What is the power of a picture? Images speak louder than words.

I’m certain you’ve heard the phrases… “a picture is worth a thousand words” and “images speak louder than words.” Are they true? What do you think?

When you create communication, how often do you include photos or other forms of visual aids? What role do they play in conveying a message or improving persuasion or retention?

What is the evidence for using visual images in communication?

Chapter 18 in Communicating Nutrition: The Authoritative Guide provides research evidence for using visual aids to enhance communication. Well-selected images have been demonstrated to promote attention, help convey meaning, improve retention, enhance persuasion, and make communication more efficient and effective.

Let’s summarize the findings:

• A clear, uncluttered visual image can promote attention to a message.

• Visuals convey meaning more efficiently and effectively than words alone according to the multimedia principle.

• The visual superiority effect shows that people remember 65% of the information presented when tested 72 hours later if relevant and interesting images are used in addition to text versus only 10% when text is used alone.

• Children especially benefit from the use of visual images in conveying messages.

• The classic UM/3M Study demonstrated that presentations with visual aids were 43% more persuasive than presentations without.

• Research indicates the use of attractive visuals can promote taking action, both in promoting preventive behaviors and in promoting detection behaviors.

• Visual aids can save time and increase communication effectiveness.

The evidence is compelling, well-selected images can enhance communication. There is power in a picture.

What if the images are not well-selected? Can they do more harm than good?

A recent article addressed this question. Let’s look at what they found.

What is the power of a picture to create or prevent bias?

The article, titled “Pictures Worth a Thousand Words in Weight Bias,” by Ted Kyle was published in ConscienHealth. It compares images that humanize people living with obesity with those that stigmatize them and promote weight bias.

Kyle shares the results of a recent analysis of images depicting people with obesity portrayed in the media, which found that 46% of the images of people living with obesity show them without their heads, which is considered dehumanizing. This type of headless image was twice as common when showing people living with obesity compared to images showing people of lower weights.

Kyle describes a recent initiative of the Obesity Action Coalition and the Eli Lilly Company to create a bias-free obesity image gallery and counteract the stigmatizing images that promote weight bias.

The goal of the project is to provide images that humanize people living with obesity. According to the gallery website:

Stop Weight Bias Image Gallery is a collection of free, non-biased images designed to reshape the way obesity is portrayed. Too often, media coverage and publications rely on stigmatizing, inappropriate imagery that mocks and hurts individuals affected by obesity. Our gallery offers a solution — providing respectful, accurate images that tell a more inclusive and dignified story.

By using these images, you’re helping to shift public perception and reduce the damage caused by weight bias. We encourage media outlets, healthcare professionals and anyone seeking to make a positive change to explore and download the images in our gallery.

Look at the images you utilize in your communication. Remember that images are powerful. Make sure the ones you use promote positive unbiased messages and don’t reinforce negative or biased messages.

While you’re at it, review your word choice too. Words paint a picture in the mind’s eye. Make sure the image created is positive and unbiased as well.

“A visual image in the hand of an artist is merely a tool to trigger a mental image.” ~ Roy H. Williams

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