Company, Inc., and was last managed by David Stewart. It was a sister station to WMFC-FM.-History:...
in Monroeville
Monroeville, Alabama
Monroeville is a city in Monroe County, Alabama, United States, the county seat of Monroe County. At the 2000 census its population was 6,862. It is known as the home town of two prominent writers of the post World War II period, Truman Capote and Harper Lee, who were childhood friends in the...
, WRJX
WRJX
WRJX is a radio station licensed to serve Jackson, Alabama. The station is owned by Capital Assets, Inc. It airs an Adult Standards music format....
in Jackson
Jackson, Alabama
Jackson is a city in Clarke County, Alabama, United States. The population was 5,228 at the 2010 census. It is one of three wet settlements in an otherwise-dry county.-Geography:Jackson is located at coordinates . According to the U.S...
, WSYA
WGBZ
WSNQ is an American radio station licensed to serve Cape May Court House, New Jersey, USA. The station is owned by Equity Communications, L.P.WSNQ is currently a simulcast of sister station WZBZ, "99.3 KissFM"...
in Anniston
Anniston, Alabama
Anniston is a city in Calhoun County in the state of Alabama, United States.As of the 2000 census, the population of the city is 24,276. According to the 2005 U.S. Census estimates, the city had a population of 23,741...
, WTLS in Tallassee
Tallassee, Alabama
Tallassee is a city on the Tallapoosa River, located in both Elmore and Tallapoosa counties in the U.S. state of Alabama. At the 2000 census the population was 4,934...
, WTSK
WTSK
WTSK is a radio station serving the Tuscaloosa, Alabama, area with a Gospel music format. It is under ownership of Cumulus Media.In February 2005, Apex Broadcasting Inc. WTSK (790 AM, "The Truth 790 AM") is a radio station serving the Tuscaloosa, Alabama, area with a Gospel music format. It is...
in Tuscaloosa
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Tuscaloosa is a city in and the seat of Tuscaloosa County in west central Alabama . Located on the Black Warrior River, it is the fifth-largest city in Alabama, with a population of 90,468 in 2010...
, WVAS
WVAS
WVAS is a jazz-music formatted radio station in the Montgomery, Alabama, market licensed to the Alabama State University. WVAS is a member-supported non-commercial, educational station featuring news and other programming from National Public Radio and Public Radio International.WVAS began...
in Montgomery
Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery is the capital of the U.S. state of Alabama, and is the county seat of Montgomery County. It is located on the Alabama River southeast of the center of the state, in the Gulf Coastal Plain. As of the 2010 census, Montgomery had a population of 205,764 making it the second-largest city...
, and WZZA
WZZA
WZZA is a radio station licensed to serve Tuscumbia, Alabama. The station is owned by Muscle Shoals Broadcasting, Inc. It airs an Urban contemporary music format....
in Tuscumbia
Tuscumbia, Alabama
Tuscumbia is a city in and the county seat of Colbert County, Alabama, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 8,423 and is included in The Shoals MSA....
. The show is also carried by stations in Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
, Jackson, Mississippi
Jackson, Mississippi
Jackson is the capital and the most populous city of the US state of Mississippi. It is one of two county seats of Hinds County ,. The population of the city declined from 184,256 at the 2000 census to 173,514 at the 2010 census...
, and Port St. Lucie, Florida
Port St. Lucie, Florida
Port St. Lucie is a city in St. Lucie County, Florida, United States. The population of Port St. Lucie was 88,769 at the 2000 census but grew rapidly during the 2000s. In 2009 the State of Florida estimated the City's population at 155,251. Port St. Lucie forms part of a metropolitan area called...
.
Off the air, the episodes can be streamed online from the website of WBHJ
WBHJ
WBHJ is a urban-leaning rhythmic-formatted radio station that serves Birmingham, Alabama. In 2005, it also began broadcasting in IBOC digital radio, using the HD Radio system from iBiquity. It is owned by Cox Radio Holdings along with six other stations in the market...
in Birmingham, Alabama.
Cast
The cast, which includes professional and amateur actors, performs under the direction of the chairman of the University of Alabama at Birmingham's theater department. Listed alphabetically by character name:- Fadelia ... Cheryl Hall
- Kevron ... James Whitson II
- Mabel ... Tena Wilson
- Maya ... Chalethia Williams
- Miles ... Rick Lewis
- Moe ... Ken Talley
- Patricia Higgins ... Donna Marbury
- Rev. Higgins ... Quinton Cockrell (year 1) / Michael Reed (year 2 and after)
- Rosalyn ... Vanessa Anderson
- Saul ... James A. McCarty Jr.
- Sonny ... LaWayne Childrey
- TJ ... Tory Malavet
- Vanessa Love ... Audrey Quinn
The future
Kohler and her partners are working on new episodes of BodyLove, as well as an upcoming three-minute show focusing on obesityObesity
Obesity is a medical condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to the extent that it may have an adverse effect on health, leading to reduced life expectancy and/or increased health problems...
. That series is set to air on radio stations in urban areas with large African American populations and will be funded in part by the National Institutes of Health
National Institutes of Health
The National Institutes of Health are an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services and are the primary agency of the United States government responsible for biomedical and health-related research. Its science and engineering counterpart is the National Science Foundation...
.